Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-12-06
AN ELOQUENT APPEAL FOR LAw-RE-
PuBLIcASIsM ADMoSisHED BY ITS
ORGAN TO DEFEND LIBERTY
ANN IugTfCw

FROM the New York Post, Rsp.)
We cannot let the armed occupation
Of the South Carolina State House
and the act Of the federal troops tax
ing upon themselves TO determine who
shall constitute the Legislature Of tina,
State, pass without a protest Of tn,
utmost possible solemnity and energy
According TO all accounts from that
quarter the federal troops were yester
day in possession Of the building-a
military garrison with its sentinels
posted at the doors-and no member
of the Legislature was admitted ex
cept those who brought pass from
one of the partisans Of the present
Governor. Members who brought tn,
certificate Of their election from th,
clerk of the Supreme Court under ths
broad seal OF the Court were refused
admittance by armed men. The per
son named Dennis, who gave the
written orders without which no per
son was allowed to enter, claimed that
be was acting under the direction of Q
superior whose name be declined tc
give. OF course that superior is Gov,
ernor CHAMBERLAIN, under whose orders
the federal troops appear to have been
put by President Grant, and who has
taken this method Of deciding what
persons arc members of the South
Carolina Legislature.
We protest against the proceeding,
not only in the name of liberty and
justice, but in behalf of the Republican
party, whose good name and worthy
record are brought in question by this
resort TO military force in question
purely political. Here is already in
corporated into the history of our Re-
public a precedent of as arbitrary ma
turc us the act of Cromw well when he
turned the British Parliament out Of
doors. The rule of all representative
bodies, that that they are judges Of
the election and qualifications Of their
members, is summarily set aside and
Mr. Dennis, the furniture dealer, with
the federal troops at his back, usurps
that Office. Even the excuse that dis.
turbance and bloodshed were dreaded,
and an insurrcction so formidable that
Governor CHAMBERLAIN would lack the
means to quell it, does not appear to
have been made. The usurpation is
not masked with any plausible prctext /;
it sweeps away every restraint Of
usage and precedent and law, and sub
stitutcs simple force for the quiet form.
alities Of ordinary legislation. The
Republican party is not powerful
enough in comparison with the oppo-
sition to sustain the responsibility Of
such measures, and it becomes every
of II who desires its predom-
nance and its usefulness to disclaim
all part in such proceedings.
But II is said that no violence has
been done. Whose, then, is the merit
Of avoiding violence? II is not due to
Dennis, not TO Governor Chamberlain,
nor to the administration at Washing.
ton. IL is the merit Of the people Of
South Carolina. They have seen one
Of their dearest rights wrestcd from
Of the peaceable assembly
Of those whom they have elected as
their Legislators, and the organization
Of their Legislature according to the
lawful and received ussgcs, and have
endured thisoutragewithout resistance.
II they had persisted in seeking an
entrance into their State House there
would have been violence. II the rc.
ected Representatives had attempted
10 pass tho sentinel Mt the door they
would have been thrust back by the
oayonet; If the crowd about the build.
ng had shouted break open the door,,
md rushed forward, they would have
)een fred into. They took the wiser
'ourse they preferred to leave the
responsibility Of rcsorting to the bayo.
let upon those who used it to decide
political question. They preferred
IN appeal to the good sense and lust
Intentions OF the people Of the United
States, and in this the people will sus-
ain them. We mean the people of all
'artes,for the Republicans, II thcp are
wise, will make haste TO disclaim oil
'onnivancc with an act which, If not
condemned by the general voice Of
heir party, will bc quoted against
hem, as long Us that party shall have
N existence.