Year: 1871

From the Boston Advertiser eastern Republican


Organ|, March "a


LEGISLATING IN THE DARK.


II any member OF Congress sees his way clear
to further legislation on the southern difficulties he
Is perfectly right in M Insisting that ms associates
been tested by discussion and a vote But II ten
years OF almost continuous legislation on this subject
furnish no power to suppress and punish the iagrant
violations OF law charged upon the Ku Kux conspir
ators Congress may well pause and consider
whether 1t Is legsating the right direction. 1t is
at least bound to inquire as TO the causes OF dis
ease WHICH as the existing panic shows their reme-
sss aaTe ea fr 70 al ene ~ on ea
have the slightest prospect OF adoption In theprescnt
temper 9, the Rouse This Is good sign
South, giving to body Of United States
they might select into the federal courts has
been rejected. Judge Sheabarger's bill giving the
to send into state to en-
or not and to treat conspiraces in tue States in
the Territories, where the federal law supreme, IS
also out OF favor. The Hous ecaucus bil embracing
the main points OF the other two, and new
ingredients or a stringent and corrosive charac-
ter. has been put aside as impracticaole. Mr..
Wilson'S bill, authorizing the President to
employ the land and naval forces OF the
United States and the militia OF state suppress
unlawful combinations and arrest the onenders, Is
In the hands OF the Judiciary Committee OF the
action viii be taken now, II any, in response to the
Presidents recommendation, rests with the Judi
ciary Committee OF the Senate OF this committee





sen and Sherman would be opposed TO any iegisla-
ton OF the Kind above indicated. The minority OF
the committee have at various times taken different
views OF the situation, and would be disposed to
port more severe measures.


1t is not In this way, In judgment that the dif-
cultes can be remedled. That venerable and much
abused document, the constitution and the laws
made In pursuance OF II. provide the means for
their enforcement Is there occasion now to go out
side OF them for authority to suppress local disor-
derss or Is 1t desirableY The political disorders at
the South are deeply seated and VIII continue what
ever federal interference there be, for some time
to come. The reaction from the ignorance and IN.
triRue which came to the surface after the is
gong on. Ir was impossible that the inexperienced
negroes and the Northern adventures who took
advantage OF their opportunity and seized so many
OF the State ana local governments should perma-
nentiy hold them without encountering both open
and secret enemies The powerful aid which the
general government has given TO them in the distr
button OF It's patronage, by its moral support, has
driven the worst OF the opposition into secret COM
blnatonS whose crimes are the cause OF these peri
odical excitements. In all where the State
authorities desire the suppression or these bands Of
the Of the general government are at their
command. But what is to be done where the State
authorities have the power but not The disposition
to enforce order and TO punish crime? The worst
that could happen in the end would be that the dis
orderly and violent neighbOrh0ods would be aban.
doned by peaceabe citizens and the States which
failed to protect them would lose them altogether.
the credit OF state 80 fatally cripple its re-
sources as the repetition OF unpunshed crimes like
those reported in some parts or North carolina and
MISSISSIPPI The greater the violence OF the outlaws
the sooner 1t would exhaust ITSELF call down upon
them vengeance Us wild as their own