The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-14
Martial Law in South Carolina.

A few weeks ago Senator Scott, the chair
man OF the Ku-Klux subcommittee, ad-
dressed a letter to President Grant urging
that martial law, under the provisions OF the
Ku-Klux act, be proclaimed in South Caro-
lima. 1t was expected that President Grant
would at once accede to the partisan re-
quest, and it was believed that the necessa-
ry proclamation was Immediately made
ready. The remonstrances Of the Northern
and Western press, and the production OF
trustworthy evidence that Senator Scotrs
statements were very wide OF the truth,
caused the proclamation to he withheld, and
| it was hoped, almost against hope, that
| more moderate counsels would prevail, and
the suppression OF lawlessness be left to the
civil courts. This feeling was strengthened
by the letter OF Lieutenant-Governor Ran
sier opposing the use OF force; but at the
meeting Of the State executive committee Of
the Radical party, the week before last, the
leading Radical officials went to the right
about and clamored for the armed aid Of the
Federal Government. The United States
marshal and his deputies were galvanized
into astonishing activity. Scores of citi-
zens, suspected Of Ku-Klux crimes, were
thrust into Jail. Governor Scott boasted
that measures had been taken for holding
"Bloody Assizes" in Columbia, in Novem-
Der. This appeared to be enough to satisfy
the demands OF the most blatant Radical,
when, 10 there is another turn of the screw,
in the shape Of formal proclamation by the
President OF the United States, requiring
call persons comprising the unlawful CON-
"binations and conspiracies" in South Car
lima "to disperse and to retire peaceably to
"their homes within five days. Even the
most ratid Radical sheet in the country does
not pretend that South Carolina is less peace
full, or more turbulent, than it was last month.
The Radicals admit that the United States
officials are hunting down, and capturing,
suspected persons with all requisite vigor
and with astonishing success. The reasons
which made military rule unwise and wrong
in September, exist and are stronger than
ever in October. And yet, martial law we
must have. May we not fairly suppose that
the proclamation was withheld, not because
it was unnecessary and ndefensible, but be-
cause it might have had a prejudicial effect
upon the elections Of last Tuesday? The
Radicals are victorious in Ohio and Penn
sylvania, and they are routed in Texas.
There is no cause now to fear the influence
upon the North OF return to the recon-
structi)n policy of the sword and the fetters;
and as Texas has dared to be free, the
Southern States, through South Carolina,
must be taught at once that they have no
rights which can be allowed to interfere
with the schemes Of President Grant and
his unscrupulous advisers. In spite OF cleo
ton laws aud martial law Texas elected
Democrats to Congress. 1t was time that
Virginia, Alabama and Georgia should be
reminded that they are only free by suffer-
ance, and that stroke Of the Presidential
pen may, in moment, deprive them OF all
the boasted liberty guaranteed by a patched
and deridcd constitution.
AS We are taught to be thankful for small
favors we should rejoice, we suppose, that
only Spartanburg, York, Marion. Chester,
Lau"ens, Newberry, Fairfield, Lancaster and
Chesterfield are doomed to military despot-
ism-ony line COUNTIES out OF thirty one.
AS to York, it is sufficient to say that
the Grand Jury OF the county have investi-
gated every case Of Ku-Kluyism reported to
them by Colonel Merrill and Congressman
Wallace, who gave Senator Scott the infcr-
nation upon which lie based his letter 10
the President. They reported in open court,
after an inquistion eight days in length,
that it was uQtlue that any persons had re-
Gently been whipped in the county, and that
only four acts Of violence had taken place
since last Ju,y. All the particulars OF the
four cases are given. Only one Of them
could by any straining be attributed 10 the
Ku-Klux. In Newberry, the State Court
| udS uUt ultl, anu StHuOI hOCe, oVSuuSS WV
ernor Scott refuses TO commission the legally
elected county commissioners. All the
facts are set forth by the Grand Jury.
No Ku-KluXism is charged by the Rad
ical press against this county. Fair
field is as tranquil as summers day. One
case OF Ku-KIuxiSnl, which was reported, is
proved by the Wiunsboro' Ne,rS TO he with
out truth. Against Lancaster not word
| has been said. Chester has been quiet for
many months. The last and only trouble
Was when band Of negroes made an attack
uDon The Town OF Chester and were repulsed
by the whites In Chesterfield one case OF
Ku.Klux murder is reported and the lead.
ing Democrats demand the names OF The
suspectedpersons that they may be instantly
prosecuted. The Columbia Un,0n declines
to give the name of lis informant who said
he, and all the people of the county, knew
who the murdercrs were. About Spartan
burg our information is less specific, but in
that county there is no serious disturbance
even according TO the Radical press. And
yet the proclamation Of President Giant
| reads as though armed forces of rehc,s Oc-