Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-02
The Deputy MARSHAL Business.

AhOAC - hO NAOuUl olAC6 lHG OuiO anu
West Virginia elections that Blaine, Ell
kins and company are brilliant organizers
and leaders. The grandest idea of the
campaign was the one that led to the
organization of the Deputy Marshal brig
AIDES 1t has not yet been developed to
whom the credit for the conception of this
plan is due, but it seems to be strongly
suspected that it belongs to Powell Clay
ton.
The Southern people know how the Re-
publicans have IN the past used specially
appointed United States Deputy Marshals
to protect illegal negro voters and intimi-
date Democratic voters and chaliengers,
but the employing of Deputy Marshals by
the hundreds, and even, it may be said,
by the thousands, is something new in pO-
litical tactics. These officials are paid
their travelling expenses and So per day
by the government, and being kept in SER
vice two days before and two days after
the day of the election, they doubtless
n anage TO get from S25 to $40 each out
of the National Treasury. What a temp
tatiOn was this to a Kentucky negro to 90
to Cincinnati, or some other place, and
work for and vote the Republican ticket
What a saving, too, of the Republican
campaign fund was accomplished by
charging the services of these Deputy
MaTsbals to the government! 1t is stated
that many. if not a majority, of these
Marshals, who were ostensibly appointed
to preserve order and protect the ballot
boxes in Ohio. were not only imported ne
gro rufians, armed with pistols and clubs,
and instructed to carry the day by any
means that might be found necessary, but
that many of them voted early and often
during the election.
There is now 20 doubt that the Deputy
Marshal business is 20 be repeated on
much more gigantic scale on Tuesday.
1t is asserted that North Carolina and
Florida are to be especially favored with
the services of these partisan officials.
No doubt other States and districts viii
also receive similar attentions.
Let the people be fOrewarned about this
matter. Under the United States laws
Deputy Marshals have certain duties and
privileges, but these duties and privileges
are limited. Let it be seen that such
officials do not go beyond their duties,
overstep their privileges and trespass
on the rights of the people. 1t
is important that the State au-
thOrities shall be amply prepared
to protect voters in their rights and to
prevent frauds and violence, even by the
aid of the illegal work of United States
Deputy Marshals. 1t should be remem-
bered that the elections will be held under
State authority and the judges of election
will be appointed under State laws; and
not only the State constabulary, but the
United States Deputy Marshals also, will
be subject to their call. The Deputy Mar
shals have no right to override the State
authorities in any respect. Nor have
they right to arrest any voter either go
ing to, at, or going home from the polling
place except for treason, felony, or breach
Of the peace.
While the Democratic committees in
all parts of the South are organizing for
the election and urging the people to turn
out and redeem the country, let them not
forget to post them as to the duties of
United states Deputy Marshals and their
right to resist their unauthorized acts.
1t is getting to be rather late in the cam
paign for figures, but here are some that
ought to make some of the conservative
Republicans hesitate about continuing the
Republican party in power: The Demo-
cratic Campaign Committee at Washing
ton has prepared a statement, under the
direction of the National Committee, CON-
pairing losses to the government by defal-
cations under Buchanan's administra-
ton with those under Grants first term.
The statement claims to show by official
| records that the defalcations under Bu-
chanan amounted to 81, OOO, 900, while those
| during Grants first term amounted to
! $S,O00,000. Thirty-fve per cent. Of the loss
under the former was recovered. Only five
per cent. was recovered of the loss under
the latter.
The committee ought to present the fig
ures for Grants second term, and for the
terms of Hayes and Arthur. They would
make as bad a showing, doubtless, as
Grants first term does.