New-York tribune., 1879-01-14
UU4T ClN BE DONE?

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
4 CORRESPONDENT. who Informs Us III a prl-
vatc note that he has lived thIrly-sevcn years
IN the extreme South before and since the
war. writes an indignant letter on the num-
crous murders and ether acts of violence
committed in that section for political Tca-
SON. and asks: is there any law in
"the White House or out OF It, among
Attorneys. Judges, Legislatures, Governors
"og Cabinets, ADVERTISEMENTS or United
estate, Na.,h.is, that can bring these atIoci-
cues to ali end !' Oar friend complains That
little or 10 result has followed from the lnvcs-
ti-atioa Of these crimes, and the publication
of vouninOus Government reports upon
them: and he apparently believes tn"t
the Federal authorities are guilty OF
rnpardouable negligence. The punishment
Of murder does not lie with the Gov
ernmcut at Washington, but with the
authorities of the States. Even when murders
are committed for political reasons, the state
alone can take cOgnzancc OF them. II the
local authorities will neither prevent nor pun
ish. if they connve at the outrages by which
thew were raised to power, if they are pracu-
callv in league with a brutal population to
hunt Radicals out OF the State, then the COM
munity is Il barbarous one, in which decent
ncopie ought not to remain; but such a
condition of things offers no pretcxt for Con-
glcss aud the President to transcend their
constitutional functions. Properly speaking
therefore, there is no claw IN the White
- House, or in Cabinets, or AttoTney-Gcn-
erals 10 bring these atrocities to an end
There is law enough outside of the White
House: but if Governors, Judges and LcgS-
latg,Ie. viii not do their duty the President
cannot make them. The remedy is III the
hands Of the people of The state. II the peo-
pIe Of the State will not apply it, there Is no
help for the oppressed until public sentiment
has been educated
There are certain things, however, which the
National Government can do and must d0. 1t
can protect the cOlOred people III the exercise
Of the rights conferred upon them by the Con
,ftuGoual Amendments; apd 1t can protect
the purity and freedom OF elections for all
Federal Offices. The provisions OF the COnstl-
tuti0D and the decisions OF the Supreme Court
define with considerable precision the limit, OF
the Federal power in Il csc matters and il Is not
at all likely that any attempt will be made 10
nass such weli.malked boundaries. 1t Is
ascertain whether the Southerners who clam
seats in the Senate and House have been
fairly elected hy the constituencies they profess
10 represent. 1t is clearly the duty OF the
President to enforce, to the utmost of his abil-
ity, tie laws enacted to give due effect to
cmancipatiOn. These two points will be kept in
view ~ the labOrs of the Teller Committee; and
whatever action may follow their report will
have to be III direction very rgldly defined
by the recent rulings of the Supreme Court in
cases arising under what were known as the
Enforcement Laws. Southern Republicans
who look TO Congress TO right all their wrongs
will be disappointed. Congress cannot Go
that
Even in the execution Of the existing
statutes the powers OF Federal Judges, AttOr
news, and Marshals must be circumscnbcd
by the hostile attitude of the pco-
pie. Our correspondence has described
some Of tAc difficulties, practically insupcr-
able which have presented themselves III the
attempt to punish violations of the Federal
election laws. Witnesses are spirited away
OF inundated, or murdered. Jurics alr per
iurcd and corrupt. Accused persons disappear
and the whole white community is concerned
in hiding them. II resistance Is offered, the
Marshals are helpless. Where the entire
community is in conspiracy to prevent the
execution of the law. it is certain
that the law will remain q dead letter. No
acts of Congress, no zeal in the White House
or the Cabinet, can wholly cure such an evil
case There must first be an improvement in
the character of Southern society. Men must
learn. in the home OF chiydlry, to BE- jast and
t!uthiI and honest and humane. And the first
step toward the regeneration for which We
hope is to show the world what the political
life of the South now il People down there.
flushed with the excitement of victory. have
hardly stopped to think how the victory was
Gained and what it means. The work OF the
Teller Committee will be to strip of disguises
and show the naked facts; and we cannot help
believing that when the better men OF the
South sec what has been done In their 4" solid