National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-04
SOUTHERN SADNESS AND nRAyApo.

The Charleston Neus and Courier is very
sad and weeps bitter tears over the action
of Republican Senate in refusing to adopt
the amendment TO the army appropriation
bill, which provided for the repeal of the
section Of the Revised Statutes authorizing
the use of troops at the polls. 1t seems to
think that it indicates a determination to
adhere to their old policy of using all the
power of the Government TO maintain and
defend the rights OF citizenship; and it is
not mistaken. The army has no purpose
except to defend the Government and
maintain the rights of the people. That is
Just what it is organized and paid for, and
he who thinks that this purpose is to be
neglected or left unused, so long rs loyalty
is in power, tlatters himself with an illu-
sion. The Republicans saved the nation
from overthrow through rebellion, and it is
an inheritance which they propose to have
and to hold, by all legitimate agencies, so
long as they possess the power, though it
requires the use of the army and navy to
enforce the laws and protect the inalien-
able rights of citizenship. The army will
never be used except for such purposes rs
the Constitution of the United States con-
templates and the laws clearly provide for If
the laws of the Federal Government relating
to the rights of suffrage or life, liberty,
and the pursuits Of happiness are disre-
garded or dehed by the people of South
Carolina, or any other State within the
lat ha a,,Gn
be, at the point of the bnyonet. If def
ance of law or Outrages are committed
against the rights of citizenship and the
civil power is unequal to their protection,
then let the army step in and conserve
! the interests of the Government and the
people, though the proceeding may not be
palatable to the law breaker and the viola
tor of right.
! In the North and West the civil power is
all sufficient to execute the law and con-
serve the rights of the people without the
interference of the army. But it has not
been so in the South in the past, neither
will it be so in the future, unless very
great and favorable change shall come over
the spirit and purpose of that section, We
wish it were so, for it is a disgrace to the
nation that any portion of the country
shall so far forget what is due from the
people to the Government, rs to render the
use of the army necessary to sustain its
power, maintain right, and preserve the
public welfare. The Republican party holds
the Executive branch of the Government,
and it proposes to hold it, under the Consti-
tuition and the laws, at all hazards. The
threat of the NetrS dnd Courier that the
Democratic party will have the power III
the coming Congress to repeal these laws
which afford protection to the people in
their rights, has no terror for the Republican
party. If the next Congress attempts TO
run riot with salutary and benellcent laws
by attempting their repeal, the ayenging
veto will interpose between it aad success,
and Republican President will stand firmly
by that prerogatiye. In this behalf Con-
gress may he wicked enough to attempt an
outrage against the rights and interests of
the people and the Government, but they
are powerless against the veto to carry out
their nefarious purposes This little fact
affords much comfort to the people. The
veto power will restrain and disarm the
wrath of the South.