The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-04-04
Charleston News and Courier, March I'll
The Political Prosecutions - Duty
of the State Authorities and the

People.
The persons whom it is proposed to try at the
approaching term of the United States Court,
under the election laws, are, with few excep-
tons, commissioners and managers of elections.
This is fully explained in the letter of one of the
counsel for the government, published on Friday
last.
The election officers in question were appoint
ed under the laws of the State of South Caro-
lima to perform certain duties which are pre-
scribed by law. In the exercise of those duties
they violated. it is alleged, the United States
laws relating to elections, and for this offence
they are to be tried in the United States Court
No derelcton of duty, under tie State law,
has come TO the knowledge of the State courts.
The courts are open. Any citizen who had
knowledge of any unlawful act, or who was IN
any way injured or aggrieved, could cause the
arrest of the accused officer and the trial of that
officer would follow in due course. But moth
ing of the sort has been done. The election
officers obeyed the State law as they understood
it, and the State is satisfied with their conduct
Nevertheless, scores Of election officers are
accused of violating some United States law.
What the testimony is against them there is no
means of knowing 1t is safe 10 assume, how
ever, that their wrong-doing has this extent:--
They executed the State law, as il is, and not as
the Stalwart Radicals wanted the law 10 be.
TIE Stalwarts start out with the assumption
that in particular places, the Radical candidates
ought to have been elected. AS they were not
elected. the officers of election must be prosecu-
ted. This will not reverse the election, as de-
clared, in the case of State officers and, as re-
CARDS Congressman, the Stalwarts have in the
Committee on Elections at Washington sufi-
GENTLY partisan jury. There is more than this
behind.
The object of the Stalwart wing of the Repub-
llcan party, as revealed In the letter of Attorney
General Brewster, is to Africanize South Caro-
lima. They want to show the officers of cleo
tons, appointed by the State, that they will be
arrested, prosecuted, and, If possible, convicted
whenever the Democratic candidates are elected
and The Stalwart ofice-huniers are defeated
Their purpose Is to intimidate the people, so
that those who consent hereafter to act as cleo
ton officers will be at the beck and nod of the
6talwart touters and ralyers who are appointed
under United States laws, 70 supervise our cleo
TONS
II isyidiculous TO say that the object 10 TO Sc
cure purity Of elections. For this In itself. the
6talwart coterie care nothing. They want the
electoral vote of South Carolina in 1884. and TO
compass that they are willing. and anxious, to
thrust South Carolina back into the slough from
which the people emerged in 1879. This ID not
the desire Of the people Of the United States. II
is not the desire Of the Republican party, - .
whole. 1t is 6talwaFt conspiracy which never
could have been heard Of, II 6talwart reviling
had not wrought up the wretched Guitsauto
the pelnt Of Staying our President.
WewsFn the people 10 time; and We warn
The e,ase aulhofitiss. The white people WIN I'M