Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-06-07

on charge of high treason. Prior to his
departure for Charleston he issued the fol-
lowing yaledictory address;
EXECUTIVE DEP'T, COLUMBIA,
ID IL. May ~, 1865. |
To the People of South Carolina;
| have this day received information of an
order issued by Major General Q. A. Gill
more. | deem it proper, without delay, to
nresent to YOU for your information such
horizons thereof rs affect. me and concern
YOU because they create for you conflict
with the forces OF the United States, which
can only be avoided by my forbearance to
exercise the functions Of the Executive De-
rartment OF the State.
Here follows General Gillmore's order in
relation to the Rebel Governors Of South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida.I
| cannot, under all the circumstances which
surround you, expose You to the consequent
ces which will be produced because OF any
effort on my part-iruitless, If not mischiev
ous. as il must be-to exercise those func-
tions which you in your confidence have
committed to me. Nor am | willing that,
without such consequences to you, while in
the Executive Chair of the State, l shall be
held forth to the world charged with crime,
without the most positive declaration that
am ready to meet ana Tepel it, wherever and
by whomsoever made.
In that peculiar condition of our affairs
which are now disclosed 10 you l feel that my
duty, whether considered in regard TO my
self as your Executive, or to you as peo-
nile whose welfare is dear to me, is at once
plain and imperative. will not introduce
within this State discOrd or contention.
will not allow myself to furnish the occasion
by which a single atom of suffering can be
added to that load which now weighs so
heavily upon you. will not give opportu-
nty for conflict between the Government OF
this State AMI the Government of the United
States. The functions, therefore, of the
Executive are suspended by me nom this
| day.
Under other circumstances and at other
times 1 would pause in doing that which
now do without hesitation, and with per-
feet conviction that it is due to you that it
should be done. The exercise OF the execu-
tive power in the proclamation of the I'd
NAV, 1865, which was complained of, has been
rectided and the proclamation recalled. Be-
fore my letter was received containing the
explanation of the circumstances which led
10 the proclamation, these orders have been
issued in which, because of Trustworthy
information" of ''disloyalty' and sundry
| and divers acts of treason" the functions of
the Governor Of the State are suspended, and
his authority denied. To exercise my func-
tons in the face Of these orders is to invoke
force 10 sustain me in opposition to that
which will be displayed against me. Such
| con: est could have but one result. While to
those in the State who would give their sup
mort to the Executive, there must come PEN
aties aud suffering, without the possibility
Of advantage.
Whatever, therefore, may be the feeling
which belong to me as a man or q citizen, in
a case like tins, where conviction precedes
the hearing, and sentence comes before the
trial. feel that il becomes ME to be mindful
of The considerations which involve your
peace and affect your welfare. / have said
| TO YOU before, l say to you now, the war is
over; hostilities have ceased and it is your
duty to forbear opposition which is hopeless,
contest which is unavailng, and reconcile to
yourselves that submission which the Gov
eminent of the United States can impose,
| and you cannot resist.
While the considerations which have now
expressed lead me T. this forbearance in the
exercise of the functions Of the Executive
Department of the State, | owe it to myself,
to YOU, 10 the State, the Legislature Of which,
according 10 the Constitution Of this State,
elected me the Governor of the State, to
make my protest against the power claimed
and exercised by Gen. Gilmore. 1t involves
question which concerns not alone this
State, but all the States of the United States.
It affirlns principle which is not necessary
for me now TO discuss.
Whatever may be your condition, unavail-
ing resistance on your part will but make it
worse. With an earnes:ness Of the sincerity
of which need not give you assurance ]
urge upon you the resumption Of your peace
full pursuits, and the adaptation Of yourselves
10 those changes which may be made in your
condition. DO not be misled by excitement;
give no heed to passion deal reSolutely with
facts look the truth calmly in the face spill
no more blood; accept with the dignity
which even misfortune can command the con-
dition which you cannot avert.
In thus sEspending the active exercise Of
tba r.,-ties of my office, do so with the most
earnest wish that your suffering may soon
find mitigation and relief that you may re-
Irieve the waste and loss of prosperity which
Won have endured in the progress of the war,
and that you may experience those blessings,
Intellectual, social aud moral, which, under
the favor of God, were the great ends which
| desired to accomplish, To have succeeded
in these would have secured to me reward
the richest and only inheritance which could
have left to my children.
With regard to myself, so far as l am af-
fected by the charges which are made against
me, am ready to answer to them, or to any
of them. At auy time or place, when or
where my presence may be desired or re-
auired for investigation, shall be there, If
notified thereof, with the least possible de-
Law. Whatever have said believed to be
true whatever have done believed to be
right. And with this consciousness of the
rectitude Of my purpose, aud OF the integ-
rity of my conduct, l shall not avoid, delay
or hinder the closest scrutiny that can be
devised.
To you, among whom was born to you,
with whom nv whole life has been spent to
YOU, whose confidence | have enjoyed to
You, whose testimony feel could well in
woke for my conduct, have but to express
the pain which this condition of the State
has cost me, and to wish you all the happiz
ness which people are ever permitted to
enjoy. A. I' mAGRAIH'
AFFAIRS AT COLUMBIA.
The 25th Ohio Regiment, Lieut. Colonel
Haughtou, arrived at Columbia on the eve
ming OF the 25th ult. They are to cOnsti-
tute the permanent post garrison of Colum-
ba.
The citizens of Columbia were presenting
themselves at headquarters in crowds to
take the oath of allegiance. The officers had
ordered a new supply of blanks for the pur-
pose.
About one thousand of the colored people
assembled on the morning of the departure
OF Lieutenant Breck, DESTROYS OF acc)mpa-
nying him 10 Charleston. They were all left,
however, on the Columbia side of the Con-
$3.50 river eNcantino nhont one hundred