The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-11-09
Law in sOuth Carolina.

WASHINGTON, October 1.-THE President's
proclamation, issued tonight, reciting that
WHEREAS, Persons engaged in unlawful
combinations within the counties of Spar
tansburg, York, Marion, Chester, Laurens
Newberry, Fairfield. Lancaster and Chester
field in the State of South Carolina, have
not dispersed in obedience to the proclama-
ton of the 18th inst, and given up their
arms, DISCUSSES, etc:
Now, therefore, /, Ulysses S. Grant, Presi-
dent of the United States of America, do
hereby declare'that in my judgment the pub
lie safety especially requires that the privilege
of the writ of hdbeas corpus be suspended ia
said counties, in respect to all persons ar
rested by the Marshal of the United States
for said District, or any of his deputies, or by
any military officer of the United States, or
by any soldier or citizen acting under their
orders.
The above is inserted for the benefit
of such as may still doubt that martial
law is in force in South Caro-
lima. Besides, we have seen a dispatch
from Columbia, S. c., stating that
Marshal johnson has one hundred and
twenty persons in custody; that there
is a terrible panic, and people ale leav-
ing their homes and fleeing to the
mountains of North Carolina and
Georgia from York and Spartansburg
counties.
1T is quite certain that this mode of
action was decided upon in Washington
City long since. The Ku Klux law
was passed by the party in power as a
political measure Of safety for its per-
petuation, more than for any other
purpose. This party has looked with
a sort of terror upon the loss of one
after another of the Southern States,
and, to secure itself in the great con-
test of 1912, has seen fit to pass the
above bill and to give to the President
the extraordinary power of suspending
the writ of habeas corpus when he
sees fit.
Of course the necessity Of suspen-
sion of such right will not become
necessary EXCEPT in Southern States.
No matter what occurs elsewhere, it will
prudently never be deemed a necessity.
1t is simply presidential election
scheme. Only two or three of the
Southern States are now probably Rad.
ical, and the party cannot afford to lose
the balance of power, which these
States Will throw into the next electoral
college Such would probably result
in defeat, and as success must be the
result, cost what it may, this martial
law system is resorted to. By gradu-
ally returning to military rule in these
States, the next election for President
can be managed entirely in the interest
of the Radical party. What matters
it to Grant, if misery is again and
forever fastened upon the Southern
people, if by doing so that party, which
proposes to keep him in power, is sue,
cessful? Civil rights, as far as it con-
Germs the Southern people, are as moth
ing to him. His feelings will dictate that
every human liberty be disregarded, if
by it Radicalism remains triumphant.
This is the rule, and it may be expected
that the bloody sword of oppression
will remain unsheathed in the South to
an indefinite poriod. This is a part of
the campaign tact!cs Of this lawless
and corrupt party. Are we permitted
to even reflect when this infamous
terrorism will cease? We advise for
beararce; let the people do nothing
which will give the authorities handle
to take hold of, by which such oppres
sions will be doubly practiccd.