National Republican., 1876-01-24
Acquitted. AND YET REsPoNs1BLE.

ACQUITTED, AND YET RESPONSIBLE
Nearly three months ago, when Missis-
slppi was on the eve of an important elec-
ton; when the most intense political excite
ment prevailed throughout the Safe; when
armed bands of White Leaguers secured
the country and paraded through the cities;
when violence, disorder and hot passion
held full sway; when murders and foul
assassinations were being committed in
broad daylight unpunished, an army officer
by the name of Arthur W. Allyn, cap
tain in the Sixteenth infantry, loaned
cannon TO the mob upon which was branded
L. s., and which was the property of the
United States Government. As soon as the
proper authorities obtained knowledge of
the matter court-martial was ordered, and
the officer was placed on trial for con-
duct unbecoming an officer and gentle
man. The case has been tried and we are
now in receipt Of letter from Captain
Allyn, in which he announces himself as
having been acquitted, and in which he
also desires us to do him justice by giving
as wide hearing to the fact "now estab-
lished" of his innocence as we did to the
charge ofhis guilt Impartial justice should
be accorded whenever justice is due, but it
is quite as proper and essential that we are
positive that it is due before we accord it.
In the first place, the charges preferred
against this officer by the court-martial
were materially different from the we'll
known facts in the case, and in the second
place, the captain admits under oath. that
he did loan the cannon TO the White Line
mob. Casting aside the circumstance that
he was not tried upon the most important
facts in the case, we simply ask. by what
right and by what authority did he accord
to these men the privilege of using United
States materials of war for the purpose Of
deracinating and destroying the franchise
rights of the colored Republicans of Missis-
sippi? As we understand it, the military
of the United States is constabulary force,
established for the purpose of suppressing
violence and preserving thepeace Of the
country where, through1emergency, the
civil authorities are unable to accomplish
that result. Captain Allyn knew full well
the disordered condition of the State. He
knew that there were political organiza-
tions in every hamlet, village and city in
the Commonwealth, created for the pur-
pose of carrying the election by force. He
knew that over two hundred political muir
ders had already been committed in cold
blood by members ofthese organizations. He
knew that hundreds of colored men had been
secretly and feloniously spirited away, and
that, in order TO cover up their infamous
deeds, the White League element called it
''lost in the swamp" And yet, in the face of
these facts, without authority, and withouta
shadow or scintilla of right in this, the
raggedest hour that time and spite ever
dared 10 bring TO that great Commonwealth,
he, out of courtesy most insensible
courtesy-threw into the hands of these
disturbers Of the public peace the very
engines of destruction that he should have
retained himself to prevent bloodshed,
intimidation and riot.
1t was dark hour for Mississippi when
this United States officer in his regimentals
graciously bended his knee to the dictates
of these organized disfranchisers; it was
most disastrous moment to the freedom of
election when this military courtesy was
shown; when this little spirit of etiquette
was displayed when this sympathetic
kindness was rendered by conserver of
the public peace to the destroyers of the
public quiet 1t was most unfortunate
day indeed, for while the riot-revelers
were obtaining from the custody of this
officer the material and power with which
to execute their foul deeds of violence, in
timidation and blood letting, the Governor
of the State was pleading earnestly, but in
vain, with the national authorities for pro-
lection against the inroads Of these same
men, upon the public peace, social order
and political rights of the Commonwealth.
When once this engine of disturbance and
destruction was secured, an organized band
of men, armed with repeating rifles and
disguised in the uniforms Of artillery men,
paraded the streets before the gaze of this
most gallant captain and peace preserver,
and under the cover of darkness riddled
the Governors mansion with bullets
and made "Rome howl generally for
a "SShb anu lSh bhC SOulp-hioiiloI SOA-
cluded that there was no necessity of
making an example of this man for
the benefit of the public peace.
Captain Allyn was not stationed in Missis-
sippi for the purpose Of breeding conten.
tion and social disorders. He was not
placed in control OF Uuited States muni-
tions Of war for the purpose of aiding and
abetting riot and pillage and blcodshed.
He was there to preserve the peace, and if
necessary to protect the rights and privi-
leges of American citizenship, and when
he granted to these well known cut-throats
and assassins the privilege of dragging
Government cannons through the State for
the purpose of executing their unlawful
schemes of Intimidation and violence, he
committed moral and official crime for
which all law. abiding and patriotic citizens
Of the country hold him responsible. A
court-martial may acquit him, dozen
courtmartials may honorably acquit him,
because, perhaps, the peculiar construction
of the military laws will not reach the
most important phase of the case, but this
will not remove from him the grave re-
spoAsibility of having either by careless
ness, negligence, or intention, aided and
abetted a notorious mob element in dis
G., ~ l. AZ