The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-23

beas Corpus In the Wrong County
The Tumble In New South Carolina
Bonds-The Governors Explanations
About the State Finances, &c.
From the New York Herald.l
The country Is at the present moment excl
ted BY sthe extraordinary proclamation of the
President of the United States, which places
several of the counties of South Carolina
under martial law. No announcement Of an
insurrectlon has been published, and no evil
dence of q rebellion, such as ordinarily calls
for the exercise of Executive power, have
stirred the hearts of the people to "white
heat;r yet his Excelency, the Chief Magistrate,
has seen fit to impose upon one of the South
ern States rule so rigorous and oppressive
that even unofrending citizens are fleeing in
terror from the Law. from which they should
seek protection, leaving society dlsorganized,
business unsettled, and the political status Of
the people more disorganized and unsatisfac-
tory than 1t has been Rt any time since the
close of the war. In view Of this condition of
things, one of the representatives OF the Her
aid yesterday called upon Governor R. r..
Scott, of South Carolina, who was temporarily
sojourning ia the metropolis, and explaining
the object of his visit, received the following
information concerning the condition of affairs
in the Palmetto State:
"I presume, Governor, that you are here
In connection with matters referring to the
recent declaration of martial law In South
Carolina" ?"
"By no MEANS" answered the Governor.
my sole object In visiting New YORK Is to
make certain arrangements concerning the
finances of the State, which, for unaccountable
reasons, are at the present moment OF an un-
hecessarily low ebb."
"Bpt 7eu are aware, Governor, that
| THE PUBLIC ARE MUCH EXCITED
with reference to the late proclamation, and
az ambassador of the Herald should be glad
TO have your views on the subject Of martial
law. its causes and necessity In your State
II must correct you there" replied the Gov
ernor; martial law has not been declared.
The purpose of the proclamation of President
Grant is simply to suspend the writ of habeas
corpus, which will enable the United States
authorities to make arrests and detain sus-
pected parties without the interference Of the
State courts"
"But is there necessity for this ?"'
81 am compelled to, answer your question
public standpoint would say-yes from my
own would say no. | am firm believer In
the civil law. AS an American and q Republi-
can, prefer that Its powers shall be first ex:
hausted before the general government inter.
feres but In the case OF South Carolina such
course has not been practicable. Our judges
have certainly endetvored to do their duty,
the Presidents procltmation-the jurles have
been chiefly 30 composed that II Ku.Klux
were put on trial and his guilt were clearly
proved there would sbe either mls-trial or 9
verdict of not guilty Besides, were to at
tempt to enforce public order with the means
at my command should only add fuel to the
flames. The mllitiais composed mainly OF col
ored citizens, who are off1cered by coloret
men, aud to employ these inethe work o.
patroiilng the country or in aTrcating suspected
white men would create -----
AN ANTAGoN1sM BETWEEN THE RACES
which would be universally deplored."
"Does such difference of opinion exist as
might under slight provocatlon result In blood
shed ?"
"Undoubtedly. Yet 1t Ia under the control
of the influential men of every county In the
State. There Is scarcely puolicist OF any
note whatever-and you must remember tha
all the leading citizens have more or less oc
cupied public positlons-who might not with 6
slight effort have prevented three-ifths II moi
more OF the outrages that have been perpe
trated. By keeping silent or by seeming tc
Yield to public sentiment, they have been &C
credited with certain degree OF sympathy ir
the results that have followed, and the conse
quence Is that these gentlemen are suspected
Of actual affiliation with the lawless combina-
ton known as the Ku-Klux."
.tBut Is the organization so widely difused?' =
"My dear sir,S replied the Governor, with
empressement, sit embraces those who claim
to be the best citizens of South Carolina, and
If the papers are to be believed, their ldenti
tyis
FIXED BY THEIR OWN CONFESSION"
"Pease mention some OF their Names"
"That I cannot do; but they are known to
the government agents and spies who for sew.
eral months have been employed 10 the disaf'
fected counties, and l presume that the ar.
rests now taking place are based on the infor-
nation thus obtained"
"But, Governor, do you think 1t was neces-
sary to resort to martial law to effect this re-
suit p
"WelI, can scarcely see how, after months
OF patient waiting for peace on the part OF the
authorities, the people could expect anything
less than martial law. KeVolutlon or renel. M
lion, In one form or another. has been going
on, in one section or another, throughout the
| South ever since the war; At first IL was be-
lieyed that inconsiderate and hasty young men
| were the cause OF disquietude; that the rude
habits OF army life had engendered dlsposi-
tion to perpetuate strife; and for one was
disposed to gloss over and bear kindly with
| these manifestations of passion, believing that
they would be cured by time, or be controlled
bv the older and more sagaclous members OF
the community. Instead OF that, however, /
| found that the serious and matured gentle
men, to whom I looked for counsel, not only
utterly failed II they even attempted to secure
q better condition of affairs, but they content
ed themselves with mere apologies for public
misdemeauors which In any other condition OF
society would have demanded severe punish
| ment."
Therefore, Governor, you asked ee Presi.
dent to issue the proclamation
GOVERNOR SCOTT OPPOSED TO MARTIAL LAW.
"No, sir do not misunderstood me. am
opposed to martial law. did not ask for it /;
and vet. since the privilege of the writ of ha-
beas corpus has been suspended, while some
Innocent parties may suffer, believe the re-
sult will In the end be beneficial. Power well
applied is always effective. 1t secures peace !;
neace brings content, and in the train of con.
lent follows prosperity. No little demoraliza-
tion in the labor system exists throughout that
portlon of South Carolina In which the Ku-
KIux have been rampant, and the blOtting out
of this element of disorder will have the
hp thiest influence in every department Of
l. :, social political, commercial and domes-
tic." ,,.,o