Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-03-30
The Carolina Troubles.

Senator Robertson, Of South Carolina
writes from his seat in the Senate a let
ter addressed to Gems. Kershaw, Butler
and McGowen, and Col. Rion, in which
he states his opinion to be that " tn
true road to peace in South Carolina i
by peaceful means and urges thes
gentlemen to "put themselves in com
munication with the leading citizens o
the respective counties of the State, 81
as to organize and enlist the mora
power of the State in favor of peace
and good order, and obedience to tht
laws.
The gentlemen thus appealed to by
Senator Robertson have always insisted
| that thetpeace, good order and quiet Of
the State could only be preserved and
maintained by the force of public SEN
timent, Hence, they deprecated and
denounced the arming of the negro
militia by Governor Scott, which meas
ure, if we mistake not, was approved
and voted for by Senator Robertson,
while he was a member of the. South
Carolina Legislature Robertson's par
ty defed public sentiment, treated with
contempt the opinion of leading citl-
zens, and caused a war of races in the
State by using the ignorant and de-
bauched negroes, and egging them on
to acts of lawlessness and outrage. The
leading citizens" to whom Senator
Robertson now plaintively applies for
aid in protecting the vile instruments
of Radical vengeance upon unofsnding
white citizens, were not consulted when
the negro militia was organized, and
Winchester rifles placed in Their hands
to shoot and butcher unofending white
citizens. Now, however, when the
whites, having patiently borne unheard
Of outrages, rise up in their power and
oppose the lawlessness and violence of
Scott's trained bands of marauders, and
the State authorities are impotent to
protect their Infamous creatures, "pub-
lie sentiment" is appealed to, and
leading citizens implored to lend
their aid in restoring order-order
which was ruthlessly violated by Scott,
Robertson & Co.
We know something of the character
and feelings of our South Carolina
friends-the leading citizens now
appealed to. We undertake to say for
for tkem, that if Scott will disband his
ragamuhin militia, recall the arms
placed in their hands, give the people
of the State good government and the
protection of the law, the outrages'
so much complained of and so often
alluded to, will instantly cease. There
is no need for troopsin South Carolina-
neither black militia nor Federal regu-
lars. Under our system Of government
laws cannot be enforced by the bayonet;
and whenever or wherever this is at
tempted, public opinion will be found
stronger than bayonets.
The distinguished gentlemen named
by Senator Robertson, and leading citi-
zens in the respective counties Of the
State" can and will enforce the laws
when law guards their rights and affords
them due protection in life, liberty and
property Peace and good order can
be easily restored in Carolina. 1t is
within the power OF Governor Scott to
accomplish this desirable result. Let
him show to the leading citizens" that
he respects the law, and will honestly
enforce its provisions, and at once order
is restored. Every good man in
the State will sustain him in such
effort, and public opinion controlled by
leading citizens" will compel due
observance of the law by all the people
of the State.--Chronicle g. Sentinel.