The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-01-20
Tbs Governors Message.

Governor Scott in Lcspo"se to Teso-
lution' of the Legislature, requesting
information why the Executive has not
interposed by calling out the militia to
repress the troubles in Union and SPAR.
tsnbuw, has mt in y message, WHICH
affords a very satisfactory reply. The
wise forbearance and manly ineepen-
,Ienee of the Governor, will secure the
apnroval of the discreet men OF oolh
parties, who will fully endorse the views
Of the message.
He saws: am furnishing you such
iuformation rs it is in my power 70 sep
,ly and while I deeply dep!0re >ne as
tnrbances to which yoar rcsotutioon re-
,'ers can scarcely venture, rs GAecu-
tive of the State, to pronounce any VI
lis counties ,riotouS and REFRACTORY upon
Tie reported cases OF indlVioUa! ouIfage'
and when no information mas pcsn re-
reiyed in this Office indicating anything
ike county organization 10 deiy Q! 10
defeat, the law. | am the more cautious
in this respect, because It VIII oc iecoi-
lected that very many cases o. lhulNlu,
usl violence have hitherto been reported
hoth from the Counties of Abbeville aud
lsdgefield, but the prompt anu Impartial
administration Of justice in THESE coun-
ties has proved that the civil power was wa
sufficient for the protection or the me
liberty and property OF our CITIZENS, hsio
these eounties are now as quiet, peacea--
die md and orderly as any portion OF
tho State. But il there Was any portion
of fhe state in which violence and dis
nraerwere so general as to disarm the
,owsr of the civil courts, l must say,
frankly, that have no such militia
force rs would be competent to suppress
fhon,. and il hsA, have TO means
tonLsce a,:d maintain such force Ii
tho field. II by the outlaws who nave
not been brought to condign punishment
Vol, mean those individuals who have
lately pprrctratcd the outrages in the
eonntias Of SzartaHburg and Union,
can p,iIy say that every effort has beeh
made that could lawfully be- made, by
the Exacrtire, to discover these cTi!ni-
nsIsaAd bring them to a speedy t7a';.
In ,snrne instances, these suspected OF
raiit have bsen committed for trial, ana
in their cases the Executive Is. WITHOUT
mower, as he ought 20 be without Giapo-
sition, to interfere with the due aamih-
istiation Of the law. FL other instances,
the perpetrators Of these crimes ere not
known, and have not yet bcen discover
ed. -
Again With regard to the supremacy
Of the law, ,hcsays
"Itis my opinion that the civil lay OF
the State ought 70 be sufficient, and 1t ~ Is
INV determination that il shall be su!t1-
Gent to preteet the person and property
s,f every and any citizen OF the state,
a,owcver humble, fricndless' or obnoX-
io,,s. / cannot bring myself to coDtem-
nlate the use OF an arE3sS force TO pun
Ash individual violations ct the law in a
time OF, profound peace. Such rene,
dy.would beAs bad rs the disease, and
would be q public declaration that tnefe
-,ras no civil government IN South Csro'
lima, and that VIC are liking III coN0i'
zion of social anarchy: am bound ?:
guy oath of Office as the tsXccutlHeoi OF
this State and in reference TO tqose
principles of constitutional liberty when
ts,re the yitsl force OF true Repubs!canisnl
to see that the law is duly "en'orcees oe-
foreI resort to ether and dangerous pow
s. ers T dare not and will not assume
that Justice cannot be administered, un-
Ill the effort has been made and the fail
Gre evident"
To. secure the better enforcement OF
the law, the Governor recommends that
Increased efficiency be given to tae ad-
ADMINISTRATION Of the criminal law, oy
vesting the Attorney General with Pow
.er to supervise the action of the various
Solic itors, and by placing corps of de-
tectivc police under the control of the
Attorney General and Solicitors. It is
not proposed to give these last the power
of arrest
In the midst of the Legislative clsH?or
at Columbia calling for hasty and i'll
advised action, it is gratifying to End
the EXECUTIVE assuming 50 conservative
policy, and arraying the power CT the
Government in-supporl of the Law.