The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-04-10

| 'n''' Tue 'oiio"inS reply was transmitted
by telegraph: 4 i.sa 81 p $
COLUMBIA, April 4, 1869.
GEORGE W.WILlaAhls, ESQ: Saw to we'll
disposed business men of charleston that they
should have seen heretofore enough of such
blood aud thunder fulminations as the one
yon forward me, clipped from the lYeses, to
have justified them in treating the authors
with contempt, and tho article with indif.
ference I will reply to you by mail
| RoBERT X. SCOTT, Governor.
| LETTER FROM GOVERNOR SCOTT.
| STATE OF SoUTH CAROLINA,
| @ d, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
Z, s,oeT COLUMBIA: April 5, 1869.
George w, Haliams, Esq, Charleston.
My DEAR SIR: Yours of the Sd came duly
to hand. Tie windy article in tie M.es need
give you no apprehension. hat journal is
somewhat of sensatioualist, and it is of more
consequence to its circulation that its leader
should be startling, than that it should be
| true; and if little personal malice can be
grati6ed at the same time, double pu, pose
/ IS served The article headed "Govcrnor
Scott sowing the wind" is Of this character,
and contains but a slight foundation III fact
for its many falschoods l have given no
orders for the ''imme,liatc formation of a COM
pany Of negro State troops" No-ordcrs have
been issued for the enrolment ofathe militia,
under the recent Act of the Legislature even
the Adjutant-General's Office has not yet beea
opened, and before any organization of the
militia into companies regiments can be
attempted, an enrolment Of all the citizens oil
the State, white aud colored, subject to mill
tia duty, must first be completed which, in
itself, will require considerable time am
led to believe, however, from letter recently
received from Mr.. Gufin, of Abbeville, that
the Adjutant and Inspector cncraI now ab-
sent from the State, promised him the position
of enrolling officer of that County, when the
enrolment is ordered. This may have given
rise TO the ruinors Of cnlistments and excite
ment in that neighborhood spoken of by the
Ncrs, and of which | know nothing, except
what gather from its fulminrtons. In reply
to Mr.. Guffin, who is native of Abbcville,
and as respectable and as patriotic gentle
man as any in the County. l directed him, If
any of the colorcd people had supposed that
they were to bo immediately enrolled, to
disabuse them of that notion direct asem to
return To their homes and iabors, and remain
there until the enrolment is ordered when
they will be duly notified
| think that my past course will bear me
out i'll the assertion that have 30 disposition
to resort to violent or extraordinary measures
for the enforcement of the laws, while peace.
fu and customary aseucics will accomplish
the purpose. The Act of September %,
1865, placed extraordinary means ut my dis
posal for the suppression of rebellion or rcsis-
tance to the laws and although since its
passage, for many months outrage and murder
were rife in several Counties OF this Stute,
during which men as pure and as patriotic a.
any within its borders were coolly and deli.
bcratcly butchcrcd in cold blood, in the broad
glare Of day, and in the presence of numerous
/ acquicsciug if not sympathizin- spectators.
, md their assassus for weeks afterwards pcr
mittcd to roam about unmolistcd and in whose
detection the County officers manifested but
little interest, I did not resort to these ex-
traordinary measures, but relied solely on the
State constabulary y lumber of the offenders
having been arrested, and disposition mani
| tested to acquiesce in the laws | have gradully
reduced even this force, until it now numbers
but three members. Having heretofore, under
very embarrassing circumstances. declined to
employ military force, at the present time,
when the turbulent seem to be con,paratiyely
1niet and the community appear to be wisely
dcvoting their attention to their material
Interests, there is little likelihood that shall
resort to military agencies, or to any policy
calculated to interfere with or Withdraw at
tention from, our industrial pursuits In
confirmation of this, | may appeal to INV
efforts heretofore to encourage and stimulate
the agriculture Of the State while others. who
are now my revilers and calumniators. we're
inculcating contray policy, in driving of
the laborers from the plantations who differed
in politics with their employers
wish it to be distinctly understood, how.