The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1868-09-16
Gov. scott's letter to the spartanburg Commit

Gov. Scott's letter 10 the SparIanourS CommlL-
tee.
In the daily papers of last week ap-
peared the respectful remonstrance of a
committee of gentlemen Of Spartanburg,
to Gov. Scott, in relation to affairs at
Union. "While exempt from distur-
bance of any kind themselves" the citi-
zens of that district, "as citizens and
neighbors, feeling the obligations on
their part" address their petition to
Gov. Scott, in the hope that such steps
may be taken by him as will promote
and keep the peace of their sister district,
Union. The petition is lengthy and in
teresting, and gives the particulars of
the late difficulty, its grounds, &C., with
which our readers are already familiar,
therefore we do not deem it necessary to
fill our columns with it.
Gov. Scott in a still lengthier co,nmu.
nication answers "that he is pleased that
the citizens of that County are earnestly
dcsirous of peace, but regrets that it is
announced in the petition, that an cat
tempt" at violence" on the part of "any
evil-disposed blacks would be met by
short and sharp retribution."
Comment is scarcely necessary, the
citizens of Spartanburg as we'll as the
citizens of other districts, as men feeling
the issues at stake, could not have said
less in the face Of circumstances, or until
the executive made some show of cxerci-
sing the authority vested in him. Gov.
Scott, says in answer to that portion vi
the petition which accuses ..llui of treat.
ire we information relative to the Bates
demonstration with levity," that
"On the contrary, everything that
was reasonable and proper was done,
and done promptly. 1t is certainly true
that did not fully share in the fears Of
civil disturbance which were felt by the
Committee. had heard too often ex-
parte statements of the faults and sins of
political opponents, to give entire Gre
dence to one side of story till the other
had been shown, and say this with no
desire or purpose of questioning the in
tegrity Of the gentlemen of the Commit
tee. But took immediate measures to
ascertain, by Investigation, what the
real facts were. T Tissucd an order to the
person above alluded to, Us "negro in.
cendiary," to abstrain from all violations
of the 'ew, and censured him for his
imprudent and inAaumatory language,
The investigation made it evident that
while he had said and done that which
was prcjudicial to the preservation of
harmonious relations between the races.
he had committed, certainly at the time
when this Investigation took place, no
overt act Of an illegal character"
In conclusion he says: II shall leave
no effort untried to maintain the peace.
I shall omit no effort to bring to justice
all offenders against the laws. l shall
make no political opinions paliation
for violation of law. shall conntenancc
no armed organizations. unauthorized by
law, bat shall do all in my power to
break them up, where they exist. But I
shall remember that my power is limi-
ted, that it is only within the sphere
laid down by the Constitution and the
laws that must act. Whatever is prop
er, lawful and right for me to do, to
maintain peace, secure life, liberty and
property, from the rude assaults of ruff
fans of either race, and generally pro-
mote the public welfare, will be prompt
ly done.
Gov. Scott has been accorded credit
for "meritorious conduct" by many of
the State papers, and we are not dis
posed to disavow that he has done some
things which are creditable to him, but
it is evident to any one that the most of
his papers are studied efforts for party
purposes and written for effect at the
North. This letter in particular. His
"peace efforts" are too one-sided to be
just.