The New York herald., 1878-12-03
ELECTION TROUBLES IN THE SOUTH.

EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL--FRAUDs, INTIMIDATION
AND PERSECUTION OF FEDERAL OFFICIALS
CHARGEp-THE REMEDY PROPOSED.
WASHINGTON Dec. 2. 1873.
The annual report Of Attorney General Dcvens,
which was to Congress to-day by the President.
is very voluminous document. devoted mainly to
detailed statements of the business transacted by the
Department Of Justice and the district attorneys,
marshals &C., under its control during the last fiscal
year. but it also contains several passages Of very
general interest. the most important Of which
herewith given. Under the head Of protection to
Civil Officers" the Attorney General says-
It is important that additional provision should
be made for the protection OF the executive civil
officers. The punishment attached to resistance
to the process of the United States courts is not pro-
portioate TO the crime Of murder which, in frequent
instances. have been committed upon deputy mar
shas because they have arrested endcavoret 10
arrest vioators Of the law 1t should not DO left
the state determine and enforce the penalty for
nm act against the execution of Justice of
such serious character. but appropriate lcgis-
lstion should enable the court whose author
ity has been defcd and whose faithful officers
have been killed to adminiser the penalty which the
crime deserves. II IL. unfortunately. too clear that
IL this duty be left to the of the states 1t
not he expected that in certain portions Of the Union
it will now be faithfully and efficiently performed.
VIOLATIONS or THE FEDERAL LAWS
On the subject of violations Of the federal election
laws the Attorney General says:
Information which received from various sources
le, to believe previous to the recent Congress-
ional elections that such interference with the canvass
preceding II had taken place. and reasonably 10
be expected with the election itself that the attention
of the officer of this Department should, in certain
Localities be called to infractions of tho laws which
had occurred or which might be expected and to the
necessity of doing all in their power prevent
and to secure fair election In some instances it
was deemed 10 have been fully shown that peaceful
meetings. lawfully called for the advocacy OF particular
Candidates for Congress- mad been ntruded upon by
armed bands under the spccos prctext of keeping
peace preventing by disorders and rlfianism the or
ranizaiion or the proper holding OF such meetiros
The Attorney Generals once is not provided with
tire Of general System of investigation OF
infractons OF the laws IL depends mainly upon the
reports OF facts In individual cases, made by thu
officers Of the department npon the ground and on
their requests for instructions In regard thereto.
TIiE FRAUDS cHAR6ED.
Availing myself OF these well as of information
from those public sources which common to ALL
1t is apparent that in various parts Of the Union
especially in certain portions OF the States Louis
lana, South Carolina. Texas and Virginia. instances oe
unlawful combination and violence intended to pre-.
vent free and peaceful advocacy of candidates for
Congress- occurred previous to the day Of election.
and upon the day Of election deliberate frauds
the votes. often accompanied by threats and intimi
dation. frequent outrage upon the purity of the
ballot was In what IL faiiisrly known as ballot box
stuhing. and consisted In preparing the boxes by
depositing therein before thy voting commenced
after IL concluded large numbers OF fraudulent
ballots and also by folding smaller ballots within
Rrxe in such way tnat they could bc shaken out
ward by those who had the custody OF the
box. This fraud was accomplished by the Of
small ballots printed upon tissue paper and per-
petrated In many different places and with tickcts
carefully prepared and of such similarity, that 10
cannot DO doubted that it was the result of an or
gziizcd conspiracy OF central directing agency
~ defeat will ct the people aud falsify the true
result OF the election. Ur
cowAnpLY MURDERS.
The canvass fDd election accompanied in the
state OF Louisiana by series ~ cowardly and cruel
murders the only apparent motive for which 10
prevent the colord people from exercising their right
OF suffrage. These murders occurred in Caddo Ten
sas, Natchitoches and other parishes. II has my
Department. in such manner seemed best calculated
to secure the ends Of justice, to promptly and
enforce the authority OF the laws of the United states
Ia order to bring to Justice those who have violated
them. have seen no reason to believe that any
rests which they have caused to be made have NOT
been fully Justified that they have acted otherwise
than M their duty plainly demanded.
rnoskCurIuS on FEDERAL OFFICERS.
Inc attempt 70 bring to justice the yiolaors Of Tho
of United states officers and Of wtness.s
who have been called to testify in regard to the
severely condemned. This resistance TO the laws of
the United states has In some instances taken the
aTr an 10. orao 0'onee, &C., pa. more soner.
the state laws for alleged offences. In such
proceedings bail has sometimes been refused
or hxcd at amounts cxorbitant that the
accused could not be expected to be able 10 obtain IT,
The character OF the prosecutions may perhaps be
better understood when IL IL hat n,,p
bers OF them are for alleged pcrjurcs committed
before United States Commissioners or the courts of
the United states offences of which IL IL entirely clear
that the States have no jurisdiction. II will be my
effort fairly but decidedly to do all In my power 10
execute the laws of the United States regarding the
purity of elections lit the way ~ ali its other
laws and to bring to justice those who have violate
them.
Some addition to the anticipated expenses Of this
department Tor the current year may he occasioncd
by dinR This thoroughly, and the ,neans for meeting
IN shuud DC prntn,i bs Congress. 1 respectfully
submit 10 the consideration Congress wattcr All
pt
TO protect officers of the United states aud witnesses
summoned ON its behalf against causeess prosccu-
tons and 10 enable them 10 transfer the examination
OF them to the courts OF the United states.