Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-11
WASHINGTON.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD COM.
PROMISE.
Report Of the Attorney General on
the Use of Troops.
WASHINGTON, Jan.

Jan. y.
The subcommittee on the subject OF
the Texas Pacific Railroad submitted
a report to the full House Committee
on Pacific Railroads this morning, re-
commencing the adoption of the so
called compromise bill which provides
that the Texas Pacific Company shall
construct a line to a point 100 miles
west of Ell Pxso by the surveyed
route, and that the Southern Pacific
Company of California shall be al
lowed to build the remainder Of the
trans continental line to San Diego;
equal privileges to be granted to both
companies. The provision a. to the
western end of the line requires it to
be located from a point thirty miles
west OF San GiOrgonio Pass 10 San
Diego by the most direct, feasible
route. The full committee discussed
the bill to this extent and adjourned
until tomorrow, when its considera-
ton will be resumed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.
The report of Attorney General Taft,
communicated to Congress to-day, con-
cludes with q sketch OF Southern vio-
lence aud intimidation Of which the
Government has reliable information,
and SAYS, in the performance of his
constitutional duty, he gave instruc-
lions to the Marshals in these districts
and States, which instructions he en-
closes in his report. He was Satisfied
that the Marshals acting under these
orders materially aided in preserving
free suffrage. The Governor of South
Carolina became so alarmed at the viO-
lent demonstrations OF rifle clubs in
that State that he called upon the Pres.
ident shortly before the election for
troops to aid in suppress;ng domestic
violence which was Outhreaking and
uncomfortable. The evidence was SUI
ficient to show that troops should, un
der the Federal Constitution, be fur
nished and the President complied
with the demand. Troops were not
intended to interfere with the election,
and did not, but acted merely rs safe.
guard to a free ballot. The spirit Of
instruction in South Carolina and
some other States where colored voters
are numerous, seemed tn be founded
upon the idea that the Fifteenth Con-
stitutional Amendment was u blunder,
and that the people Of the South we're
not bound to recognize or submit to il.
But such p~retensiOns in view Of his
tory and under the present circunl-
stances OF the country are unreasOna.
bic. This amendment was forced upon
the people by the insubordiuatiOn of
the then dominant voting population
of the States which had been ine rebel.
lion. 1t become obvious that the free
dom and the civil rights of the colored
citizens in those States could not other
wise be preserved. At the same time.
with the adoption OF this amendment,
the political power of these Statos was
increased to the extent of twO-fifths of
the colored population; in other words,
by more than twenty electoral and
than fifty congressional votes;
so that but fer the Fifteenth Amend.
ment the party with which these
States have generally affiliated would
have been in a decided minority in the
late election instead of approaching,
as 1t did, equality with with the Re-
publican vote. To allow the Southern
States the increased political power i'm
piled by extending the rights of suff-
rageto the colored population, and then
to allow the exercise of that right
to DO prevented by intimidation and
otherwise, Is . p~erversion of the Con-
stitution and operates most unjustly
toward other States of the Union.
Without denying the inconvenience Of
having . large population of unintelli.
gent voters, tits enough tn say that the
colored citizens have, under the Con.
stitution, a clear title to the ballot, Of
which ! know no fair or even practica-
Ile way to deprive them. 1t is the
duty of those who are o intelligent
to aid in putting into operation a sys-
tenn OF popular education which shall
reach every class In every State. No
time should lost in furnishing ample
opportunities TO every American cit
izen, Of whatever complexion, race or
condition, to acquire sufficient mental