The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-28
Ransier,s Letter against Martial Law.

ant-UOVernOr OF CnlS Statc IN tne CnarleStOn
Nccs was mentioned in our last issue. His
views are cogently expressed and we give the
full text of his argument against the declara:
tion of martial law in any portion of South
Carolina
CHARLESTON, S. c., September II.
To IVm. ~. Fleming, Esq, Chairman RepubE=y
can Party, SpartanJurg County. S. g.:
DEAR SIR: 1t was my wish and desire to SEQ
you and Mr.. Pointer, and others, personally, in
reference to what seemed to be the deplorable
state of affairs in your county and in York, and
consult with you upon the subject of the pro-
posed declaration Of martial law, in the coun=
ties named, by the President of the United
States but circumstances, over which L had
no control, prevented me from doing so: I,
therefore, adopt this method of addressing you
on the subject.
Sir, regard the subject-the reign of mar=
tial law in any portion of our State-as ths
most momentols with which we may be called
upon to deal-vne that should be most CAREFUL
ly considered by us in all its bearings before
we recommend or demand it, and as hope and
trust will be done by the authorities at Wash
ington before it is put into operation: t'i
You, sir, know the condition of affairs in.
your county better than do, of course and,
for this and other reasons are better qualified
to determine what is better calculated to save
human life in your midst break the bans of
whatever of persecution exists therein, and re-
store to your heretofore we'll ordered communi-a
ty that peace and good order so essential to the
people and the well-being of the State: shall
venture, however, an expression of my opinion
on the subject, in the tervent hope that some
good may result therefrom, - 10
IL, hot holl how
perpetrated in many counties of the State none
will deny; and seriously doubt that we shall
ever be able to wipe out the stain that thus
blackens our history of the past few years.
Outrages that, however the good-meaning and
well-disposed of both political parties in the
State may discountenance and condemn, have
not ceased. That some men and newspapers
give at least negative, if not positive en-
couragement to the evil disposed; is true and
that the Republican party, however unwitting-
ly. contributed towards this condition of things
by the election of bad or corrupt men, is be:
lieved. As to the charge of corruption and
positive theft of the public moneys, is it aston:
ishing that the people, or q large portion of
them, should feel insecure as to their property;
and seek to justify almost any and every act;
however violent, outrageous or unlawful, that
looks to the overthrow of the party in power;
is not my purpose, however, just now to inquire
into the causes which have led to these outra.
ces, which cannot be defended upon any pre-
text whatsoever, and are disgrace to any
civilized community, and loudly calling for
some remedy, but to seriously ask those who IA
yor the reign of martial law, what good results,
are expected to be obtained, and may not this
"remedy" prove worse than the disease? For
nv own part, am unequivocally and most de-
cidedly opposed to it. and for the following
reasons amongst others:
First, because believe the civil power is
amply sufficient. The law, both of the Stats
and the United States, guarantees the fullest
possible protection to the life, liberty and prop
erty of the citizen. If we say that the State
authorities will not or cannot apprehend aud
punish the criminal, or that our laws do not
sufficiently protect us against the class of orr
ganized persons known as "Ku-Klux," We
have what is known as the Ku-Klu1 act Of
Congress which, it would seem, does: For i'm
stance, we have United States officials, mar
shals. commissioners, &C., whom believe ar6
empowered, under the provisions of the act
referred to, to command the assistance of the
military in certain contingencies, and every
possible facility by which these offenders may
he brought to punishment. But say some,
sthat is true, but these men will not do their
duty." Suppose this statement is correct, can
they not be reached2 Can they not, and
would they not, be removed, and other men,
who would do their duty, put in their places5
And. may not ask whether the same thing
NAV not occur under the reign Of martial law1
Nav not military judges also fail to do theirs7
| am opposed to it, secondly. because it
would be source of constant irritation, and
would widen the breach and embitter the
feelings between the two classes of our people,
and thus do an immense deal of harm, and
once @ inaueutated, would have to be kept up
@ for an almost indefinite period; and it would;
in INV Judgment, be found then to be necessas
nv to extend it perhaps all over the State, in
order to avoid possible revolution, OF, when
withdrawn, sooner or later, provoke the safne
result. Thirdly, because it would be splen-
did card for the Democratic party in the next
Presidential election, who would attempt to
prove. with the same show of reason, that the
country, under the rule of the Republican
party, is tending toward a military despotism
the subordination of the civil to the military
power. And, fourthly, because it would seem
to argue the failure of reconstruction, so far,
at least as the fitness of the colored man for
citizenship and self-government is concerned,
because, be it remembered, he Is IN the ma.
iority in South Carolina; that being SO, it
would be asked why can he not have or make
such a government as will protect his own
life, liberty and property, and engage in the
legitimate pursuit Of happiness, while doing
the same in the interest of the other race.
The foregoing are some of the reasons, hur:
riedly penned, why am opposed to martial
law. In conclusion, may remark that have
no net scheme of my own, but would say that
if the State administration will do its duty; the
United States officers, under the Ku-Klux act
of Congress, theirs; the influential men OUT
side the Republican party theirs, by condemn
ing, in unnlistakable terms, these outtages
which we suffer, and the Republican party
hurl from official position those who may be
proven to have acted in manner discredita-
bic to public officer, and thereby abused the
public confidence, and those who, from what
ever cause, may be unfit for the positions they
fill, then we shall have peace and strong gov