The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-03-31
From The Charleston Daily Republican.
Speech of Gov. Scott.

Speech of Gov. Scott
A very large and enthusiastic meeting of the
Republicans of Washington was held on Tues
day evening last to express sympathy Tor the
Republicans of Georgia, to welcome the dele
CATION from the Legislature OF Georgia now IN
the city, and to protest against the Bingham
Amendment to the Bill for the reinstatement of
Georgia. m
The Mayor of the city presided. The
speeches were earnest, eloquent and thoroughly
Radical. The immense hall was crowded.
The speech of Gov Scott is the one naturally
most interesting to us. 1t was received with re-
peated and prolonged applause. We give be-
low brief summary of the leading points:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: Twill
do little more than express my qualification at
being present at this meeting. 1t would be
impossible for any man from the South to give
anything like an adequate history OF the state
of opinion that has existed there. Hostilites
have continued from the day that the armies
were disbandcd up to the presenttim time. have
noticed in the newspapers from time to time
tragcal accounts of assassinatlons and wrongs
committed upon the frontier people OF this
country 1 have noticed that the philanthro-
pists have been horror-stricken at the slaughter
of Christians by Cinnamon. have noticed, at
the same time, reports of outrages from the
Southern States. It is true some feared to de-
precate them; some feared to think that these
were great wrongs, but there was not that eX-
preston of horror that you find at the dcstruc-
ton of Indians on the frontier. Mr.. Chairman,
hundredth part of the murders and assassina-
tions of the loyal men of the South have not
been reported.
I have sometimes felt, Mr. Chairman, that, if
this Government is ever plunged into war again
ha allln n
credhabe to her citizens to take the side of the
who aided rebellion are safe and honored. The
Government has not protected loyal people.
Not man has been punished by the Govern
ment for single crime that has been commit
ted against citizen of the South, although or
ders have been issued and laws have been enac-
ted for that purpose. A white. jury cannot be
got to convict one of these villains but they
can convict colored man on mere supposlton.
You see Yerger goes back and delivers himself
up, for he knows as certain as the sun will
shine tomorrow that he will escape punish
ment. Mr.. Chairman, l feel earnestly on this
subject I feel that if this Governmentdoes not
intend to protect the loyal citizens of that part
of the country, it is time that the people there
knew it. 1t is time that the weak-kneed men
in Congress, who feel that they are carrying
legislation a little too far, should make up their
minds to recognize Southern Confederacy, and
leave us to do the best we can for ourselves.
say to you, gentlemen, this evening, as for
South Carolina, no Republican will ever go to
the doors of Congress again and knock for adj
mission with a majority against him because his
friends have been prohibited by intimidation
and murder from voting. We intend to COM
pei fair election We shall give every Dem
ocrat opportunity to vote and we shall demand
that every Republican be permitted to receive
the same privilege undisturbed. We have both
the power and the will to enforce our demand.
Whoever attempts intimidation or violence will
get more than he bargained for.
And if, in fair election, Democrat is cho-
sen for member of Congress or any other posi-
ton we shall yield. We expect to win the fight
in every Congressional District. But if we are
fairly beaten we shall give in.
In Georgia. however, affairs are not as in
South Carolina. Gov. Bullock, and the loyal
Legislature must have time to pass proper laws,
establish proper courts, organize the militia,
and provide all means necessary to enforce JUS
tice and secure fair election. The Bingham
amendment unjustly robs them of the time they
need If Congress passes the Bingham amend
ment, it will, instead of helping the loyal peo-
pie as it should, overthrow andrlli them. I'm
less this thing is stopped here, l tell you that
the next class of men that come here will be
the rebel clement of that country asking for
protection in the outrages they perpetratc on
loyal men.
We have stood upon the picket line of 10y
atty for four years. Ispent four years in the
army, and never felt greater danger on the
picket line than did during the campaign of
1865. Mr.. Chairman, l say let Georgia alone,
strike out the Bingham amendment admit the
State, great applause let them fight out their
own battles if they decide that they want an
election say to the members of the Legis-
lature of Georgia, when you go home pass such
laws as will give your Governor power to arm
every man in the State, to make an appropria-
ton to buy all the Winchester rifles that he
he needs, and one hundred rounds of ammuni-
ton for each, and demand fair election. Let
every man vote as he pleases: coerce no man
keep no man away, but let him go up and vote,
and you yourself demand the same right. |
tell you the Winchester rifle is the best law that
you can have in Georgia Provide the men
and the rifles to enforce justice and the laws,
and you will have peace.
AS for Congress, its sole duty now is to let
Georgia alone.