Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-12-07
The Situation.
Shameless Frauds!
esegeBRs 9R9D8D +!

The situation in South Caro-
Ina is humiliating and perilous.
The Federal army takes pos
session Of the State Capitol at
midnight. The troops were
rent under orders TO Sustain
Chamberlain" and they obeyed
orders. The army permitted
no man 10 enter the State Cap
'itol who had not a pass from
the Private Secretary of Cham
6crlain. The Army Of the u
mited States takes It's stand in
front OF the Legislative Hall of
a ''free and independent" State
and torbids the Legislature to
enter. Members elected to the
Legislature, bearing legal GER
tificates of election, carrying
the broad sanction Of the Su-
preme Court Of the State in
their hands, were met at the
door Of the Legislative Cham
Der which the supreme law Of
the State said they were cnti-
tied to enter, by the bayonets
Of the Federal Government.
The certificates of elected mem
fbers were duly presented, the
Endorsement Of the Supreme
Court shown, and the army said
that the gentlemen could not
DC admitted; that the certifi-
Gates were invalid! If the ar
my Of the United States can
block the path of the members
of the House Of Representa-
tives of State 10 the Legisla-
tive Hall; if the army can de-
eide who is elected TO a State
Legislature, it can decide who
is elected to the National Leg
islature. Indeed, it has a bet
ter right to determine who is
elected to Congress than to de-
terlnine who is elected to the
Legislature of a State.
The country submitted when,
in Louisiana, a corrupt Judge
UNANIMOUSLY overturned the gov
eminent of that State because
there was a reverence for the
mandate of Court. In South
Carolina the army defies the
choice of the people and the
command of the Supreme Court.
Will the country also indorse
this? But this is the situation
in South Carolina. 1t is 10 the
lasting credit of the white peo-
pie of South Carolina that, in
an hour of supreme provocation
10 violence, they are quiet. The
Republicans, without a quorum,
lIwlessly organized the House.
That didn't matter, the troops
being there. The Democrats
with q quorum, organized the
House in Carolina Hall, noti-
fed the Governor of the fact
and adjourned. Two Republi-
cans were disguised with Leg
islative Hall to which the bay
onet was the certificate. There
are apparently two Houses of
Representatives in South Car
Olina. The end is not in that
State.
The Florida Returning Board
met, and before it had fairly
turned wheel the evidence of
its deliberate rascality was fur
nished. The second county
called was Baker. The Secre-
tary read the returns, showing
a result favorable to the RepTo-
leans. The Democrats lad
ma; o ity of 80 in that county,
and it was apparent :nat a fraud
had been perpetrated by the
Secretary of me Board. No.
notice had been given that Bs-
ker was in the list of contested
counties. By a vigorous APP
plication Of the thumb-screwsI
the Secretary was forced to &C
knowledge that he had sup
pressed the regular returns from
Baker on account of some in
formality IN the certifcation.
With the regular returns adj
mitted from Baker the Tilden
Electors have a majority of 1875
IN the State. Upon this bogus
return Hayes would have a ma
jority of sc. The object of |
ihe trick was to change the face
of the returns early and give
Hayes a claim on the State.
w. It. Chandleris charged with
Ghe responsibility for this job.
Che Board adjourned soon af-
ter the discovery of its fraud to
attend q funeral. As in the
ease Of the rascality attempted
BY the Secretary of the Louisi-
ana Board, all this sort of thing
seems TO open the eyes OF the
people of the country. 1t shows