The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-23
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LII u lCLtCI PllutO0 Ah SuA AoSNS Va -
terday, Senator T. j. Robertson invites four
leading citizens of South Carolina to put
themselves in communication with represen-
tative men in the different counties, $50 as
s.to organize, and combine, the moral power
ssoY the State in favor Of peace, good order
staad obedience to the law" The letter is
conceived in the right spirit, and, coming
from an extreme Radical, is significant &C
Acknowledgement of the necessity of working q
change for the better in the political condi-
ton of the State.
Senator Robertson knows too much OF
South Carolina to prate, at this time, OF
martial law and negro militia. It must be
evident to him that the sword, lifted over
the heads Of sixty thousand white men. will
not heal the sores produced by insolent and
ignorant negro legislation. United States
troops will net reduce the burden Of taxa
ton. Martial law will not make the General
Assembly liberal, intelligent, and truly rep
resentative in character. The rifle and
bayonet will not regenerate the pampered
officials OF the State, nor cleanse them from
their sins and make them honest guardians
Of the public good. Brute force, whatever it's
shape, will not cure the myriad evils under
which the people groan-evils which daunt
the bravest, and make Ku.Klux Vigilance
Committees possible, and, in time, endurable.
Senator Robertson is satisfied OF this fact,
and he, therefore, seeks to combine s'the
t'moral power Of the State" on the side OF or
der and peace. That is to say, he asks
General Kershaw, General Butler, General
MCGOWAN and Colonel Rion-soldiers whom
the people love and trust-to use their influ-
ence to the end that the laws may be patti
emily obeyed. Without the support Of the
whites, there cannot be ''gond order and
general content;" therefore, the whites are
invited to move to the front and sustain
government which has brought the State to
the brink Of social and financial ruin; which
has disguised, huniliated and oppressed
F.. every respectable white man in all South
Carolina The heterogeneous mass OF foreign
-knaves, vicious Africans and native ne'er-do-
wells is about to fall to pieces therefore,
<'the leading citizens" shall join hands and
give to the Radical Rings cohesive force
greater and more enduring than that Of
public plunder.
Nor must it be forgotten that for three
weary years the ''moral power OF the State"
has been combined In favsr Of "peace, good
ttorder and obeJieDcs 10 the law" Governor
Scott was elected aud reelected by negro
votes. TIE State legislature is the most
venas taeacse breststsg stupid and malicious
kn@@E tS civilization. The wealth, the in
tsiIfgsses sss tAs pfsGes o: Tie State are alb
solu:ely wiihout representation. Millions
are added TO the debt Of the State (; the
swarm OF tax-gatherers 6lch the las: dollar
from the pockets OF the people. Yet the per-
secuted and haif-ruined whites haze obeyed
the laps, and, until aeithtn the past Iew
aoeeks, not finger has been raissd against
Me constituted authorities Of the State. We
have tried ''the moral Hower," and the only
result is fresh exlctita, renewed robbery,
worse tyranny and more taxation.
The plain English of Senator Robertson's
letter only this: The whites must, as body,
resolve to obey the laws, however Infamous,
to pay the taxes, however enormous, to
submit to injustice, however grievous. This
being done, the whites may rest assured that
their patience and forbearance will encour-
age our negro rulers to lay the last feather
upon the backs of the people.