New Orleans Republican., 1877-01-19
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAFT's RE-
PORT.

why Federal Troops Were Sent South
Prior to the Late Election.
The following is the conclusion of the an
nual report of Attorney General Taft, COM
munioated to Congress last week:
The state of the country in anticipation
of the recent presidential election has
thrown on the national government unusual
responsibility. Evidence which could not
be diseredited came to the President and to
the Department of Justice showing that in
timidation and violence prevailed in several
States to such an extent as to prevent free
dom of opinion, and that in South
Carolina unlawful military companies,
known as "rihe clubs," were organ
ized, and that by riding through the
country, arming, doing violence to peace
able people, and menacing the good citizens
who differed with them in political opinion,
they broke up or prevented assemblages for
political discussion. In view of the actual
and prospective danger of lawless violence
before and at the election, and in pureu-
ance of the statute which requires the At
tOrney General ito exercise general super
vision and direction over the attorneys and
marshals of all the districts in the United
States as to the manner of disoharging their
respective duties" communicated to the
marshals in those districts which appeared
to be in special danger from intimidation or
fraud the instructions inclosed. These
instructions, which have heretofore
character, and designed to secure
voters in the exercise of their
rights. The Attorney General ssys 81 am
satisfied that the United States marshals
and attorneys, acting in concert with the
supervisors of election under these instruc-
tions, in New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, st. Louis, Chicago, New Orleans, and
several of the Southern States, contributed
materially to the preservation of the peace
and to the securing to the citizens freedom
| in the exercise of the right of suffrage. The
interest which the people of the United
States have in the purity of the ballot for
Federal officers to be elected by the popular
vote, and the acts of Congress intended to
guard the ballots for congressional candi-
dates from fraud, required these instrUo-
tiona. Such were the demonstrations
of domestic violence in South Caro-
/ lima a few weeks before the election,
/ so defiant and uncomfortable by civil
power, that the Governor of that State
| applied, under the constitution, to the Pres
| ident, stating that he was unable to sup
press the domestic violence that existed in
| the State; that armed organizations, con-
| trary to law, known as ''rihe clubs" con-
| tinuaIly rOamed over the country doing
| violence, and that they were altogether
beyond mis- control, breaking up the peace
i OF I06 pLdl6 anu Terrifying l4Ab N4ulACAAos
/ The declaration of the Governor, supported
by ample evidence from other sources, left
/ she President but to comply with this con-
atitutional demand by issuing the appropri-
ate proclamation and by ordering to that
State such military force as seemed to be
necessary and was within his control.
| The troops were not intended to inter
fere, and did not interfere, with any
citizens right to vote, but, on the
CONTRARY, their endeavor was to make it
safe for citizens to vote according to their
| political opinions. There is no authentic
evidence that any man has Deen deprived
| of his right to vote Ur of his freedom OF
opinion by the presence OF the small mill
tary force in South Carolina. To have re-
fused the aid sought by the Governor to
suppress domestic violence and insurrec-
ton would have been plain denial OF the
constitutional right of the Governor and
people of South Carolina. The spirit OF IN :
surreetion in South Carolina, and in some
other States in which colOred voters are
numerous, seemed to be founded upon the
idea that the fifteenth amendment to the
constitution. prohibiting the deprivation I
citizens of their right to vote on account OF
race color or previous condition OF serVl'
tude, was a blunder, and that the people
of the South we're not bound TO
recognize or submit to it. But such
| pretensions, in view of the history ana I'M
der the present circumstances OF the eoun-
trv. are unreasonable. The fifteenth amend
| ment TO the constitution was forced upon
the people of the Union by the insubordina-
ton of the then dominant voting popula'
ton of the States which had been In re-
bellion against the government. 1t became
| obvious that the freedom and civil rights OF
| the oolored eitizens of those States could
not otherwise be preserved. At the same
| time with the adoption of this amendment
the political power of those States was IN
creased to the extent of twO-tfths OF the
cOlored population; In other words, oy
more than twenty electoral and mere thar
| 6fty congressional votes, so that bn
for the fifteenth amendment the party
with which these States have general
affiliated would have been in decided MI
| nOrity in the late election instead OF ap
proaching, as it did, equality with the he
publican VOTE To allow the Southeri
States the increased political power impheS
by extending the right OF sunrage 70 On en-
eolored population, and then TO allow TN
exercise of that right to be pevented BY IN
timidation or otherwise, is a peEVersion 0
the constitution, and operates most unjust
ly toward the other States OF the Union
Without denying the inconvenience OF nav
ing a large population OF 1ninteingen
| VOTERS. IL Il enough to say that the cOlore
citizens have under the constitution elea
title to the ballot, of which know
fair or even practicable way to deprivethen
ID is the duty of those who are more inte
liRent to aid in putting into operation
system of popular education WHOM sna
, reach every class in the State. UniFefsl
edueatiou of the voting people, both Whi'
and colored, is essential to the safety OF oT
Republican government. No time shenl
be lost In furnishing ample opportunity
every American citizen Of whatever COZ
plexfon, race, or condition to acquire 81
icient mental and physical training 10 Vo
and fight with intelligence.
I Very reEpeettuliy, your Obedient serVan
a ALPHONSO TAFT,