The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-10-13
A Strong Indictment Of Gov. Seotts Admin.
istratiOn.

-
writing from Camden, exhibits the true condi-
ton of South Carolina in the following artl-
cle:
Knowing that the truth in relation to the
condition Of affairs in South Carolina cannot
reach the great people of the North by better
means than through the columns OF your paper,
herewith beg leave to offer the following as
the index of affairs here at the present Tune.
You are doubtless aware that the political
contest in this State is between the "Unlon Re
formers" and the Republicans The platform
upon which the reform party has entered this
contest recognizes the rights of the colored
people as guaranteed by the Constitution OF
the United States, as fundamental law, as ac-
complished facts which we acquiesce In. You
see, therefore, that SO far as our platform is
con- concerned it is essentially Republican, and goes
equally as far as the Republican platform in
giving to the colored people the rights guaran-
teed to them by the Constitution of the United
States In doing this we have done only what
New York, with her $4,000 Democratic major
ity, has done, and the Kansas Democracy.
We oppose the administration of Governor
Scott for several reasons. First, because the
debt of the State has increased from S. 1S3, ,349-
IL to SD, 3,349.17 during aperiod of less than
two years. When the present administration
came in there was circulation of bills re-
ceivable' (bills issued in 1865, when there was
no money in the Treasury, and receivable IN
payment of dues to the State) outstanding OF
S135, ,687; to retire this circulation, S500,000 of
bonds at six per cent. interest, payable in gold,
have been issued to pay SITE, 1924, floating
debt and expenses, incurred previous to the
present administration, S2,000,0O0 of bonds at
seven per cent. interest, payable IN gold, have
been issued; for the Land Commission, $780,.
600 of bonds have been issued, the money
raised, and only 100000 acres of land pur.
chased, whereas three times that number could
have been and can be bought, superior in quail
ity; $4,000,000 of bonds guaranteed by the
State for the Blue Ridge Railroad, a road which
has but thirty-four miles in running order,
which was unable to pay the interest on $780,
600, its bonded debt, and which runs through
the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and
with no probability of being completed undera
less cost than S9,OOO,OOOl So much for our
first objection.
We object, secondly, because Governor Scott
has armed and furnished with ball cartridges
$4,000 colored militia, and has refused to per-
NIT the organization or equipment of single
white man in the State. The act to govern the
militia provides for the enrolment of all citi-
zens of the State between the age of Is and 45,
with the usual exemptions, and the only refer
ence in said act to arms is in these word: "Sec-
tion II. That the arms, equipments, and muni-
tions of the State shall be stored under the di-
rection of the Commander-in-C Chief Governor
Scott,) and in such places as he may designate"
This, we contend, does not authorize the Gov
ernor to put arms and ball cartridges into the
hands of men totally unaccustomed to their
use, and commanded by the most Jealous and
infatuated of SCOTS partisans, who, to forward
their own selfish interests, would net hesitate to
- g. IT, for,x fho
captain of one of these companies has made
incendiary speeches, calling the whites "Johnny
Rebs," &C., showing the bent of his mind, and
fore-shadowing his purposes. We do not OBJ
ject to the militia, but we object to the purpose
with which they were armed and furnished
with ball cartridges That purpose was to in
timidate those of the colored people who joined
the reform party, and thereby prevent them
from exercising their God-given right of fran
chise.
We object, thirdly, because Governor Scott,
in appointing Commissioners of Elections, has
chosen either his office-holders, those desirous
of becoming 80, or Jealous partisans, Thepur-
pose of this is too evident for explanation. 1t
is we'll known that in other States the Commits
sioners are appointed from both political par
ties. You see how it is here.
We object, fourthly, because the entire legis-
monopolies have been granted and large for
tunes secured to the officials of the State,
who are the grantees of the monopolies.
could go on almost indefinitely to show how
the entire Legislature is venal, corrupt, and
open to bribery; how the convicts of the State
| penitentiary are hired out, ten miles from the
prison, without guard, at 40 cents per diem,
said sum going into the pockets of the super
intendent, as am informed; how several hum
dred acres of cotton is being cultivated by said
superintendent with the labor of the convicts,
the products being to great extent appropria-
| ted by him how magnificent mansions are be-
| ing and have been erected by officials and leg
islators who, two yearsago, were worth nothing;
how the leading Radicals in several counties
have openly boasted of the means furnished
them by Scott and company to influence this
election how colored and white members of
the reform party frequently receive letters
threatening their assassination; how hellish
plot has come to light proposing that colored
man in each county be killed and the murder
laid upon the reform party; how, just at the
| time when the plot was ripe, two colored men
are murdered in cold blood, and the militia
| rising up in arms and shooting at the sheriff of
Newberry County, because he had arrested
some colored men who had threatened to kill
white man how Governor Scott proposes to
write to the Secretary of War, and talks Of
martial law; how the State constabulary, twen
ty in number, are paid $4,000 per annum for
doing what the sheriff can easily do; how our
candidates are interrupted in their speeches,
and rocks thrown at their heads how Radicals
who have their stores burnt down, because they
buy stolen cotton, and procure colored men to
steal more, seek to be paid by the taxing Of the
county where the outrage is committed by a
bill through the Legislature; how every little
quarrel is magnifed into political strife, and
Iynch-law sought to be visited upon the white
man who happens TO get the better of his an
tagonist how politics invade the very courts
of Justice, and the fountains of law polluted
by the infamous hand of ignorance and corrup-
| tion.