Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-03-31
THE SOUTHERN SITUATION

1t must be admitted that the situation
of affairs in South Carolina and Louisiana
is perplexing, to say the least, and that
it will require wise exercise of Judge
ment to decide the equities Of the case in
each of those States. Two sets Of gov
ernments are in operation there, each
claiming the allegiance Of the people Of
the State. One represents the white pop
uation almost entire, with handful of
black people the other the negroes al
most entire with handful of whites -
So near are these parties balanced that it
is somewhat doubtful point on which
side the weight OF evidence preponder.
ates, and we do rot wonder that Mr..
Hayes il desirous Of further information
before be decides between the rival claim
ants for gubernatorial honors.
We do not dispute but what in each
State the Democratic candidate recei we'd
a majority of the votes actually cast. But
the question then arises, were these legal
votes ? If legal, there is then no doubt
of the elections OF Hampton in South
Carolina and of Nichols in Louisiana.
II not legal it puts another and a wholly
different face on the matter. For there
are other things necessary to constitute "A
truly honest election, in which the choice
Of the people is fairly expressed than the
mere mechani, al act Of dcposiiing the bal
regulated by the local law of the States,
and the State Courts should decide be-
tween the contending factions. 1t may be
that the decisions ofthese courts would be
flagrHnt)y unjust-;hat the same degree
of pArti,an>hip which seems TO craze the
action Of the claimants aud their adhcr-
cuts, would influence the mind of the ju
dietary and sway its opinions. But
that is Il matter that can only be proven
by IA test, and this test furnishes the only
legal il not the only peaceful and equita-
able method of settling the CONTROVERSY
And it is desirable above all things that
there should be settlement effected
without delay. Business is paralyzed by
the uncertainty attending upon the pres
ent unsettled condition of affairs, and
such will continue to be the case uttil the
right to govern il confirmed to one or the
other Of the contendng claimants. We
do not wonder that Grant. while keeping
the Federal troops in Columbia and New
orleans rs con>ervaiors of the public
peace, was gMd to avoid the responsible.
ty Of establishing II policy which might
embarrass and tie the hands OF ais sue
cessor. Mr.. Hayes, in his inaugural ad
dress and subsequent policy raised Dem
ocratic hopes that Packard and Cham
berlain would be sent to the right about,
and their opponents directly or indirectly
recognized. But it is evident that these
hopes rested on very slight foundation,
that the only ann the Pre- dent has is to
obtain the facts in the case and decide
accordingly. There are some points in
common between the two States in re
gard to the situation, but in other respects
it is entirely dissimlar. In South Caro-
lima there appears to be greater equities
on the side of Hampton than the Demo
cratic record of Louisiana presents. There
would seem to have been sort of feeling
among South Cnroinians which was
ready to give up the National admins
tration t. the Republicans and the local
adm ministraton to the Democrats, and
This feeling prevailed to that extent that
while the Democratic Investigating Com
mttee la med the State for Hampton it
conccd,d d it to Hayes. Were it not for
the patent frauds committed in Edgeiield
and Lnurens counties by which thousands
Of votes were illegally polied by Geor-
gians, and action OF the Rife Clubs,
which carried their plans of intimidation
to such nm extent before the election,
Hnmpton's case would be better one
than it is. In n legal sense he is not the
choice Of the prop of South Carolina,
the Returning Board of that State having
declared against him, but if the Board
exceeded its powers and acted illegally.
and that fact is affirmed by the highest
court Of the State, it ought to be held
conclusive Of IIampton's right to act.
1t will not be an easy mntter to decide
these questions in manner calculated to
secure the approval of the contending
parties. But we are satisfied of one thing
that so far as Presidential action is con
cerned, everything will be done conscient-
iously. There are difficulties about the
situation which must be apparent to any
observer, and to strike an even balance
Of the rights Of parties will be a task of
no little delcacy.
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