The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-06-29
More Military Satraps."


Under. this attractive and sensational cap
tlon the Washington correspondent of the Bal
timore Sun, of the Oath, has this information
The recent order issued from the War De-
partnent disseminating the military division Of
the South has far deeper significance than
appears on Its face. 1t is understood to be an
lfliGlatlon OF plan designedto secure the cleo
toral votes OF Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana
and Mississippi for the republican candidates.
Inese Tour States will now be under the direct
military control OF Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan, who
can De depended upon to carry out any designs
conceived at this point The recent interview
OF Louisiana radical politicians with the Presi-
cent was IN connection with this plot. Such of
the marshals and district attorneys in the States
named VINO cannot be depended upon to carry
OUT tner snare OF the undertaking will be re-
moved, Their places supplied by more plant
Tools. the Secretary Of War will stretch his
powers TO the utmost verge, and troops will be
posted where they can do the most good.''
We cannot say how much literal truth there
is In this statement, but we think it entirely
probable that something of the kind will be
| adopted in time to secure a fair election in the
States named. 1t is the sheerest delusion to
presume for moment that the administra-
| ton intends quietly to witness thousands of
recognized citizens under the constitution and
laws, deprived of the rights of citizenship and
the protection the government owes its subjects,
merely because they choose to vote the Repub-
llcan ticket, and thus indicate their fealty to
the government. In Mississippi, Alabama,
Louisiana and Arkansas, Republican MAORI
ties have been annihilated and democratic ma
Eiorities proclaimed, by. the argument )of the
Ishot-gun. There has been no security for Re-
publicans except in the abandonment of their
party convictions and identity and either to
remain from the polls or vote the democratic
ticket. Those States have been marshalled i'm
to the democratic ranks under this kind of
coercion. The Senate and House of Rep
resentatlves have received members elected in
this way. 1t is now proposed to adopt the
policy OF force and violence to control the
electoral votes of the States named for the
Democratic candidates for the Presidency
They may determine the result. The votes
they cast may be sufficient to decide the Presi-
Dental election. Be this as it may, the policy
adopted heretofore in those Southern States
has been violent assault upon the most sacred
privilege guaranteed by the Constitution, and
an outrage upon the very name of liberty. 1t
won't do to argue that the negro is not qualif-
ed to vote. That is not a debatable question.
The right is secured, and hedged around by
the most solemn sanctions of assent on the
part OF the South, and pledges of protection
on the part of the North and West. What
the country demands is fair election--tht
| ful1 fran nd hor of
right OF suffrage-every man, who is entitled
to vote under the constitution and laws, to ex
press his sentiments by that vote, and allowing
every other man the same privilege. There i
no other purpose on the part of the admins
ttration than to consummate this result NJ
Conservative OF democrat will be interfere(
with, in any of the rights and immunities whicl
the laws guarantee to him. He would be a
free as air,..within the limits of the law. Wha
fair men--what law abiding citizen, can rails
any possible objection to this? All the meas
ures that will be adopted by the administra
ton in its dealings with any portion of tn,
country, will be simply to see that the law
are enforced--that the rights of citizenship ar,
respected. To do less, would be to confes
that our system of government is failure
that the license of violence and bloodshed hat
usurped the throne of justice and law, ant
that Anarchy had asserted supremacy over ma
tional authority.
This may be called the ''bloody shirt'-the
reign of ''military satraps," by those who dc.
sire to infame the passions and practically
nullify the laws Of the country. It is simply
the assertion Of the right and power Of the ma
tional government to protect and defend the
rights of American citizens at home and
abroad, and to demonstrate that the title on
American citizen is something more that
sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.''