New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-05
SOUTH C1ROLIN1,S DEFLANCE.

There Is something very much llhc IcOoiIoi
going on in South Carolina. The officers OF
the Federal Government are openly dehed by
the local Democratic officials, are resisted In
the performance of their duty, and are fOrclbly
elected from buildings which they visit in
order to discharge the duty which the Govern
ment IMPOSES upon them. THIS seems lncred-
iblc, but it is the plaincst possible statement
of facts actually existing. The defiance is made
openly. with the old Tweed taunt: What are
you going to do about 1t 7"
Registration under the new State law has
been in progress for some time throughout the
State. The law, as we explained at the time
of its enactment, is as infamous as Bourbon
intolerance could make it. Its first and chief
aim is to dsfranchise the great mass of the
negro vote, and thus make bulldozing and
ballot-box stufling unnecessary hereafter. Inc
Supervisors, who supcrintend the registration,
were all appointed by Il Democratic Governor,
and are animated bya common zeal to carry out
the law in the spirit of its enactment. They take
every possible means to hinder the reSlstra-
ton of negroes and facilitate that of white
men. This plan of procedure was carried to
such extremes in Charleston on Tuesday that
the United States Deputy Marshals protested,
and demanded their right to stand near the
registration officers in order that they might
inspect their work and prevent their unlawful
conduct. To this the Supervisor objected or
dered the Marshals from the room, and when
they refused to depart called the police and
had them elected. When they reported
| TO the Marshal he had the Supervisor
arrested and taken before Chief Govern
| mcnt Supervisor Wallace on the charge of
obstructing and hndering a United States
Marshal in the discharge of his duty. Bonds
were given for his release, and he returned
and reopened the registration in the same
unfair manner. The Deputy Marshals again
protested and were again elected. Whereupon
| the Supervisor was arrested a second time and
released after giving bonds. lie returned
again and proceeded in the same way as
before. On Thursday Deputy Marshals were
treated in the same manner by another Super
visor. who was subsequently arrested, and on
the same day the Bourbon State authorities
had the chairman of the Republican State
| Committee arrested because he insisted that
colorcd voters should have the same rights as
white in registering.
| 1t is easy to understand why the B0urbOns
| feel safe in following this course. The offence
is the same as that which was charged In the
recent election misunderstanding and hlnder1ng
a Marshal in the performance OF his duties. Nc
Jury was found which had the honesty or the
courage to bring in a verdict of guilty on that
charge, though the evidence of guilt was over
whelming The BOurbons argue that If they
broke the law with impunity once they may
again, since no jury can be found II
| the State to convict them. The leading
Bourbon organ of the State speaks of the
conduct of the Marshals as "monstrous," ant
calls the recent attempt of the Government tC
enforce its authority in the State "high
handed The whole tone of its comments il
to assert the authority of the State above thai
of the Nation, and to defy the Nation to hell
itself if it can. The situation is at once as
founding and pathetic. What is to be the
future of a State in which the conscience o
the people is SO dumb that dishonesty i'll poll
tics is hailed as virtue and defiance of law i
treated rs high service to the Commonwealth
Sooner or later South Carolina will see thu
blind folly of her course. I'm the meantime
what is the Government going to do about 1t