The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-02-19


" Under WhIch King, Benzoni 7" King Ne.
o'fogro or King Carpct-Bagger.
MR.. EDITOR: In your issue of Sunday
last, it is stated that Governor Scott has
issued AN order to Col. T. j. Moses, Jr.
Adjutant and Inspector General, to organize
his department, and proceed to enlist Mt
force referred to in the joint resolution au.
thorlzing the Governor to employ m armed
force for the preservation of the peace. y
Thus readeth the text, which calls for some
commentary, considering the present stun
tion and erissing Government of South
Carolina. 1T is not intended to denounce
the action of the Governor, nor to provoke
any unkindness of feeling towards him, fol-
1t ls far better to meet him in o conserva
tive and conciliating manner, when the
citizens of South Carolina are permitted tc
do so, by his acts of administration. Now,
by cltlzens there is no reference whatever
intended to the white or black radicals who
are IN Office, in authority. or eeekers after
the Hesh-pots and crumbs, ut the disposal
OF tne higher authorities, for these, nc
doubt, believe in the '.Divinc right oj
kings" and, therefore, presume that his
Excellency cannot err. There are, however
q very large number of tho citizens of the
State-not the scala,oags, not the carpet
oaggers, not the radical negroes, but men
who have long been citizens and tax-pny
ers, and have been known as such. aoiIhou
the AID OF M Act of O radical Congress. O,
OF mongrel, Ignorant and inexperienced
Heglsiature-who do not give faith to this
"divine right" and, therefore. take issue
with Governor Scott, and asse.. ,eir belief
in his error.
Premislng, in advance, that under not
even very strict and severe construction
o! any Act OF Congress, nor, indeed, by
virtue OF any authority in the dignifeI and
,otse legislation at present in fill and indus.
Tious labor IN our city, there is not any
prohibition to differ even with q Governor:
and the citizen may be free to express an
opinion without fear of the charge of trea.
son to the powers that be, nor Of insubord:.
nation In the social compact. Having said
thus much, by way of apology, for our in.
truslon on the order of his Excellency. LET
the matter be noted
The law-abiding citizens of South Caro-.
nna, ever since their acceptance of the
sltuation which has been forced upon them.
have, from the noun tains to the sea hoard
evidenced desire. and exhibited by their
conduct, disposition, for quiet and obe
dience TO the law. True. at the times when
elecnons were held, either for State officers,
for Congress, or the Presidency of the
United States, there may have been slight
disturbances, bsa in no one instance takino
the. proportion Of even q small mob. And
mere the question may be we'll put to the
authorities, (the lesser authorities, Sheriffs.
Oonstaoies and Managers of Elections, by
soh0ns were these disturbances wroueht mn
and by aohona participated ina The answer
ID well known, and the Governor himself
must Know, as he is Mt the fountain head OF
ali spch complaints, that the citizens of the
State did NOT originate them, nor minele
with them. True, two men, members OF
the so-caled Legislature were killed-one
negro. the other o white man-bpt these
acts were deplored by every law-abidng
o!tizen OF the State, and at the time SO pub
ncly expressed-not so much in reference
70, tne 0dlue OF these lives to the State or
country at large, but to the violation of the
law ana the peace of the State
True, again, in some parts of the State
there Was an exhibition in fact of the yio-
Iepce, audacity and insnbordination nv ne.
groes euen to the authority unlimited OF
Governor Scott himself. But can these
gatherings and acts of riot, threatening and
wrong. be ascribed to the citizens Of the
State, who had no part nor lot in them
ANA, IN connection with such ontrnoes.
nave the public been advised of any pm
ishment, as get, having been inflicted upon
these newly constructed citizens in dofinnce
OF the Governor and the law? II so the
information Is not yet too lute to be re-.
ceiyed. aud it were well to supply it forth
witb, that eoen-hantled justice might be M.
pi"nded, and the plaudIt of mpnrtiality be
given 10 nlm or those who may merit it.
But this is not NIL, Mr.. Editor, in refer
encc to these grave matters. The citizens
OF the State have been noticing these ag-