The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-09-02
RADICAL INCONSISTENCY.


party is convicted of the most glaring inconsistent
cies rs to facts or arguments. Yet, the shameless
conduct of their leaders need to be exposed IN
other respects, and why not occasionally ventilate
their want of consistency? The Radicals in this
State have not ceased to make the charge against
the Democratic party that it was in league with
Ku Klux organizations that its leaders counten-
anced the murder of number of Radicals, and
that the Democracy generally approved OF these
sspolitical assassinations" Further than this, it
has been often charged by these Northern adven-
turers, from Gov SCOTT down to the latest impor-
tation, that the people were not law-abiding, and
entertained rebelious proclivities, and so forth.
Now, we propose to prove the contrary by Radical
testimony, of very recent date. The Columbia
correspondent of the Charleston Daily Republican,
writing in regard TO the complaints made by State
and County officials of the various incendiary let
ters received by them, uses the following remark
able language:
A certain class of Democrats may yet IND
South Carolina as hot place as Gettysburg or the
Shenandoah Governor Scott has withheld his
hand, but he cannot, or dare not, resist the re-
monstrances against inaction and the appeals dali
ly made to him for protection. If citizens are
thus to be prevented from discharging their public
duties and inundated in the expression OF their
private or political opinions, why the sooner the
loyal militia are organized in accordance with the
act of the last Legislature the better. Assurances
hare been given of perfect protection and if ne
cessary sufficient force will be sent into every
county in the State to put down the prowlng,
midnight assassins and murderers, the very dregs
| A. IL Nt,tr rtnnr
cry element of civilization by taking the lives of
citizens or brutally beating the members of their
families.
Here is an admission the Democratic party-we
mean, the respectable white people of the State
have long desired from their political opponents,
and We regret that The admission dces not cems
from an authorized source, that these outrages
are committed by 'the very dregs Of the rebel
army" But along with this confession, is o libe-
raj use of the threat so often made by the leading
Radicals to organize the "loyal miltia" and ''put
down the prowling, midnight. assassius and MUIR
derers'' Now, if these characters are "the very
dregs of the rebel army" why should the inno-
cent be made to suffer for their crimes? What
sort of decent pretext is there for quartering
of law-abiding people? 1t is no answer to say
that these violators of law are not arrested, for
the Radicals themselves are responsible for the
execution of the law. The State constabulary
was organized nearly year ago, and has been
kept up at an enormous expense, and what has
been accomplished? Literally nothing in the way
of bringing offenders to justice.
We have always contended that nine-tenths of
our people condemned violence, deprecated out
RACES, and longed for peace 1t is easily enough
explained why they have not brought to punish
ment such as have defed the strong arm of the
law In the first place, the men who commit
these deeds of violence keep away from the conf
dence of law-abiding citizens-hcn:e, they are
really "unknown )" secondly, the Disturbed con-
dition of society has rendered it necessary for
heads of families to protect their households at
such an hour as the assassin usually goes forth on
his mission and thirdly, desperadoes arc not apt
10 70 unarmed, while it is frequently the case that
upright and conscientious citizens are entirely
without even the means of defence. But stronger
reason still can be given, which is that the cii-
the officers of the law are entirely competent to
take care that its provisions are not infringed
upon. If these officers are incompetent AMI in
efficient, whe is to blame? Certainly not the
white people.
Another charge made by the Radicals is com
rlctely refuted by the correspondent already quo
ted from. He says:
The most favorable reports of the collection of
taxes in nearly every County in The State are COM
ing in daily Never in the history of the State has
so large an amoant of money been paid in the
State Treasury in so short space of time
Docs this evincc o rcbcous, lawless spirit
among the people? With enormous taaes levied
upon their property, almost in the incipicncy OF
their prosperous days, the substantial citizens by
their conduct have nailed the oft-repeated false
hood to the counter! Gov ScuTr has united in
these SANDERS more than once, and if there is a
particle of magnanimity or honor in his compost
ton, he will not delay in publishing to the world
q complete recantation of his unfounded charges
| against n noble, oppressed people.