Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-18

Wnsa Senator Scott of Pennsyirania. the I
chairman Of the Congressional Ku1Kllx
Committee, returned from South CaroIina
a month or two ago, he demanded of Grant
that he should issue a proclamation, placing
portion of South Carolina under martial
law. influential Radicals protested against
this assumption Of power because Of the
Injurious effect they feared ii would exert
upon the elections in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
In the meantime, Radical officials IN South
Carolina testified that there was not the
slightest reason why Scott's demand should |
be complied with. But no sooner have
these elections taken place than proclama-
ton Of warning is issued, to be
followed, of course, by declaration /
Of martial law. The proclamation issued
on the 18th inst. is directed against the
counties of Spartanburg, York, Marion,
Chester, Laurens, Newbersy, Fairfield, Ian
caster and Chesterfield. In the proclama-
ton directed against these nine counties.
Grant sets forth that sunlawful combina-
tons and conspiracies have long existed and
do still exist in the State of South Carolina,
for the purpose of depriying certain portions
and Classes of people of that State of the
rights, privileges, immunities, and protec7
ton named in the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, and secured by the act of Con-
gress approved April the twentieth, one
thousand eight hundred and seventy
one, entitled An act to enforce
the provisions of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of
the United States.'" He further proclaims
that 'such combinations and conspiracies
do so obstruct and hinder the execution of
the laws of said State and of the United
States as to deprive the people aforesaid of
the rights, privileges, immunities, and pro-
lection aforesaid, and ooppose and obstruct
the laws of the United States and their due
execution and impede and obstruct the due
course of justice under the same.n These
charges are at variance with the testimony
OF leading Radicalsin South Carolina. The
Charleston Courier says:
"There is in this State a United States
Judge, whose fidelity to his trust no man
will doubt. He could easily be examined,
and the result of his examination would be
that the laws Of the United States have
been, and are rigidly enforced in his Courts.
Judge Bryan has heard cases from all points
of the State, and his officers have regularly
made arrests where they went armed with
warrants, and the juries in his Courts have
done their duty with remarkable fidelity.
1t is impossible to say that justice is either
impeded or obstructed when those accused
are brought to trial, and when if the evil
dence shows them to be guilty, they are
regularly Convicted W .E
Touching Grants assertion that ''the con-
stituted authorities of the State are unable
to protect the people, the Charleston Col-
rtey reproduces the following extract from
a report of an interview its reporter had with
Gov. Scott: h-r.L
Reporter. Well, Governor, might l ask
what did you say?
Governor. Certainly, sir. In my speech
before the committee, which lasted only ten
minutes, was careful to avoid any allusion
to the Democratic party. The committee
had been discussing martial law, and were
severely condemning some of my recent ap-
pointments. stated that was glad that
they had come to the same conclusion as
myself as to the proper policy to be pursued.
believed in-the enforcement of the civil
law, as it is the only Law in Republic by
which the liberties Of the people can be pre-
served. said we had enough of martial
law in 1865 and 1868 TO convince me that
it was not the proper remedy for our evils.
Reporter. Then you are opposed to mar
tial law?
Governor. Most unequivocally, and my
principal object in making that speech was
to show those men who are so clamorous
for martial law, that they are pursuing a
mistaken policy.
This does not indicate that GOV. Scott felt
himself unequal to the task of enforcing
the civil law and protecting the people.
Commenting on this proclamation, the
Baltimore Gazette says: 'Of all the South
ern States, South Carolina and Louisiana,
ever since the close of the war, have been
most completely in the hands of the Radi-
Gals. All the State officials, from the Gov
ernor down to the rural constable, are of
the Radical persuasion. Their Legislatures
are intensely Radical, and none but Radicals
are permitted to serve in she militia, or on the
police. 1t is, therefore shameless perversion
of the truth to say that, with all this power in
their hands, the State authorities are una
BILE to cope with, and effectualy suppress
In respect to South Carolina, the whole
course of the Radical party has been one of
intense vindictiveness. The simplest breach
of the peace has been exaggerated into
riotous demonstration, and quarrels, merely
personal in their origin, have been perver-
ted into grave political offences. No
charges brought against these people by the
men who plumber and Cypress them are
regarded as too monstrous for belief, and
| never, in the very worst days Of Vene-
tan tyranny, were secret infOrmers so
heartily encouraged to vent their malig-
nifty against reputable citizens, as they
are now, at the South, by the Ku-Klux H.
quisitors under the leadership of Senator
Scott. The proclamation just issued by
Gen. Grant does not follow merely, in
natural sequence, the result of the recent
elections in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but
is note of warning to the people of Texas,
for daring to spurn the Radical ticket in that
State, and elect four Democrats to represent
them in Congress. 1t is intended, even still
more, as a menace to the people of Charles
ton for venturing to carry that city for the
Democrats, and to put out of the mlnci-
pal offices the herd of wolfish Radicals
which has preyed upon them so long
Let it also be remembered that, of the