The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-21
The ohilian Congress have voted
to impeach the whole of the Chilian
supreme court.
PROCLAMATION.

@Ms!2|. 2 s.
By HIS Ercellencs ROBERT Il. .SC0TT,
Governor Of South Carolina.
| NTHEREAS, reports arc being daily re-
w ceived ut this Department, and
particularly from the Counties Of Abbe-
vile, Anderson, Edgetield, Lexington,
Newberry, Chester Laurens, Union, York
and Darlington, that the laws are being
| violated, and the officers of the law set at
| defiance; that peaceful and unoffending
citizens are murdered in cold blood, and
the murdcrers not only permitted but aid
ell to escape from justice; that families
have been forced to abandon their homes
and property by fear o! violence; that the
authority of the State Government is
openly dcridcd and denied; that threats OF
violence, and even of death, are uttered
against prominent members of the Re-
| publican party. if they shall attempt to
visit their Districts, for the purpose of dis
cussinS the political questions Of the day;
that declarations arc openly made by per :
| sons calling themselves Democrats, of
| their determination not to permit their
political opponents to vote Mt the ensuing
election; and, to enable them to effect
their purposes, and to ovcrawe the people,
large quantities OF firearms, of the most
improved description, have been brought
that the public highways are pickctcd
and patrolled by armed men, who stop and
lntcrroSatc passengers, frequently abusing
and assaulting those who differ with them
i'll political opinion; and especially is there
apparent a systematic effort, by abuse and
intimldatlon, TO deter colored persons
from he exercise Of the elective fran chise,
and all this III transgression of law, in de
roSation of the peace and dignity of the
Commonwealth, and in violation OF the
rights of the citizens.
The right Of suffrage belongs equally to
the white and colored race, and all must
be protected i'll its free and peaceful excr-
else. Fraud or violence may vitiate the
returns of any poll where they may be
perpetrated, and L call upon all good citi-
zens to aid the officers of the law in their
efforts to maintain the peace and preserve
the independence and purity of the ballot
box.
The State Government, of which I am
the Executive head, is not only de .fGcto
but de jtre, and commands the allegiance
of all within its territorial limits. 1t is
Independent of Federal legislation and of
the Federal Judiciary, whose powers are
defined by tho Constitution, to be judicial"
and not political" Its sovereignty and
its honor are in it's own keeping; and the
rights granted and conferred by it can
only be affected or subverted by Il change
in the organic law, in obedience to the
wishes of the people of the State acting in
their sovereign capacity in Convention
called for the purpose. To resist the laws
OF the State, represented by its legally
constituted officers, il an offence OF the
gravest character; and armed resistance
is treason.
Now, therefore, I, ROBERT X. SCOTT,
Governor of the State of South Carolina,
joining and commanding all Mag Gistrates.
Sheritl5, and other officers of the peace in
their respective Counties, to be faithful,
vigilant, and active in tho discharge of
their duties, and to report promptly to
this Department every case where they are
obstructed or resisted in doing so; and,
in the event os resistance or assault, they
are directed to apply to the nearest militia
ry post of United States troops for aid and
cooperation in enforcing the laws and
maintaining the public peace. In case of
failure on the part of Magistrates, She
riffs and officers of the peace to perform
these duties promptly and efficiently,
wrong doors, they will be promptly re-
moved and their places filled by men loyal
to the State and faithful in the discharge
of their obligations to the community.
And do earnestly appeal to the law
abiding people of The State, to those who
are identified and Interested in her repu
tation and prosperity, to all who are Op-
posed to violence and bloodshcd, and to
condition of riot and anarchy, in which
| life and property arc alike insecure, that
they will aid me in my efforts to maintain
| the supremacy of the law and the rights
of the people, by discountenancing and de-
nouncing all violence and outrage, and by
assisting the Magistrates and peace
officers in arrcsting tho perpetrators there
of, so that they may be brought to con-
dign punishment.
In the eyo of the law, the rights of every
citizen, white and colored, are equally
sacred and equally entitled to protection
and vindication; and it is my duty and de-
! termination to use all the powers ut my
disposal for that purpose. And if my
efforts to accomplish this by peaceable
means arc frustrated, by turbulent and
lawlcss men resisting the Executive au-
thority, in the persons of its officers,
shall be compelled, however reluctantly, to
arm and organize sufficient force Of loyal
citizens to overcome that resistance; and
the responsibility of tho consequences,
however disastrous and dcplorable, must
rest upon the heads of those who provoke
| them.
In testimony whereof, | have hereunto
set my hand and caused the great
seal Of the State to be affixed, at
Columbia, this twentieth day of
October, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and sixty
eight, and in the ninety third year OF
the Independence of the United States
of America.
ROBERT X. SCOTT, Governor.
F. l.. CARDozo, Secretary of State.
Tho Cborlosto, Tou,.jo,. Abheyille Ram