The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-12-09

vi
Martin; wac an intelligent a1d pir,riotit
citizen, singularly inoffensive IN language
| and demeanor, and oil the circumstano es
connected. with this outrage mark II as O
col1-bloodod assassination. f. ,t..
Hon., B. F. Randolph; o senator froff
| Orangeburg County, was assassnated al
Hodges Station, near Cokesbnry, Abbebille
County, on, tho 10th Of Dot ober. Mr.. Ran.
dolph was on his way to address d meeting
OF his follow citizens, and upon The stoppine
Of the trainiwhile, on the plat form of the car
was assassihated ny Three ruffans, who kud
evidently been lying In wait for the pur
pose, and notwithstanding, there wcre a
number of persons present, Including those
connected with the train, the sssAssifs were
permitted to leisurely mount their horses
enlarged views, ofgreat force Of character,
md exetoised an extensive influence upon
public sentiment. Notwithstanding that ,e
was studiously courteous and liberal IN his
int terooarse with his fellow. men ,!the addi
tional infamy, as In the case Of Mr.. Mar.
tin. was attempted, by sheer fabrica!ions
and lfalsehoods, to blaoken bis character
and defhme his memory, as a palliation,
II not justification, Of his murder. Olher
instances Of violence and outrages of the
most revolving character In PORTIONS Of
Edgefeld, Abbevill6 aud Newberry Coun-
Ties have been reported to this department
butIprominenco has been given to tho assas-
sinations Of Messrs. Martin aud Randolph
because of their official position. Large
rewards have been offered for the atpre-
hension of their murdefers, ,sonie Of whom
ate known to be refagess and outlaws from
adjoining States. .swho availed themselves of
the political excitement as o cloak for
ticlr 'sohemes Of rapine and murder but
such is the condition of society in their
immediate neighborhoods that neither the
promised, rewards nor the strenuous efforts
Of civil officers have accomplished their
arrest. .,t They are fully armed aud mount
ed, and boast of the extent and power of
their organisation. And d somewhat pro-
tirincnt individual, who is himself under
heavy bonds TO aansweroath tho charge Of conf
plicity in tho murder Of tho lamented Ran.
dolph, has had The hardihood to publish an
address to the Executive, threatening still
further outrages and additional victims.
AS "a discouraging evidence Of tho deterio-
ration Of, journalistic morals, it may be
mentioned that this covert threat Of ,assas-
.siEation has been published and republish.
ed without o Word Of censure or dissont.
aA&The turbulent condition Of affairs in the
localities 10 which have called your atten.
tion oRnnot and must not no longer tolcra-
ted.b A government unable IN enforce its
laws and protect its' citizens is mockery
and sham, meriting the scorn and con.
tempt ofits opponents, and unworthy tho
confidence and Csupp,rt fits friends 1t
cannot administ or justice ,hrougll its courts,
or COLLECT its revenue by taxation. Z A
remedy for these evils, which strike mt tho
very foundation OF the State, should be
promptly applied. The law must be made
supreme, 0 The most arrogant must be
taught g obey its behests; tho himbfSst
assured OF Its protectigni
q. Tho general elections have paese,t, and
fhe Political issacs involved. y hich so fcrce.
'ISIagi, ,atctl'tlrc country, having been deter
,mlped. for,a .cohsidefablo period, IL 10 de !
youtly TO be hoped that the community m6y
be indulged In much needed respite from
the passions and exci:emenis to which Il
has So long been subjected, and that our
people, maybe enabled to turn their atten-
Ss $sdsi fssoases. sAS wph %sye Sssa
so sadly 'smpaired and neglected. II gives
mo much pleasure to state tiiat .assaran noes
have been received, both previous and aub. :.
sequent to the election, from many Of the
moss pfo1iineht mSn Of the S,ete, hercto-
forsi IN active oppositieti &c TIC governtSent.
of their regret ut the occurrence Of these
outfgges, and their a de,testatf0h n
for Their atlthofy, ,da, well as oftheir ,doter
'mination 10 yield willing Obedience to the
constitutions and elnws, relying upon" the
Peaceful exercise of their rlgiiis'qst tho
ballet, box ,tosremedy i|whateyer they mny
deem obte ,tionable 10 them This deter
tinue TO exefts a favorabIc influence upon
the prosperity ofsths Observation-Disclosures 81
Ito manila atfunlofino fo s In .x.l
giving character. and credit, TO i,s enter.
'prises. Recognizing with plea, ire these
evidences Of fet6rbihg good faslfhg ana
Wishing to reoiproSaf6 every indfoation Of an
approach to-, friendly refRtiohE, I would
reiterate the Recommendations Of my Inst
Message III favor Of D liberal policy on the
,pssft Of Tho Legislature IN reference TO tile
,remoyal OF political disabilities. has xis9ia
ak Whilenronlthe subject of orr phst differ
tenoes, Iswcnld take occasion to, ,expsesa the
hope thai national politics will occupy hores
after much less prominent POSITION hi lie
affairs Of the State md IN the minds Of the
people thAn heretofore. Political issues
.Rasifg boetF determinbd for ycats 10 como,
,st toleast. thore Is butts slinle propricty in
Keeping up political .aSila.ion And esps.
ctaliy do ! regard secret political organisa-
tions detrimentaf to Tie community, fnoi
'SbtbVIy obSOt piHCe In " Tree government.
With every faciliiyptand . lvanfnge Of free
,disSqasi9p, carried lfreqpen,ly ao,tho very
extreme Of license, ths, shrinkjng from Tho
Hight Of day 10 meet In midnight copseflfi-
'eiesf would ssom idiScredi,a6ie to a" people
prondy ofbiiiloit intplieot,ssi energy An
armed organizations ysty ling themselves the
stsu u;Klux kIap, uniformed and ,mssked, by
fHeiF secret meetings and midnight atfeoir
tiea up0h peaceabie md uh0ffendinr Nciri-
zens, and obstructingfhe laws, have inau-
gpralad; % sssIgn of terror In rsany tnoighkor.
hoods. Limitations Of tIpei secret .spsiet les Of
Euro, Europe during lhe pidlle ages, 4 they ,Jare
ihesS dsya their power and their vSngeantc,e
were airseiad, assissf the fufbulent nobtea
9tH bstSas slo dsfed fhe Ns and eppress.
~ The people. Their ohjee, was the attain
tmen. d jasiss. not fas acqufsPs f iSs ,i n so.
lit,gai poeef5 Their victims tsSfo yfY6t tte
lAw-abiding and The lowly, BittheE bold,
bad pea rhg tramp led .-on right and out.
Ske ga s ysg ks oorj it embisms W hs.s