The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-18
AGAINST MARTIAL LAW.
4 VIGOROCS LETTER FROM LIEGTEN-
4NT-GOTERSOR R4NSIER.
Martial Law a Remedy Worse than the
Diseasc-The Civil Authority sum-
cient to Preserve Peace-HoSv to Pacify
the State.
CHARLESTON. S. c.. September ID.


see YOU and Mr.. Pointer, and oilers, personal
ly, in reference to what seemed to oe the de-
plorabe state OF affairs in your county aud In
York, and consult with you upon the subject OF
the proposed declaration of martial law, In the
couaties named, by the President Oft the United
States; but circumstances. over which nad
no control, prevented me from doing So i,
therefore, adopt this method of addressing
you on the subject.
Sir, regard the subject-the reign OF mar
tial law in any portion of our State-as the
most momentous with which we may be called
upon to deal-one that should be most care
fully considered by US in all its bearings BE-
fore we recommend or demand 1t, and as
hope and trust will be done by the authorities
at Washington before it is put into operation.
You, sir, know the condition OF affairs In
your county better than l do, OF course; and
for this and other reasons are better qualified
Ito determine what is best calculated to save
human life in your midst, break the bans Of
whatever OF persecution exists therein, ana
restore to your heretofore well-ordered COM
munity that peace and good order so essential
to the people and the we'll being of the State.
shall venture, however, an expression OF my
opinion on the subject, in the fervent hope
that some good may result therefrom.
Sir, that outrages the most hellish have been
perpetrated in many counties of the State
none will deny; and seriously doubt that we
shall ever be able to wipe out the stain that
thus blackens our history of the past few
years. Outrages that however the good
meaning and well-disposed of both political
parties in the State may dlscountenance and
condemn, have not yet ceased. That some
men and newspapers give at least negative,
if not positive encouragement to The evil
disposed, is true: and that the Republican
party, however unwIttiugly, contributed
towards this condition of things BY the election
6fbad or corrupt men, is believed. As to the
charge of corruption and positive theft Of the
public moneys, is it astonishing that the peo-
pie, or large portion of them, should feel
Insecure as to their property, and seek to justi-
fy almost any and every act, however
violent, outrageous or unlawful, that
looks to the overthrow of the party In power,
when they are made in high official circles 1t
is not my purpose, however, just now to in
auire into the causes which have led to these
outrages, which cannot be defended upon any
pretext whatsoever, and are disgrace to any
civilized community, and loudly calling for
some remedy, but to seriously ask those VINO
favor the reign Of martial law, what GOOD re-
suits are expected to be obtained, and may
not this 4remedyn prove worst than the dis
ease? For my own part, am unequivocally
and most decidedly opposed to 1t, and for the
following reasons amongst others:
First, because believe the civil power Is
amply sufficient. The law, both of the State
and the United States, guarantees the fullest
possible protection to the life, liberty and
property of the citizen. II We say that the
State authorities will not or cannot apprehend
and punish the criminal, or that our laws do
not sufficiently protect US against the class OF
organized persons known as "hu-Klux," we
have what Is known as the Ku-klux act OF
Congress which, 1t would seem, does. For In
stance, we have United States officials, i1.r.
shals, commissioners, &C., whom believe are
empowered, under the provisions of the act
referred to, to comr,nnd the assistance Of the
military in certain contingencies, and every
possible facility by which these offenders may
be brought to punishment. But, say some,
ssthat Is true, but these men will not do their
duty.n Suppose this statement Is correct, can
they not be reached? Can they not, and
would they not, be removed, and other men,
who would do their duty, put in their places !?
And, may lot ask whether the same thing
may not occur under the reign o. martial law
May not military judges also fa:i to do theirs?
am opposed to it, secondly, because 1t
would be source of constant irritation, and
would widen the breach and eubitter the feel
ings between the two classes of our people,
and thus do an immense deal OF harm, and
once inaugurated, would have to be kept up
for an almost indefinite period; and 1t would,
In my Judgment, be found then to be necessa,
ry to extaGh it perhaps all over the State, in
order to$14oid possible revolution, or, when
withdrawn, sooner or later, provoke the same
result. Thirdly, because it would be splen'
did card for the Democratic party in the next
| Presidential election, who would attempt 10
prove. with the same show of reason, that the
corutry, under the rule OF the Republican par
ty, is tending toward military despotism-
the subordInation of the civil to tie military
power And, fourthly, because it would seem
to aseue the failure of reconstruction, 80 far,
at least, as the fitness Of the colored man for
citizenship and sef:government is concerned,
because, be it remembered, he is in the majori-
ty in South Carolina; that being so, 1t would be
asked why can he not have or mako :Ich a
government as will protect his own life, liber-
ty and property, and engage in the legitimate
pursuit of happiness, while doing the same in
the interest of the other race.
The foregoing re some OF the reasons, hur-
riedly penned, why am opposed 10 martial
law. In conclusion, may remark that have
no pet scheme of my own, but would say that
If the State administration will do its duty; the
United States officers, under the Ku-klux act
of Congress, theirs; the influential men out
side the Republican party theirs, by condemn
ing, In unmlstakable terms, these outrages
which we suffer, and the Republican party
hurl from official position those who may be
proven to have acted in manner discredita-
bic to public officer, and thereby abused the
public confidence, and those who. from what
ever cause, may be unfit for the positions they