The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-17
UP-COUNTRY TROUBLES.
sPECIaI IsSs4GE FROM GOEER-
NOR SCOTT.
HE DECLINES TO CALL OUT THE MILL,
TIA OR DECLARE MARTIAL LAW.
THE CIVIL POWER sH.LL SUFFICE
A Kebuke to the Radical Fire-eaters.


SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO TIE NEwSl
COLUMBIA, January l6.
The following special message was present.
ed to both Houses to-day:
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COLUMBIA, January lG, ISL.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
have received the concurrent resolution OF
the Senate and House Of Representatives, re-
ouestins me to inform the General Assembly
why sufficient military force for the protec-
ton of life, liberty and property have not been
plaeed in such counties of this State as have
been hitherto riotous and refractory; and, fur
ther, why have not the outlaws in them been
brought to condign punishment; and why the
provisions of section of article l3 of the con-
stitution have not been enforced; and, also, to
inform the General Assembly what further
legislation is necessary to effect the purpose
herein stated.
In furnishing you such information as 1t Is In
my power to supply, aud While deeply de-
plore the disturbances to which your resolu-
tion refers, can scarcely venture, as Execu-
tive Of the State, to pronounce any OF Its coun-
ties riotous and refractory upon the reported
cases of Individual outrage, and while no in
formation has been received in this office in
dicating anything like county organization
to defy, or to defeat, the law. I am the more
cautious in this respect, because 1t will be rec
objected that very many cases OF individual
rfa1 mi
from the counties of Abbeville and Edge
field, but the prompt and impartial
administration of justice in these counties has
proved that the civil power was sufficient for
the protection of the life, liberty and property
of our citizens, and these counties are NV as
quiet, peaceable and orderly as any portion OF
the State. But If there was any portion OF the
State in which violence and disorder were so
general as to disarm the power OF the civil
courts, mustsay, frankly, that have no such
militia force as would be competeu 70 sup
press them; and, ii had, have no means to
place and maintain such force in the
field. If by the outlaws who have not
been brought to condign punishment you
mean those individuals who have lately perpe-
trated the outrages in the Counties of Spartan
burg and Union, l can only say that every ef-
fort has been made that could lawfully be
made, by the Executive, to discover these
criminals and bring them to a speedy trial..
In some instances, those suspected OF guilt
have been committed for trial, ,and in their cases
the Executive is without power, as he ought
to be without disposition, to interfere with the
due administration of the law. In other in
stances, the perpetrators Of these crimes are
not known, and have notyet been discovered.
can only promise that every effort shall be
made to arrest aud bring them to justice.
lam not aware that the second section of
the thirteenth article Of the constitution has
not been enforced. That section provides:
.sThe Governor shall have power to call out
the militia to execute he laws, repel invasion,
repress insurrection, and preserve the public
peace" cannot say, with truth, upon any
information in my possession, that in any Sec
ton of the State the laws are not executed,
for not single case has been reported In
which the officers of the law have been resist
ed in the discharge of their duties. There Is
no invasion which am called on to repel; no
insurrection which am called on to suppress.
While cannot say that the public peace Of
the State is threatened to such degree as to
warrant the exercise of the power OF calling
out the militia, given me Ia the section of the
constitution just quoted, deeply regret that
it is my duty to inform you that the condition
of several of the counties in the State is
disturbed and dangerous. In Laurens, Union
and Spartanburg, persons and property are
not secure. Repeated instances of violence,
disregard of the law and murder have been
reported, and there is q well founded appre-
hension, on the part of law-ablding citizens,
that unless these outrages are promptly
checked the evil will have become too great
for ordinary remedies. do not proposed at
present to refer to these crimes In detail, nor
to attempt the discussion Of their cases. 1t is
enough to say that they are so grave and SO
numerous as to call for the unhinchins appli-
cation of all the power OF repression which the
Executive can lawfully exercise:
1t is proper for me to state, and am glau
to be able to do it, that the public sentiment
of these counties seems to be aroused to the
character and consequences Of this state Of
affairs, and public meetings have been held In
which The responsible and influential citizens
OF Laurens and Spartanburg have declared, in
language 6suficiently strong, their abhorrence
OF these crimes, and their willingness to aid
the Executive in the suppression of them. If
these opinions are carried out in action, we
may anticipate the speedy restoration of peace
and order; but something more is needed than
the resolutions. however just and generous In
sentiment. 1t is my opinion that the civil
la& of the State ougnt to be snfi-
cent, and it is my determination that
it shall be sufficient to protect tile per-
son and property Of every and any
citizen of the State, however humble, friend
less or obnoxious. cannot bring myself to
contemplate the use of an armed force to pun
ish individual violations Of the law in time of
profound peace. Such remedy would be as
bad as the disease, and would be public de-
claration that there was no civil government
in South Carolina, and that we are living in
condition of social anarchy. am bound by
my oath Of Office rs the Executive of this
State, and in reverence for those principles OF
constitutional liberty which are the vital force