The New York herald., 1877-01-10
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS REPORT.

TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND INSTRUCTIONS
ISSUED TO UNITED STATES MARsuALs.
WAsutyGToN, Jan. 0. 1877
The following is the conclusion of the annual report
OF Attorney General TAFT, communicated 10 Congress
to-day
Tho state OF the country, in anticipation OF the
the national government unusual responsibility
Evidence which could not DO discrcditcd
came TO The President and the
Department OF Justice showing that intimidation anu
violence prevailed IN several States 10 such
as to prevent freedom OF opinlon, and that in South
Carolina unlawful military companies, known
'rlnc clubs" were organized ana that by riding
through the country armed doing violence peace
able people and menacug the good citizens who
differed with them IN political opinion, they broke up
or prevented asscmblages Tor pohticai dscussicn.
THE INSTRUCTIONS TO MARsifALs.
In view OF the actual and prospective danger OF law
less violence before and at the election, and parsu.
ance OF the statute which requires the Attorney Cen
cral exercise general supervision ION over
the attorneys ana marsbas OF all tho districts In the
United states AS to the manner OF dischargng their
murshais in those districts which appeared
to bo In special danger from Intimidation
fraud the instructions enclosed These instructions
have heretofore been published, are stringent their
character ana designed to secure voters the exercise
OF their rights.
The Attorney General says:-I am satisfied tha, tho
United states marshals anu attorneys, acting IN con-
cert with the supervisors Of elections unicr these IN
strucions in New York, Phadeiphn, Baltimore 81,
LOUIS, Chicago. New Orleans, ana In several oil the
Southern states, contributed materially 10
tho preservation OF the peace and 20 the
securing 10 the citizens freedom the OF the
right OF Suffrage. lhc interest winch the people OF
the United states have in the purity VI the ballot for
federal officers elected by the popular vote and
tho OF Congress intended to guard the ballots
Congressional candidates from fraud. justified ana
required the instructions such we're the
demonstrations OF domestic violence South Caro-
Ina few weeks before the election; defiant and
uncomfortable by civil power that tho Governor OF
The state applied under the constitution, to the Prcs
dent, stating hat ho was unable to suppress The do
violence that existed IN the state; that armed
organizations contrary to law, known rifle clubs"
continually roained over the country dong violence
and that they were altogether beyond his control
breaking up the peace Of the State and terrifying the
citizcns
THE PRESIDENTS rLAIy DUTY.
Tie declaration OF the Goveinor, supported by ample
evidence sources, lett tue President 40
but to comply with hs constitutional demand
by issuing the appropriate proclamation ana by order
lug 10 that state such military iOrcc as seemed To bc
necessary nnd was within his control The troops
were not intended To INTERFERE and did not Interfere
with any citizens right 10 vote, but OH tho
contrary their cndcayor was TO make II safe
for citizens TO vote according TO their political
opinions "hcrc rs no authentic evidence that any
has been deprived OF his right To vote OF bis
freedom OF oplnlon by the presence Of the small mill
tary orcc IN south Caroina To have refused the AID
sought by the Governor to suppress domestic violence
and insurrecon would have been PLAIN denial OF the
Constitutional right OF the Governor and people
OF south Carolina. rhc split Of insurrcction In
South Carolina and in some other States IN which col
orcd voters numerous ecc1cd TO be founded upon
the that the fifteenth amendment thc consttu
ton prohibiting the deprivation OF czcns of their
r.hs TO vote on account OF race, color
dio1 oi scrvudc was blundcr, and that the people
Of the South were not bound to recognize submit
To IT, But such prctcDsions III view OF the history and
under the present circumstances OF the
try, are unreasonable nc uit.cnth amendment
TO the constitution forced upon the people OF
Union by the ihsuDcrdiuaiioh OF the then dominant
voting population of the Staies VIII ch had been
belnon ngAinst The government IL pccamc obvious
that the freedom ana eva rights OF the c0lOrcd cit-
Ncns OF those states could not otherwise be preserved.
At the iIaIc Win the adoption oi this amend
mcnt the political power OF those States Increased
To the OF two-nfths OF The coorcd population,
ia o,bcr words by more than twenty electoral and
than nty Congressional votes, that but Tor The
hcenth ancndmcnt the party with winch these states
have generally affiliated would have been III decided
minority IN the no election nstend oi approaching,
did, equality with The republican vote 10
allow the southern States the increased political
power implied by extending tic rights OF suffrage
to the colOrci population. and Then 10 alo" hc cArr-
cisc Of that risnt 10 lie prevented by INTIMIDATION or
ton, aud operates most unIusliy toward
tie other Statos ot the Union. without deny
ing The Inconvenience oil hnVihg large
populaiIun OF uninlengcnt voters u j. enough 10 say
that the coiUcd citizens under the constitution,
q clear titc 10 the ballot. OF which know no lar
even practicable way to deprive them. IL is the duty
Of those who are intelligent TO aid IN puunc into
operation a sy stem OF popular education which shall
reach every class ~ every stale
EprCATE THE NEGRO
Universal education oi the voting people both white
and cnored IS csscttl 10 tho safety OF our republican
poycrumcuL 30 time Auuuii be lost IA furnishing
am pie opportunities 10 every American citzcn OF what
cicnt mental and physical training TO vote and nsnl
WITH ptolligcncc Very respectfully, your orcdcnt
servant, ALfHUNsO TAFT, Attorney General