The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-09
G III A r L E s TON.
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 9, 1869.
Govrnor soott-Tho eroat Cal umn,ater

We all remember that in October last
Governor Scott published proclamation de-.
claring that the laws were "being violated
and the officers of the law ssset at defanoe',
in ten counties Of the State, including
Edgefeld, Abbeville and Anderson. In
this proclamation it was also charged that
the Democrats were conspiripg to overawe
their political opponents, and that the high
ways Of the State were picketed and pat
rolled by bands of armed Democrats. who
abused and assaulted ali who differed with
fthem in public opinion. This proclamation
was known to be, for the most part, untrue.
and the 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 '0eeh 1ater, Governor SCOTT published a
second proclamation, in which he said that
an address issued by the Executive Commit
tee Of the Democratic party had produced
beneficial results" and had ssquieted ap-
''prehension and conciliated respect and
''good will" it was looked upon as mild
| way Of crying peccavi! and the subject wa
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, as
he we'll knows, BY negro votes, and against
the wishes and desires Of ninety-n ene-
hundredths Of the white people Of South
Carolina. This circumstance may be of no
consequence to him, for he probably cared
but little 80 long as, by hook or by crook,
he obtained the enjoyment Of the sweet
emoluments Of office. But the manner Of
bis election cannot be forgotten by the white
people, ~ho have proved their generosity
and unselfshness by the forbearanee which
they have exercised towards the new ad-
ministration, and by their Willingness to
allow Governor Scott to show by his con-
paper has given Governor Scott full credit
for his assumed good intentions. It 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
D.
forbearanoe 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 cornerstone 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 unquestionably
elected; but his seat is contested by the de-
feated Radical candidate, n now, for our Sins
one of the justices of the Supreme Court Of
the State. Governor Scott is called up by
Hoge as q 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
'the Democratic party was organized for
"the purpose Of preventing the officers Of
'the law from enforcing the law against
"any 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
"away from the polls, and if resistance was
"made they would shoot the negroes down,
"and thereby prevent the more timid from
attending at ALL" Also, that no election
ives held in Edge6eld because commits
sioner Of elections whom he appointed ssre-
"quired all his time to save his life," and
1t was too late to appoint another. Also,
that "there was scarcely mail received at
s'the Executive Department during the
"months Of September, October and Novem-
"ber, 1863" that did mot contain "one or
"more letters reporting the murder Of oiti.
"zens Of the county" Also, that in the
event Of the election Of Seymour and Blair
there was to have been s.another (Demc.
scratic) rebellion" These are fair speoi-
mems OF the whole story.
Now we do not hesitate to say that this
statement of Governor Scott is devoid Of all
substantial foundation. According to his
"~n aaa:;ss:oR he knows nothing Of mis- own
knowledge, but relies upon the statements
OF hmid negroes and Radical spies. The
} plan was, and we suppose is. to believe ali
! the tales told by the members Ss the aadi-
cal cohort, and to dssbslievs every wvSSjgs wvSsss
that falls from tho lips Of. any man who has
the misfortune to be . rssponsible and xc-
| speotable citizen. a II
/ The Abbeville Press. which publishes
4 Governor Scots testimony in full, says that