The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-12
THE NEGROES.
Reply of Governor scott, of south Caro-
lima. TO q ReheI Cnm nIniml.


The white population of Spartanburg, South
carolina, having addressed a letter to Governor
blacks, and Teierrns psrtcnlSry o Si 1he
ance at Santee Depot which, the com platnaut
says, had not received due attention from the
Stale Executive. Governor Scott replies in o
lengthy explanation, showing this charge to be
g1oundless. He then says
am requested ITO maintain the public peace
and TO secure to persons of all classes and races
NE, liberty, and property free from attempted
fans" I shall certainly use ali my power in
the direction Indicated; and that may the
more efficiently secure the desired objects,
call upon all persons to pay that respect to the
officers of the State Government which their
position entities them to demand. / call upon
State Government to abstain from using the
influence they possess to detract from and null
iy rsnt the autnorty ana validity OF the Govern
the State industriously instil into the minds
OF each other the dangerous and false
doctrine that the Government of this State de
Idcto Is not the government de jttre and that its
laws are no laws, and its commands no COM
mands. This is not merely mtsrepresenta-
ton, but one of the most dangerous kind It
says 10 the Ignorant and misguided that state
OF anarchy exists in the state, and that they
may, with 1mpunity, commit any, however
wicked, deed The enunclation Of this false
doctrine, by leading white citizens, has been
and must end in ruin to the whole commu.
nifty, unless mems minds are disabused. The
public prosperity T6eir Counsel i1s was noi. Jo
sSnous som soo,o to the interests OF the country,
C war; wS a It's IL s
and miseries, were The result The men VINO
are preaching the doctrine that tue State has
mics. Their counsels are equally poisonous
God grant they may not be able again to lead
our people astray. Gentlemen, the most effec.
tive means of restoring your community TO
peace and good order Is to give freely to every
man aio the right m to speak his own political con.
white men with punishment II they vote one
way or another; to report every case of VIOLA
prompt aid TO every officer of the law when such
aid isrequired; to show by word and act that you
South Carolina, that Governm ment whose Execu.
tive head you have now addressed, and whose
and that you viii so continue to recognize aud
respect It until by lawful and regular means 1t
addressed st to Se Go1ernor n OF sonta Gsro o.
lima; I'd, to the President of the United States.
1t cannot be overlooked that, In making this
you have yourselves, L hope unintentionally,
Implied that you have not that confidence In
the intentions of the Executive of this State,
TO secure the ends of good govern ment,
which should possess the minds of loyal
citizens unless unquestionable evidence mas
been exhibited of the absence of such inten-
tions. Certainly this is calculated, whether in
tended or not. to convey to the public doubt
preston OF which is inconsistent with the pro
per relations between that officer and the people.
Such an n expression pres In Itself is one Of the
ment is crippled Ia It's efforts to secure law
and order. I shall leave no effort untriei to
maintain the peace. shall omit no effort
to bring to justice all offenders against the
laws I shall make no political opinions pal
liation for violation of law. shall countenance
no armed organizations, unauthorized by
law. but shall do all in my power TO break
them up, where they exist. But shall remem-
within the sphere laid down by the Constitn-
tion and the laws that must act. Whatever
Is proper, lawful, and right Tor me to do, to
maintain peace, secure life, liberty, aud pro-
perty from the rude assaults OF fians of either
race, and generally promote the public welfare,
will be promptly done A copy OF this commu-
nicatton has been sent to his Excellency the
President OF the United States for his informa-
ton. / have the honor TO be. very respectfully
your servant, ROBERT X, SCOTT, Governor.