The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-24
MARTIAL Law.
Able speech Of nr. wilkes, of Anderson

During the discussion Of the martial law bill
in the House OF Representatives, last week,
Mr.. wilkes, member from Anderson, made an
ELOQUENT and able speech, which attracted
much, attention. Z.
After tracing his own political course from
thetime OF the surrender, he touched upon
the cause OH tho troubles and the connlct eAT
: He favored the new State Constitution and
voted tor It. His course was untrammelled oy
marty ties. ;, he regretted the acts OF violence
In the up- country, but could not think all tGe
people guilty. The error OF this people was IN
not correcting public sentiment; Inc reRrsfaS' rfssy
hp tholirht. for all these troubles, was: Flrst,
ifi a correct public opinion; second, IN the APP
Monument Of competent and faithful oft1cers;
fihirf. in the enforcement OF existing laws;
and. fourth, in q bill such as that introduced oy
Whittemore, for the better protection oi per-
sonsland property. Attend 10 tnese'and you
need not pass this bill, ,...1,,,. r,,.u,
INV remedies for existing evils In the BODY
noiitIc: these are the methods by which l, pro
:. I,oEe 10 restore peace and repress laWtesSnesS
Ara they. not feasible and peaceful, anu sutl-
'clent? Ifthe good sense OF every lnteinSenC
member shall yield an assent TO my posiiioqs.
where, the use Of declaring martal law ~
law = What is martial law The mere Will Of
the military commander. Are yon wiling 70
strike down, the civil law, suspend the VIII OF
hnbedx oo,pas close the courts ofJnstice, ana
place the lives, the liberties ana properly oi
the people of those counties at the mercy OF
one man, uhrestrained snd unehecHea are :.
YOU willing thus to declare, that the people OF
fhose counties are Incapable OF selt-goV..
ernment!y why, slr, KNOW. the people Oh
those countiesto be among tAemost lnteillgent
OF any In the State. Do you thlnklof amoWenI
that my Reform friends around me represent
lawless, eutthro constituency slr, l was
in County, Know bee ser ~
tender and refined; there may be, ana douot-
ieasf are. so,re desperate men within her For-
Iara who have wantonly taken life, and
hrnnri,t reproach upon her fair fame: BH we
are nor warranted In cendemning the good
,neople- for the acts OF few bad men; tne lor-
mer deprecate the conduct OF tne ,iatter Us s
Jnnob as you and lido; II they are at all 10
lhlane. it Ia because they did not, perhaps, eX-
Srt their influence to control, by sound puo-
liz onInion the action of those lawiess men.
Whaf ia true Of Laurens, In my opinion, Is
equally true of Spartanburg, Union ana New
berry. Are you then prepared TO oner the peo-
pie OF those counties martial law SucH meas-
pre ia NOT tolerated In any despotlsm IN Europe,
In lint rare instances If recollecL Alright, IN all
modern history there are recorded bat Two wen
detSned instances Ia which martial law has
heen nrocIaimed-in Poand during the reign Of
Catherine II Of Russia, and In Hungary 10
1850: and in those Instances natlonantles WeM z
obliterated. All, martial law was msasuie oi
ueeces in those instances, as desPots under
stand peaee. Suwarrow, standing on lie ram
narts Of sacked and ruined Warsaw, gazing
nver the devastated plains OF crushed Poland,
cnnid well dispatch TO his imperial mistress:
s.on;et reisns in Wkrsaw,"3 All, yes, looking
INTO the bloody graves Of two tho4sana VIC
tins of martial law, quiet did reign; out II was
the quiet Of The tomb 80 unlet
and order in Hungary. ls such the peace,
sncb The order, such the quiet, you propose TO
s,iva the people of those counties!. Goo
forh,d / hope not. ! believe not. ana
Vet. gentlemen, care NOT #nat may
Be The color of the militia you may seau YOU,
INTO those counties. tand have no doubt col
nrod militia would be treated more lenienty
than White,) the people will regard II as tanta,
,nonnt TO declaration Of war; bloodsnea VIII
ensue, and the people OF all the upper counues
become embroiied; and If any officer Is lett 10
renort to the Governor, he might Weii report,
in the sentence of Tacitus: FacaaM sotatua,-
mem pdcerrs. iGppelldnt- MAKE s9iiluue
and caIlIit peace. Gentlemen. order and qulet
and security reigns in the counties OF Green-
Vile. Pickens, 0conee and Anderson. ThroW
M s1,ch firebrand among the people OF those
Counties. Do not drive them into position
which they do not wish to occupy. When the
snn rose this morning upon the tops ofthe blue
mountains overlooking this lovely Pieonone
its % silVery waters flowing musically 10 the sea,
it it shohe over scene OF peace and quiet.
The husbandman went forth merrily TO his
iiaiIy toll. the merchant to his counter, the
1awyer TO his books and the mechanic to his
anvil and plane; all the industries OF llle are
there to-day being pursued IN security aeSi ana
brotherly love. Will you disturb tne oeaa.!tu,
Heaven forSid Do not be guilty of an act SO
cruel to Yourselves and to us.