The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-07
Letter from Governor Scott.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
Executive DEPARTMENT.,
COLUMBIA, April s. 1869.
George w. Williams, Esq, Charleston:
MY DEAR S1n-Yours of the Sd came duly to
hand The windy article in TIE NEWS need
give YOU no apprehension. That Journal is
some What of scnsationalist. and it is OF more
consequence to it's circulation that its leader
shorld be startling, than that it should be
true and If O little personal malice can be
grstiied at the same time, q double purpose is
served. The article headed " Governor Scott
Sowing the Wind'' is of this character and
contains but slight foundation in fact for it's
many falsehoods. L have given no orders for
the 'simmediate formation Of company of
negro State troops" No orders have been
issued for the enrolment of the militia, under
the recent act of The Legislature even the
opened. and before any organization OF
the militia into companies or regiments
can be attempted, an enrolment OF all the
citizens OF the State, white and col
ored, subject to militia duty, must first be
completed !; which, in itself, will requir ,
considerable time. I am led to believe, how
ever, from letter ::ccertly received from Mr..
Gufiu, Of Abbevile. ttat the Adjutant and In
spector-General, now absent from the State,
promised him the position OF Enrolling Officer
of that county, when the enrolment is order
ed This may have given rise to The rumors
of enlistments and excitement in that neigh
borhood, spoken of by THE NEWS, and Of which
| know nothing. except what gather from its
fulminations. In reply to Mr.. Gufiu, who is o
native Of Aboevllle, and as respectable and
patriotic gentleman as any in the county, l
directed him, If any OF the coored people had
supposed that they were to be immediately en-
ro.lej to disabuse them Of that notion; direct
them to return to their homes and laoors, and
remain there until the enrolment is ordered,
when thew will be duly noJihed.
I think that my past course will bear me out
in the assertion that have no disposition to
resort to violent or extraordinary measures for
the enforcement OF the laws, whilepeaceful and
customary agencies will accomplish the pur-
pose. The act OF September %, 1868, placed
extraordinary means at my disposal for the
suppression of rebellion or resist ance to the
laws and although since its passage, for many
mouths outrage and murder were rife in sew
erai counties Of this State, during which men
as pure and as patriotic as any within its bor-
bers were cuoGv and deliberately butchered in
cold blood, IN the broad glare Of day, and in
the presence of numerous acquiescing ii not
sympathzng spectators, and their assassins
for weeks afterwards permitted to roam about
unmolested, and in whose detection the county
officers manifested but little interest, did
not resort to these extraordinary measures,
but relic solely on the State constabulary. A
number of the offenders having been arrested,
anu :, disposition manifested to acquiesce i'll
the laws, I have gradually reduced even this
force, until it now numbers but three men,
bers. Having heretofore. under very elnbar-
RAISING circumstances. declined tn employ
lulii,ary force, at tbs present time, when the
turbulent seem to be comparatively quiet, and
the community appear to be wisely devotiEg
;ielr attention to their material interests,
there is little likelihood that I shall resort TO
military agencies, or to any policy calculated
,, to interfere with, Or withdraw attention from,
oGr industrial pursuits. In confirmation of
this, l may appeal to my efforts heretofore to
encourage and stimulate the agriculture of
the State; while others, who are now my re-
vlers and calunniators, we're inculcatlng u
contrary policy, in driving off the aborers from
the plantations who differed IN politics with
their employers.
I wish it to be distinctly understood, hoa
ever that upon the arrival OF the time when,
in my opinion, it is proper 10 cirry out the
militia law OF the last session, by enrolling the
people Of the State, white and colored, subject
10 military duty, I shall assuredy order it 10
be done, without reference to, on apprehension
of. the war of races predicted By THE NEWS.
Probably ''the wish was father to the thought,
and it can only be accomplished by the loUlish
and incendiary articles of The NEWS ald its
conductors. Their appeals to the preJudlces
aud passions OF the ignorant, the lazy and the
fauatical, may load to the renewal OF murders
measures to enforce the laws and punish the
wrong -doels. These, If necessary. will bo re-
sorted to, however reluctantly; aud if evils do
come. the responsibility of the consequences
must rest upon those who provoked than.
Ihave frequently received communications
from prominent gentlemen, deprecatlng and
denouncinS outrages committed in their
neighborhoods, but until these assurances arc
developed in something more positive than
mere words, they will conduce but little to the
restoration ard maintenance OF law and order
Their active cooperation in arrestiDg and
Furnishing those who, by their outragcs, dis
| turb the peace of society and injuriousiy affect
| the prosperity of the community, would soon
put an end to disturbances that disgrace the
State, and render q resolt unnecessary, ON my
part, to the military CT any other cXtraord:.
pary agencies for the preservation of the
peace. Occupying position in society wblcl
gives them great mora! weight in controlling
| ;ts action, il is :hc imperative duty Of .hes