The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-18
THE SOUTH.
Attorney General Taft's Report-The Evil
and the Remedy.


Attorney General Taft's Report-The Evil
and the Remedy.
| The following is the conclusion of the an
nual report of Attorney General Taft, commu.
nicated to Congress few days ago:
| The state of the country in anticipation of
| the recent Presidential election, has thrown
upon the national Government unusual re-
| sponsibility. Evidence which could not be dis
credited came to the President and the De-
| partment of Justice, showing that intimidation
and violence prevailed in several States to such
an extent as to prevent freedom of opinion,
and that in South Carolina unlawful military
companies known as strife clubs were organ
| lied, and by riding through the country armed,
doing violence to peaceable people. and men,
acing good citizens who differed with them in
political opinion, they broke up or prevented
assemblages for political discussion. In view
Of the actual and prospective danger Of lawless
violence before and at the election. and in
pursuance Of the statute which requires the
Attorney General to exercise general
supervision and direction over the
Attorneys and Marshals of all the dis
tricts i'll the Enited States as to the manner
of diecharging their respective duties COM
municated to the Marshals in these districts
which appeared to be in special danger from
intimidation or fraud the instructions inclosed.
These instructions, heretofore published, are
stringent in their character, and are designed
to secure voters in the exercise of their rights
l am satisfied that the United States Marshals
and attorneys, acting in concert with the Su-
pervlsors of Election under these instructions
in New York, Philadelphia Baltimore, st.
Louis, Chicago, New Orleans and in several
of the Southern States, contributed materially
to the preservation of peace and to securing to
citizens freedom in the exercise OF the right of
suffrage. The interest which the people Of
the United States have in the purity Of the
ballot for Federal officers to be elected by
popular vote, and the acts of Congress intend
ed to guard the ballots for Congressional can
dldates from fraud, justified and required the
instructions. Such were the demonstrations
of domestic violence IN South Carolina q few
weeks before election, so defiant and uncontroll-
able by the civil power that the Governor of
that State applied under the constitution, to
the President stating that he was unable to
suppress the domestic violence that existed in
the State that armed organizations contrary
to law, known as .rifle clubs" continually
roamed over the country doing violence, and
that they wefa altogether beyond his control,
breaking up the peace of the State and terrify-
ing the citizens. The declaration Of the Gov
ernor, supported by ample evidence from other
sources, left the President no alternative but
to comply with this constitutional demand by
issuing an appropriate proclamation, and by
ordering to that State such military force as
seemed to be necessary and was within his
control The troops were not intended to in
terfere, and did not interfere with any citi-
Zens right to vote, but, on the contrary.
their endeavor was to make it safe for citi-
zens to vote according to their political
opinions. There is no authentic evil
dence that any man has been deprived
of his right to vote, or Of his freedom of
opinion by the presence of the small
military force in South Carolina. To have re-
fused the aid sought by the Governor to sup
press domestic violence and instruction would
have been plain denial of the constitutional
right OF the Governor and the people of South
Carolina. The spirit of instruction in South
Carolins, and in some other States in which
colored voters are numerous seemed to be
founded on an idea that the Fifteenth amend
ment to the constitution, prohibiting the de-
privation of citizens Of their right to vote on
account Of race, color, or previous condition OF
servitude. was blunder and that the people
OF the South were not bound to recognize OF
submit to it, but such pretensions, in view of
history and under the present circumstances
of the country. are unreasonable. The Eff
teenth amendment to the constitution was
forced upon the people of the Union
by the characterization of the then
Democratic population of the States
which had been in rebellion against
the Government. It became obvious
that the freedom and civil rights of the colored
citizens of those States could not otherwise be
preserved. At the same time with the adoption
of this amendment the political power of those
States was increased to the extent of two ffths
of the colored population in other words. by
more than twenty electoral and more than fifty
Congressional votes, so that but for the
Fifteenth amendment the party with which
these States have generally affiliated would
have been in decided minority in the late
election instead Of approaching, as it did,
equality with the Republican vote. To allow
the Southern States the increased political
power implied by extending the right of suf-
then to allow the exercise of that
right to be prevented by intimidation
and otherwise, is perversion of the
constitution, and operates most unjustly tow
ard other States of the Union. Without deny
ing the inconvenience Of having large popu-
lation Of unintelligent voters, it is enough TO
say that the colored citizens have. under the
constitution, clear title to the ballot, of which
l know no fair or even practical way to de-
prive them. It is the duty of those who are
more intelligent to aid in putting in operation
system Of popular education which shall
reach every class in every State. Universal
education of the voting people, both white and
colored, is essential to the safety OF our re-
publican Government. No time should be
lost in furnishing ample opportunities to every
American citizen, Of whatever complexion,
race, or condition, to acquire sufficient men,
tai and physical training to vote and fight
with intelligence. Very respectfully, your
obedient servant. ALPHoNso TAFT,
Attorney General.