Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-03
TnE SOUTHERN QUESTION AND POLITICAL
kIGBTs.

The permanent pacihcaion of the country by
the complete protection OF all citizens in every
civil and political right continues to be of para
mount interest with the great body of our people
Every step 10 this direction is welcomed with rub
lie az prevail and every interruption of steady and
uniform progress TO the desired contamination,
awakens general uneasuess and wide spread con-
demGation. The recent Congressional elections
have furnished a direct and trustworthy test OF
the advance thus far inside In the practical es-
tabli.hmeut of the right of suffrage secured by
the constitution to the liberated race in the
Southern States. Disturbing influences
| real or imag mary had been removed from all OF
| these States. The three constitutional amend
| ments which conferred freedom and equality of
| evil and political rights upon the colored people
of the South, were adopted by the concurrent ac.
ton OF the great body of good citizens who NAN
| tanned the authority of the nsti0nal government
and the integrity aud perpetuty OF the Union at
such cost of treasure and life, as wise and nee
| essary embodiment in the ganic law of the
just results Of the war. The people OF
| the slave holding States accepted these
results and gave IN every practicable
| form assurances that the thirteenth, fourteenth
| and fifteenth anne n6ments, and laws passed IL
pursuance thereof should in good faith he eniOtc
ed rgdy and impariialliy, in letter ard spirit, to
the end that the humhlest citizen without dslinc
ton of race or color, under them receives full
and equal protection IN per son ard property ant
in political rights aud privileges. Bv these con
sttutiOua amendment, the s)uthcra section oitLe
Union obaiued "A large increase OF political power
in Congress and IN the electoral college, aud the
country Justly expected that elections would pro
coed to the eniraLchised race upon the same
circumstances of legal and con.ti;u ioua
freedom and protection which ohluned
in all the other States Of the Union
The friends Of law and order looked forward to
the conduct Of these 81, ctons as Offering to the
general judgement of the country an important
opportunity 70 measure the decree in which the
right of suffrage could be exercised nv the color
ed people aud wond he respected by their fellow
citizens: but more general enjoyment OF free
dom of suffrage by the coored people aud a more
just and generous protection Of that freedom by
the communities of which they form part were
generally anticipated than the record of the elcc-
tons dIscloses IN some of those States II
which the coored people have beeu unable
to make their opinions felt in the elections
The result is mainly due to influences not easily
measured OF remeded by legal protection; hut IN
the States of Louisiana and South Carolina at
large, and in some particular congressional dis
tricts outside of those States, the records of the
elections seem to compel the conclusion that the
rights Of the colored voters have been overfidden
and their participation in the elections no, permit
ted to be either general or free. II VIII be for the
Congress, for which these elections were held to
make such examination into their conduct may
be appropl late TO determine the validity of the
claims of members TO their seats. In the mean
judicial departments Of the government each in
It's province, TO inquire into and punish violations
of the laws of the United States, which have oc-
Cured. | can but repeat what said in this con-
necton in my last message that whatever aul hor-
ity rests with me TO this end, shall not hesitate
to put forth, and am unwilling to forepo re-
newed appeal to the legislatures the courts the ex-
ecntive authorities and the people Of the states
where these wrongs have been perpetrated, to
give their assistance towards bringing to Justice
a. lava md
crimes. No means within my power will be spared
to obtain full and fair investigation of the al
legged crimes and to secure the convection and lust
punishment OF the guilty.
1t is to be observed that the principal appropria.
tons made for the department Of Justice at the
last session contained the following clause: "And
for .deiraying the expenses which NAV he in
| CURED in the enforcement Of the act approved
February 18th, 1871, entitled AN act TO amend an
act approved May Both, 1870 entitled an act TO
enforce the rights of cit zens Of the United States
TO vote in the several a'es of the Union and for
other purposes or any acts amendatorv thereof
or supplementary thereto" 1t is the opinion OF
| the Attorney General that the expenses of these
proceedings will largely exceed the amount
which was provided and ! rely confidently upon
Congress to make adequate appropriations to en-
able the executive department TO enforce the laws
! l ecfiully urge unon your attention that the
cong essiOna elections in every district in a veiy
important sense, are justly matter of political
lhleTeN ana concern throughout The whole cnun
| ny, IN each state every political party is emit
Tied 10 the share Of p0wer which il conferred by
| the legal ard constitutional suffrage. II i. the
right OF every citizen Possessing the qualifications
! prescribed by law, to rsst one uniutmdaied bal.
lot, and to base his ballot honestly counted. So
long as the exercise of this power and the enjoy
lnent of this right are common and equal prsc,-
caly as well as formally. submission 10 the results
Of the suffrage will be accorded LOYALTY and
cheerelly, and all the departments of govern
ment will feel the true vgor of the popular will
thus expressed. No temporary administrative in.