The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-09
CHI AR ES TON.
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 9, 1869.
Govrnor scott-The GreA- Su, umniater.

Govrnor Scott-The Gres-- S,il umntatsr.
Wa all remember that in October last
Governor Scott published proclamation de-
claring that the laws were "being violated"
and the officers of the law "set at defiance"
in ten counties of the State, including
Edge6eld, Abbeville and Anderson. In
this proclamation it was also charged that
the Democrats we're conspiring to overawe
their political opponents, and th>t the high
ways of the State were picketed and pat
rolled by bands of armed Democrats, who
abused and assaulted all who differed with
them in public opinion. This proclamation
was known to be, for the most part, untrue,
an. =" grains of fact which it did con-
tain were so garbled and distorted as to
produce an impression altogether false.
But party excitement ran high, and when,
one ,seek later, Governor Scott published
second proclamation, in which he said that
an address issued by the Executive Commit
tee of the Democratic party had produced
s'benefcial results" and bad ssquieted ap
"prehension and concilisted respect and
ssgood will" it was looked upon as mild
way of crying peccaui! and the subject was
allowed to drop.
1t seems, however, that Governor Scott
does not appreciate the courtesy with which
he has been treated by the Democracy of
the State Governor Scott was elected, rs
he we'll knows, by negro votes, and against
the wishes and desires of ninety-nine sne-
hundredths OF the white people of South
Carolina. This circumstance may be of no
consequence to him, for he probably cared
but little so long as, by hook or by crook,
he obtained the enjoyment of the sweet
emoluments of Office. But the manner of
his election cannot be forgotten by the white
people. who have proved their generosity
and unselGshness by The torbearance Wnlch
they have exercised towards the new ad-
ministration, and by their willingness to
allow Governor Scott to show by his con-
duct the stuff of which he was made. This
paper has given Governor Scott full credit
for his assumed good intentions. 1t has gone
further, and has been silent when perhaps
it would have been wiser to speak. There
was no desire on our part to hamper the
State Executive, or to overthrow the fabric
of pretty promises and honied words. But
forbearance and temperance have been of
no avail, and Governor Scott is no more
wise and no more just at this hour than he
was six months ago. Experience has taught
him nothing, and the information of which
he now makes use is as false as that which
was the corner stone of his proclamation
of October last.
This may seem to the outside world an
extreme statement. They who think so
should read the sworn testimony of Gov
ernor Scott in the Congressional contested
election case, portion of which testimony
we publish this morning. Mr.. Reed, the
Democratic candidate, was urquestionably
elected; but his seat is contested by the de-
feated Radical candidate, now, for our sins
one of the justices of the Supreme Court of
the State. Governor Scott is called up by
Hoge as a witness, and on the stand and
upon oath repeats, with variations, the
romance of violence and wrong which was
proved to be utterly without foundation
when it first saw the broad light of day.
This "Governor of South Carolina" says that
s'the Democratic party was organized for
''the purpose of preventing the officers OF
"the law from enforcing the law against
ssany of their partisans," and that the Demo-
cratic clubs "were providing themselves
"with sixteen shooters and Winchester rifles,
"with the declared purpose of first control
cling the election by keeping the negroes
s'away from the polls, aad if resistance was
s'made they would shoot'thc negroes down,
'and thereby prevent the more timid from
"attending at all.'' Also, that no election
was held in Eige6eld because commits
sioner of elections whom he appointed "re
"quired all his time to save his life, and
it was too late to appoint another. Also,
that sthere was scarcely mail received at
"the Executive Department during the
s'months of September, October and Novem-
"ber, 1885," that did not contain "ono or
"more letters reporting the murder of cili
''zens of the county" Also, that in the
event of the election of Seymour and Blair
thera was to have been "another Demo
'cratic) rebellion" These are fair speci
mems Of the whole story.
Now we do not hesitate to say that this
statement of Governor Scott i, devoid of oil
substantial foundation. According to his
own admission he knows nothing of his own
knowledge, but relies upon the statements
Of timid negroes and Radical spies. The
plan was, and we suppose is, to believe all
the tales told by the members of the Radi-
cal cohort, and to disbelieve every word
that falls from the lips Of any man who has
the misfortune to be responsible and re-.
spectacle citizen.
The Abbeville Press, which publishes