Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-10-28
PROCLAMATION.

0y aar ms ~ eeseIsg sos,s nSsan ~ s0rer-
NEJHEREAs, reports are being aSiis rsesiyed
w ut this Department, and part;culatfy from
the Counties Of Abbevile, Anderson, Etgefeld,
Lexington, Newberry, Chester, LaurcnA Union,
York and Darlington, that the laws me- beng
violated, and the officers Of ths. law set at:dsGs
ance; that peaceful and unohending citizens nre
murdered in cold blood, and the murderers. not
only permitted but aided to escape from justice;
that families have been forced to abandon their
homes and property hyfear Of violence ythat the;
authority of The State Government is openly de-
ridcd and denied that threats Of vio,sace, ada
even Of death, are uttered against prominent mem.
bers,of the Republican party. if theyoshdtlts
tempt to visit their Districts, for the, ,pusposp Of
discussing the political questions Of hedsy ithat
declarations are,openly! made By persons calling
themselves. Democrats Of their eirdetsrminatonE cot
to permitJheir political opponents to yntaat tho
ensuing election; and, TO able7 them to Aflect.
their purposes, apd 20 ovesaWe che people, Largo
Quant,ties Of firearms, Of tho most improyed de-,
scription. hayu been brought into the sstat. eDd
secretiyidistributcd; that the public highvaysare
pieketed and patrpllsd by armed lmeu, syhu stop
and intsrrOgats, passengers, Frequently abnAing
and assaul,iug those WHO differ .wiia them in pO-
litcal opinion; and,especially istheretappausnta
systematic effort, BIZ abuse and naturalization, to
deter colored persons from lhe exercise Of tho
elective franchise, and all this in transeressisn
law, in derogation rthe poace and dignity -of Tho
Cemmonwe md in violation Of tie rights of
the Citizens
The right Of suffrage 6eiongs. equally ,sIe 70 ths
white and colored race, and al must be protected
in its free and peaceful exercise. Fraud o- si6.
lenee may yitiate; the returps,o any polk where
they rsy be perpetrated, ,:and Hc5lla lapan Sllguod
citizens aid the ofi' IS of the law in their efs
.odsto maintain the sce and preservs szhginde-
pendspce and purity OF the ballot, box. -
The STATE Government, of which I am the EI-
ecutivo head Sc not only de acto but De fFe, aud
commands the allegiance of. all within itsterrito-
rial limits, It is sindependent Of Federal legisf-
tion and of the Federal Judiciary, whose -poxers
are defined BY the Constitution, to be "judiciaY
snd NOT political" Its sovereignty and its honor
aie in it's own keeping; and the righs granted
and conferred sbY itcan onlyybsy sfessed w sabs
verted by changeof the organic ia8, obeai::
ence to the wishes of the peope ofctbe State aot-
called for the PURPOSES Totesist the laws..Y the
State represented by its legally constituted off.
GERS, il, an offence of tho grdvcst character; and
armed resistance is treason. ~
|. Now, therefore, l.. ROBERT K. SCOTT, Gov
.ernor of the StAte Of South Carolina, do hereby
issue this my proclamation, enjoining and COM
mandins all Magistrates, Sheriffs, and other Off
GERS Of the peace in their respective Counties, 10
be faithful, vigilant, and active in the discharpe
Of their duties, and 40 report gpromptl sto.thS
DepartmentSvesy case Ehere, ,thcy arc -obstructed
or resisted in doing so and, in the event Of re-
sistance assault, they are directed to apply To
the nearest military post ot Unted States troops
for aid and cooperation in enforcing. the,iaws
and maintaining the public peace. In case of
failure on the part OF Magistrates, Sheriffs and
officers Of the peace perform these dutis prompt
ly and efficiently, either lfrom neglect OF sympa-
thy with the wrong doers, they will be promptly
removed and their places filed by men loyal 70
the State and faithtul;in tho discharge of their
obligations to the community. -
And L do earnestly appeal to the Iaw-sbidfng
people Of the State, TO those who are identiRcd
and interested in her reputation and }pfospesisy,i
to all who are opposed to violence andblooGsfed,
and to a condition of riot and anarchy, uiich
life and property are alike insecure, that they
will mid me in my efforts to maintain. theeupre:y
macy of the Law and the rights of thepeople; by
dsc6untcnanciug and announcing all. violeace
and outrage, and by assisting the Magistrates
and peace officers in arresting the perpetrators
thereof, so that they maybe brought 10 condigns
punishment fi- :.lt..i5 - ,s.sis..,- -
In the eye of The lnw tho fighta of every citi--
zen, white and coored, are equally sacfrd, andh
equally entitled 10 protection aSa vindication;
and it is my duty md determination, to<nse alr
the powers at my disposal for that purroses and
If my efforts to accomplish this by pes6asble
means are frustrated, by turbulent and iaRIess
men resisting the executive authority in the per-
sons of its officers, / shall be compelled, however
to arm and organize q suf6ciehtdorce
Of. loyal citizens to overcome Tint rasistanee;
and the responsibility Of the consequences, how
ever disastrous and deplorable, must Sfsst,upon
the heads of those who provoke them. r.
In,testimony whereof, Ihsye ;hereunto get my
hand and caused the great seal Of the State
to be affixed, ut Columbia, this twentieth day
of October, in the year Of our0 Lord ono
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, and
in the nincty.third gear Of the Independence
of the United States of America. -
ROBERT K. SCOTT, Governor.
F. L. CARpozo, Secretary Of State.
Oct. u lntllhs 1tgt - - Al