The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-07-23
The South Carolina Trouble

He who should have predicted ten years
ago that conflict of authority would arise
between the General Government and one of
the States lately in rebellion, would have
been jeered at as visionary alarmist The
political dogma of estate Rights" was dis
posed of by the result of the war, tor a
generation at least, we heartily believed, and
for all time we hoped. No man was absurd
enough to predict that any Southern
State would dare for long time to come, to
defy the Federal authority or to Extensively
proclaim the doctrine that logically led to
secession.
1t seems that we were all mistaken. Our
clemency, unexamped in the history of the
world, has been abused. The extraordinary
moderation that we showed to the vanquished
has been badly received. Our mercifulness
has been taken advantage of, and the strength
we gave to those we conquered has been used
to our hurt. South Carolina, the latest
State to be restored to the control of the old
slave-holding class is the first to meet with
open defiance the just and lawful claims of
the General Government. 1t must be evi-
dent to all that, despite the new gospel OF
peace which the sentimentalists are so indus
triousy preaching, the old conflict is to be re-
newed and yet to be fought out-not neces-
sarily in blood, but rather, it is to be hoped,
by peaceful means in legislative halls. There
must of necessity be angry contention, but ii
need not lead to resort to the final arbitra-
ment of arms-will not indeed, if the loyal
sentiment of the country promptly and en-
phaticaly asserts itself.
The facts in the case are few and simple.
United States officers have been arrested and
are threatened with punish nent for the dis
charge of their duty. Four revenue officers
are fired upon as they are about to enter the
house of notorious illicit distller. Their
lives thus threatened they fire in return and
kill the would-be assassin. Then they
promptly surrender themselves to the civil
authorities, and are indicted for murder by
the State courts. An application to transfer
their cases to the United States Circuit Court
where these cases legally and equitably be-
long, is denied by State judge. The State
officials announce their determination al
every hazard to resist the authority of the
United States, and to disregard the rights o.
the Federal Courts. As in the old times, the
authority of State is opposed to the author
ity of the United States and the principle o.
paramount allegiance to the General Govern.
ment denied. The interference with Fedora
officers in discharge of their duty might
happen in any part OF the Union, though il
would not be likely to occur in the more
civilized and law-abiding portions; but no
where except in the lately rebellious State;
would the offenders be sympathized with by
the community and shielded by a State Gov
ernment from just punishment for theil
crimes. That is the alarming feature of the
situation. Encouraged by clemency which
they mistake for indifference or timidty the
Southern leaders are reasserting their old
claims Of State Rights. Unfortunately they
and their Northern allies, the men who
sympathized with them when they attempted
to destroy the Union, have possession of the
popular branch: of the National legislature
This lends color TO their pretension that the
old heresy which we fought with 'blood ant
iron" is accepted by the people. To show
them that they have mistaken the temper O
the country, to demonstrate that the loya
sentiment is opposed to their arrogant ant
impudent assumptions, to wrest the Nationa
House from their control should be the en-
deavor of every patriotic citizen. In order tC
achieve this end minor differences of opinion
must be disregarded. The great organiza
tion which once saved the Union and ASSERTED
national supremacy should be prepared TO dt
battle for these objects again. Loyal mer
must forget their grievances, real or fanced
and unite in restoring the Government of oul
country to the only party in whose hands il
is safe.