The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-10-23

not confess that | have been most eyre
giously disappointed in Mr.. Hayes and
his administration, says Senator Ben
Hill. of Georgia, in letter of October
/ 81, reproduced on our first page 1T
must be confessed that the Presidential
fraud of 1876is without parallel in any
history" saws Senator Hill. The author
of these admissions was a champion of
the electoral commission. He voted for
the original iniquity, and thin did
what was infinitely worse. He was one
of che immortal band of thirty-eigh mt
/ Democrats who voted to 60 on with the
count after the conduct of the 8 by I
tribunal had demonstrated as plain as
the shining of the sun at MONDAY that lis
object was not to ascertain who had re
ceved majority of the legal votes, but
to override the peoples will and the con
tuition and install the defeated candi-
date.
1t has been the rule of the public
agents who have stood in that unfortu-
nate category to plead that they were
justified in the part they bore in this dis
graceful performance by the quid pro
quo, relieved in the shape OF the South
ern policy" of the Hays administration
/ But here comes Senator Ben Hill with
his declaration that this was all gam
mon. The Southern policy" says Mr..
Hill, ''was a necessity Of the situation.
! Mr. Hays could not deOid it." That
was what the late Senator Morton, in
his dying speeches, said, and that is what
! Secretary Sherman, who pulls the wires
for the present administration, has con-
stantly proclaimed; and it is what every
well-informed person knows to be true.
/ Gen. Grant had inaugrated that policy.
He had refused the use of troops at the
call of the late Adelbert Ames, in the
Mississippi election of 1875; and subse-
quently had refused to comply with the
requisitlon Of Kellogg and Packard in
| Louisiana. But there was a power be-
hind Grant, greater than Grant himself,
and that was the people, who notified
| him that interference with State cleo
tions by the Federal army must cease.
Therefore there has been no Southern
policy of the Hays administration, but
constitutional policy of the people,
Numbered so loud in the ears of the
agents that they dared not refuse to
| obey.
If Senator Ben Hill had postponed
writing his letter two days he might have
added another and more blasting count
to his indictments. 1t was on the 9th
of October that the administration sent
out through Atty. Gen. Devens the
following instructions, the like of which,
we will venture to say, is not recorded in
che history of any administration since
the foundation of the present govern
ment:
Devens to-day teIegraphcd the following
instructions To to the United States District
Attorney for North Carolina:
"WAsHIHGToS, Oct. ), 1873.
LIN cases of interference by Democrats
with Republican meeting, called tor the
purpose OF taking initIdtory steps toward
the election of members Of Congress, | call
your attention tn chapter 7. and especially
section $500 Revised Statutes. You viii be
expected to give your pers nal attention to
ali cases arising under the above section
MeetiHg Is called for the purpose Of adVocat-
Jog and supporting the election of candi-
didaG-s for Congress should he undisturbed, |
and each party must have freedom to sup
MOI no - il i1r n e n 1XEyill
show this letter to the Marshal OF the Dis |
trict. who, 1t is to be hoped will render YOU !
all assistance by appointing discreet and
proper deputies to execute the provisions of |
the statute.
CHARLES DEvENs Atty General
This order was designed to put into
effect one of the unconstitutional measures
which was passed by the Republicans in
the heyday of the their power; and it
still disgraces our statute book The |
author of the letter is stupid enough to
betray the partisan character of the law.
He sells his subaIterns that if 'sDemo
crotSlnterfere with Republican meetings"
they are to be dealt with; but in his
malignity, he forgot to cover up the mo-
tive by adding that if Republicans inter
tere with Democratic meetings, they too
are to be punished. The cabinet officer
who is guilty of putting forth partisan
order like that, ought to be impeached
and driven in disgrace from his office.
The letter ofythe 5th was followed two
days afterward by stllt another manifesto:
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7.--Attorney General
Devens has sent the following letter to the
United States Attorneys in Louisiana, Ala
bama, and South Carolina:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON Oct. 3, 1873.
Charles E. Mayer. Esq, United States At
tOrney, Montgomery, Ala:
SIR-lEfOrmation has been given me of
certain outrages alleged to have been COM
United and threatened to be committed in
the Northern aud middle districts of Ala
bama in connection with the approaching
election. This information
is of such character that deem it proper
TO call your attention to the laws of Con-
gress intendeded to protect the freedom and
purity of such elections, in order that prop
CT steps 1Day be taken to bring to Justice
those who offend against them. and to secure
to all citizens, without distinction of party
while the election is pending, their Just
rights. The statement of crimes against
luS otSCtth6 iIdHCiilse Is contained IN ClaD- |
ter z, title 20, of the Revised Statutes, and {
your attention is especially called TO the sec
ton, $500, which enacts: s'If two or more
pers in any State or Territory conspire to
prevent by force, intimidation, or threat any
citizen who is lawfully entitled to vote from ,
giving his support or advocacy, 10 legal
name, toward or in favor of the election of
my qualified person as an Eleetor for Presi-
lent or Vice President. as a mem Der of
he Congress of the United States, or TO in !
ure aRy citizen in person or property on !
account of such support or advocacy, each ] /
IF such persons shall be published by fine
If not less than $500, nor more than 5000, 7