The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-05-31
From the Rochester Democrat and Chronic
THE SOUTHERN POLICY.
What President Hayes Was Bound to
Do, and What He Did.

Our affirmation has been, from the
| first, that the President was bound by
/ his Republican association to vindicate
/ the verdict Of the campaign, that made
| him President and elected Chamberlain
and Packard Governors Of South Caro-
| lima and OF Louisiana respectively. We
repeat the affirmation, both as regards
his duty as a Republican and as Presi.
dent. He knew what the party gener-
ally expected Of him. He was not ig-
norant of the tenacity with which that
party, through its press, had contended
for the legality OF these legal Govern
ments, all through the winter months. in
which also il was sustaining both upon
equities and legalities precisely similar.
lie found Government existing in Lou.
isiana, duly commissioned, as be was
con- nissioned and threatened. as he
was not with armed resistance. IL pre-
sented him with its title deeds but be,
ignoring his obligations as a partisan,
and, as we solemnly affirm. his duty as
President, refused even to examine them.
The Utica Herald says that neither the
Constitution nor the laws clothe him
with any such power Of examination
Let US see what the language of the Con
stitution is THE United States shall
protect each State against invasion, and
on application Of the Legislature or OF
the Executive when the Legislature is not
in session, against domestic violence
The Herald raises no objection to the
reauisition upon the President. but inti-
mates that no domestic violence existed
Well. it isn't necessary that il should
exist in overt form. The President is
required to protect the State against do
nestle violence-viOlence which there
is no reason to believe may occur. as well
as that which is actually occurring. The
condition was present There was
rival Government, claiming to have three
epartme1ts-executive legislative and
judicial. IL assdL.ed to sign orders, 70
pass laws to issue process. lt exercised
police powers, il interfered with execu
tive msrdates and judicial writs. il col
lected taxes, il frmed and paraded its
adherents. It openly declared that il
would resist the legal Government.
peacefully il it could. iorcibly it it must
IL proclaimed its arbitrary purpose. It
made anarchy And yet there are Re
publicans who say that the President
could not pass upon the titles Of the
rival Governments. Even Republicans
say this who sustained President Grant
when, during the campaign. he sent
troops to South Carolina. at Governor
Chamberlain's request, to protect the
State against tumults which were much |
more remote than those that were ON
inous in the streets OF New Orleans. and
were being stimulated by an organization /
claiming jurisdiction under forms OF law. |
IL the presence of troops was ever war
ranted on the soil of the United States, |
it was warranted as a salvatory restraint /
in New Orleans, pending the arbitrament /
OF the disputed gubernatorial succession. |
The President not only neglected to /
protect the loyal State Government, |
but he also achieved its disintegration-l I
not by the withdrawal of the troops. but /
by active measures. through his commits /
sion, precedent to that withdrawal We 1
believe there is no dispute about this. /
The Utica Herald says that when the /
troops went back to their barracks dis 1
integration followed That was not the 1
order Of sequence. One after another /
the members of the Packard legislature /
were seduced to enter the Nichols Leg 4
islature. One after another they went, /
on various pretenses, cheered and en-
ouraged by members Of the Commission, 1
who should have been in better business i
And when a quorum was obtained-be- /
cause of the neglect to pass upon titles, 4
and because also OF the persistent efforts 4
at disintegration by the Commission-by 1
the Commission especially instructed to 1
accommodate the usurpation of Nichols 4
with an appearance of legality-then il 1
was announced that the troops would be I
Withdrawn because the people OF Louisi- /
ana had for themselves settled their do I
mestic concerns. A contemplate plea 1
this 1t would seem harsh in the mouths |
OF Russian, Prussian and Austrian Mon /
archs dividing the bleeding members OF 4
the Polish autonomy. From an Ameri- /
can Administration it is shocking.
This article has been in vain, it to fair /
minded Republicans We have not demon /
strated that the Southern policy. pre- 1
sented for Republican approval. is not at /
once Republican recantation and Presi- /
dental timidity. The Republican who /
accepts it, and we say this with all defer /
ence, retracts his earnest resolutions, for |
feits his consistency, and pours despite ]
upon his own work. "Timidity why, /
it is shown in every phase OF the policy. /
The Herald may indulge in heroics. We 1
deal in facts of human nature. IL does |
not require so much courage to desert |
friends as il does to face enemies. IL |
does not require so much courage to com !
promise, as it does to tread unhinchingly |
the path of duty. 1t was not so brave |
an act to leave poor Packard to the
mercy Of his foes, as it would have been
to defy with him the rawlings OF White
Leaguers and Knights Of the Golden
Circle. Ii was not so heroic TO compose
Southern criticisms OF the Presidents
own title, as it would have been to exam
inc Packard's title and having found it
consistent with his own, to have pro
claimed TO the world: We stand or fall
together. We stand together, we shall
not fall. because we both possess titles.
which the law sustains, and armed fac
ton shall in vain assail.