Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-19
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRLWEEKLY hf
EDGAR SNOwDEN-


Some OF Tue fauc3l newspapers appatco'S
derive great delight from the reported call
made By few unknown people ln one oil The
western couoties Of this Stale for u. s. troops
to protect lhem from the illicit distiera, and
seem to consider it as substantial proof OF the
inefhciently Of one Of tho most efficient State
governments 10 the South, aud OF the wisdom
and providence of General Grant 10 bllleting
troops upon the Southern States during his ad
ministration. We use tho words apparent"
and "seem 10, for the newspapers referred to
can not possibly really mean what they say. The
simple statement that the call was made by
few citizens shows its character as we'll as that
of those who made it, for if they were OF suth.
cient consequence to have their call needed
they would have knowo that applications
to the Federal government for troops should
be made by the Legislature, and When that
is not 10 session by the Governor. The news
papers alluded to must also be aware that the
Presidents Southern policy, of Southern Offices
for Southern men, is not agreeable to the carpet
baggers, and that anonymous letters reporting
"Southern outrages," and ''cas for troops
are favoritc instruments with that class bring
Jog that policy into disrepute at the North for
and for firing the Northern heart, and that
such appliances are not confined entirely to the
carpet baggers, but arc sometimes employed by
renegade Southern men, as was the case upon one
occasion 10 this State during the late president
ial campaign. The radical newspapers know all
this as we'll as everybody else, aud their assertions
that federal troops have been, or rc,wanted 10
the South 10 order to secure the execution Of
the laws is as true as is their expressed belief
10 the CONTINGENCY of the Rev. Henry Ward
Beeoher or the probity of Senator Blaine. There
is not magisterial district 10 the State Of
Virginia iu which the legal officers thereof are
not able to execute auy law, whether it be Of
State or federal enactment, but If there were
such 40 one, the abnormal condition would cou-
tiuuc no longer than the time required to con-
vey information of it to Governor kemper, and
Tor him TO telegraph to the nearest available
point 10 the State for a force sufficiently large
to afford those officers any assistance they might
uccu, LHC TdoiCdl papclS W tuC CoutIdIy uut-
withstanding. Such is the state of affairs 10
Virginia now, and such. 10 all probability, it
will continue, but should it ever happen that
neither county nor State eau enforce the cxecu
ton of the laws, the radicals even then will
have 10 cause to complain, Tor the history OF
all the Governors OF the State, except Governors
Perrepont and Wclls, proves that ii one idea
prevailed in and possessed them all, and is
emblazoncd IN motto that surmounts the
Gubernatorial chair of the Old Dominion as
with balo of glory, it is ''lhe enforcement Of
the Laws, land there never will be an occupant
OF that chair, elected by the people of the State,
who vii! hesitate m6nent ill calling upon the
executive Of the nation for assistance in carrying
out that idea, when the proper time for that call
shall unfortunately arrive.