The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-23
She Union League Club stands b.
Grant.

She Union League Club stands by
Grant.
On Saturday evening last the Union
league Club, on the motion Of Mr.. JOIN
e. HAMuToN. nm old man. in his eiehtieth
year, passed hy an overwhelming vote the
following resolution:
"R.sor,d. That the thanks OF this association
be presented to the iliu-'rous President OF the
United states for his earnest efforts. in obedi-
ence 80 the Constitution Of the United States
and to the laws enHc ed III pursuance thereof. to
protect the state OF South Caro- Ina from dOmes-
tic violence, and To secure the exercise to the
citizens thereof VI the rights OF suffrage ="
Judge NOAH DAVIS was in the chair and
when the remark was made by member
that the sentiment Of the resolution was
one that ought not to 60 upon the records
OF the club he cried out, g hope, sir, that
there are not twenty-five men in this room
Of your opinion. Apparently 1t so turned
out, for the few opponents Of the resolu-
non were not permitted hearing, but
were silenced with groans and misses.
Now, the terms OF the resolution show
that neither its mover nor the body which
passed 1t has any adequate conception
Of the Presidents constitutional power in
the premises The resolution il, how
sver, an admirable commentary upon
the loose ana deceptive character of the
South Carolina proclamation. That docu-
ment having mixed up the protection of
state Governments against insurrection
with the protection of the citizens OF a
State against personal violence at the
hands OF other citizens, these wiseacres OF
the Union League hasten 10 applaud the
President for sending the army into South
Carolina "tO secure to the citizens thereof
the exercise of the rights Of suffrage
THE lacking Of a rider upon the procla
nation will deceive nobody who is able e
read the Constitution and the law under
which the proclamation processes to hav,
been issued. Neither OF them authorize,
the President to use military force in q
State excepting to prevent its Government
from being subverted by an instruction
As 10 the protection Of citizens in the ex.
erose of the right Of suffrage against the
Aots Of other individuals. 1t il no more q
function Of the President than il Is to pro
tect them in the enjoyment OF lie OF
property or any other right.
But this proclamation was lrawn will
al intent to deceive the country. rs very
hrst recital il fraud Whereas, II
has been satisfactorily shown 10 III,
that instruction and domestic violence
exist in several counties of Ia,
State Of South Carolina This wal
intended - give the idea that in the
sense Of the Constitution insurrection
nnd domestic violence are two distinc
thing. They are not. The Constitution
does not use the word instruction;
the only term is domestic vic
hence which means as TO stat
the same thing as Instruction, 0
an attempt to eubvert the Government o
the State 10y force. II the proclamation
had said instruction or domestic vic
lence. using the terms az synonymous, !
would have kept within constitutions
limits. But the craftsman OF the procla
nation, knowing that there is no insurreo
ton against the Government of the state
but wishing 10 introduce the idea tina
"domcstic violence in the sense Of vic
lence OF individuals against other individ
unls Is a matter FOR the armed interference
OF the President, goes on 10 allege tina
murders are committed and that intmidu
ton employed against poaceable citizens
the Constitution which authorizes til
United states to protect the state again'
"domtstic violence" Then he goes fol
ward again and alleges what is partly tru
and partly untrue. lie reotes that it
provided by laws OF the United State
pnssed IN pursuance of this provision {
tho Constitution, THAT In all cases OF IL
turrcctou IN any state COR OF obstru'
tOn to the laws thereof) II shall /
hwful for the President" sc. One {
these TIA, - r. true; the other IL not. II
not true that any laws OF the United state
passed In pursuance of the guaranto
clause OF the Constitution, authoiize III
President To remove Instructions TO stat
law by military force, or any other fore,
II Is only when there il IAN insurrecuo
In any state against the Government ther,
OF " that Il Is lawful for the President
not, on the application Of its LOCI laturo {
Governor. Aud this IL strictly in aocor,
nnoe with the meaning Of tho constitution
al term "domestic violence"
But the proclamation, in its next rccita
mixing up the suppression OF an insure
tion with causing the State laws TO be du
executed, does not say that Gov. CHAMnEl
LAIN has Informed the President that theI
10 an insurreotion against the State Govern
ment, but that he has asked for milltaI
force Ito protect said State ana the cit
xens thereof against domestic violence an
u enforce the due execution OF the laws
Here there lisa palpable "paltcring in do'
baesense." domestic violence" against Il
State, which means insurrection again
the State Government, is one thing. II
sxists-all the world knows thar II do
not--ths President may act. But I'd