Year: 1877




The following is the conclusion of the
annual report of Atty. Gen. Taft, COM
municated to Congress to-day:


The state of the country, in anticipation
of the recent Presidential election, has
thrown upon the National Government un
usual responsibility. Evidence which could
not be discredited came to the President and
TO the Department of Justice, showing that
intimidation and violence prevailed in sever
al States to such an extent as to prevent
freedom OF opinion, and that in South Caro-
Ina unlawful military companies, known as
"Rine Clubs" were organized, and that bJ
riding through the country armed, doing
violence to peaceable people, and menacing
good citizens who differed with them in po-
litical opinion, they broke up or prevented
asscmblages for political discussion.


In view OF the actual and prospective dan
ger Of lawless violence before aud at the
election, and In pursuance OF n statute which
requires the Attorney-(ieneral to exercise
general supervision and direction over the
Attorneys and Marshals of all districts in the
United States as to the manner of discharg.
ing their respective duties, l communicated
to the Marshals in those districts which ap-
peared to be in special danger from intimi-
dation the instructions inclosed. These
instructions, heretofore published, are
stringent In their character and designed TO
secure voters in the exercise of their rights.





ing IN concord with the Supervisors OF Elec.
tions, under these instructions, in New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, Chicago,
New Orleans and several of the Southern
States, contributed materially TO the rreser-
vation OF the peace and to securing to citi-
liens freedom in the exercise Of their right
OF suffrage The interest which the people
of the United States have in the purity Of
the ballot for Federal officers to be elected
by the popular vote, and the acts Of Con-
gress intended TO guard the ballots for Con
gressional candidates from fraud, justified
and required the instructions.


Such were the demonstrations OF domestic
violence in South Carolina few weeks be-
fore the election, so defiant and uncOntrolla-
Bile by the civ IL power, that the Governor OF
that State applied, under the Constitution,
TO the President, stating that he was unable
to suppress the domestic violence that eX-
listed in the State; that armed organizations,
contrary to law, known as Rifle Clubs" !"
continually roamed over the country doing
violence, and that they we're altogether be-
you'd his control, breaking up the peace of
the State and terrifying the citizens.


The declaration OF the Governor, supported
by ample evidence from other sources, left
the President but to comply with his con-
stitutional demand, by Issuing an appro-
| propriate proclamation and nv 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 endeavor
was to make it safe for citizens to vote ac-
cording to their political opinions. There is
no authentic evidence that any man has been
deprived Of his right to vote or of his free
dom of opinion by the presence Of the small
military force in South Carolina.


To have refused the aid sought by the Gov
ernor to suppress domestic violence and in
surrection would have been plain denial of
the constitutional right of the Governor and
people Of South Carolina. The spirit of in
surrection in South Carolina, and in some
other States in which colored voters are nu-
merous, seemed to be founded upon the
| idea that the Fifteenth Amendment TO the
Constitution, prohibiting the deprivation of
citizens of their right TO vote on account of
race, color, or previous condition Of servi-
tude, was blunder and that the people of
the South were not bound to recognize or
submit to it; but such pretensions, in view
of the history and under the present circum-
stances of the country, are unreasonable.
The Fifteenth Amendment to the Coustitu-
tion was forced upon the people Of the
Union by the characterization of the then
dominant voting population Of the Sta tes
which have 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 political power
of these States was increased to the extent
of two fifths Of the colored population; in
other words, by more than twenty Electoral
and more than fifty Congressional votes, so
that but for the Fifteenth Amendment the
party with which these States have generally
affiliated would have been in decided mi.
nority in the late election, instead OF ap-
preaching, AS it did, equality with the Re-
! publican vote.


To allow the Southern States the increased
| political power implied by extending the
| right Of suffrage to the colored population,
and then to allow the exercise of tnat right
to be prevented by intimidation and other
wise, is n perversion Of the Constitution,
and operates most unjustly toward the other
States OF the Union. Without denying the
Inconvenience Of having large population
of unintelligent voters, 1t is enough to say
that the colored citizens have, under the
Constitution, a clear title TO the ballot, OF
which know no fair or even practicable way
| to deprive them. IL is the duty of those
who are more intelligent to aid in putin g
into operation a system of popular educa-
tion which shall reach every class in every
State.


Universal education of the voting people,
both white and colored, is essential TO the
safety of our republican government. No
time should be lost in furnishing ample op-
portunities to every American citizen, of
whatever complexion, race, or condition, to
acquire sufficient mental and physical train
ing TO vote and fight with intelligence,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALPHoNso TAFT,
Attorney General