Year: 1877

Attorney General Taft's Annual RepOrA
WASHINGTON, San 9,-The senate in ex-
ecutiye session confirmed the following


naval nominations: Commodore, Edward
Donaldson; George II. PEBBLE and Edward


Niddletown to be rear admirals


rAFT's ANNUAL REPORT.


The following Is the conclusion Of the an
nuaI report of Attorney General Taft, COM
munieated to congress to-day.


The state of the country in anticipGtion
of the recent presidential election has
thrown upon the national government un-
usual responsibility. Evidence which
could not be discredited, came TO the presi-
dent and the department of justice showing
that intimidation and violence


prevailed in several states to
such an extent as to prevent freedom of
opinion, and that in South Carolina unlaw-
ful military companies known as rifle clubs
were organized, and that by riding through
the country armed, doing violence
TO peaceable people and menac-
ing good citizens who differed
with them in political opinion, they broke
up or prevented the assemblages from politi-
cal discussion. In view of the actual and
prospective danger of the lawless violence
before and at the election, and in pursu-
ance of the statute which requires
the attorney general to exercise general su-
pervisOn and direction over attorneys and
marshals of all the districts in the United
States as TO the manner OF discharging their
respective duties | communicated to the
marshals in those districts which appeared
to be in special danger from intimida-
ton or fraud the instructions en-
closed. (The instructions, heretofore
published, are stringent in their character
and designed to secure voters in the exercise
of their rights.) He then goes on at great
length to talk of violence in South Carolina
and other southern states, and that the pres
ident and other government officers wanted
a fair and peaceable election; that the gov
ernor Of South Carolina asked the president
for aid, being unable himself to subdne the
acts of violence. He continues: The de-
claratlon OF the governor, supported by am
pie evidence from other sources, left
the president but to comply with his
constitutional demand by issuing an appro-
pirate proclamation and by ordering TO that
state such military force as seemed to be
necessary and was within his control. The
troops were not intended to interfere and
did not interfere with any citizens
right to vote, but on the contrary their
behavior was to make it safe for citizens to
vote according to their political opinions.
There is no authentic evidence that any man
has been deprived of his right to vote
or of his freedom of opinion by
the presence OF the small military force
in South Carolina. To have refused the aid
sought by the governor 10 supWess the do
mestic violence and inSurrection would
have been a plain denial of the constitu-
tional rights OF the governor and people of
South Carolina. The spirit of insurrec-
ton in South Carolina and in
colored voters are numerous seemed 10 be
founded upon the idea that the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution, prohibiting
deprivation OF citizens of their rights on
account OF race, color or previous con
dition of Servitude, was a blunder
and that the people of the south were not
bound 10 recognize or submit to it, but such
pretensions, in view of the history and
under the present circumstances of the
country, are unreasonable. The 10th
amendment 10 the constitution was forced
upon the people of the Union
by insubordination of the then
dominant voting population of the states
which had been in rebellion against the
government. 1t became obvious that the
freedom and civil rights of the colored citi-
zens OF those states could not otherwise be
preserved at the same time with the adop-
ton OF this amendment the po-
litical power of those states was
increased to the extent of two-fifths OF the
colOred population, in other words by more
than 20 electoral and more than 30 congress
sional votes, so that but for the 18th amend
ment, the party with which these states
have generally affiliated would have been
in. A decided gain in the late election in
stead of approaching as il did
equality with a republican vote; to allow
lhe southern states the increased political
power implied by extended rights of sufT-
rage to the colored population, and then to
allow the exercise OF that right to be pene-
trated by intimidation and otherwise,
is a perversion of the constitution,
and operates most unjustly towards
other states of the Union, without denying
the inconvenience of having large popula-
ton of unintelligent voters. it is enough to
say that the colored citizens have, under
the constitution, clear title to the
ballot of which / know no fair
or even practicable way TO de-
privc them. 1t is the duty of
those who are more intelligent to aid in put
ting into operation a system of popular ed |
ucation which shall reach every class in |
every state. Universal education of voting |
people, both white and colored, is |
essential to the safety of our republican |
government No time should be lost !
in furnishing ample opportunities to
every American citizen, of whatever |
race or condition to acquire |
mental and physical training to |
vote and fight with intelligence. Very re-
spectfally, your obedient servant,


Tax