The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-09-14
Shall Martial Law ba Declared II
South Carolina

from Washington announce '.t'''
declaration of martial law 10 lhe
Counties of Spartanbury, Chester
York and others adjacent, still hangs
fire: the statements of Senator Scott
not having been confirmed by tho re,
ports to tho Treasury and War Dc
nartments ofathe Government. The
delay which has already taken place
wouid seem to show, that the Gov
ernment is not disposed to act hastily
10 the matter, and the emphatic
denial Of the Senator's statements
and afidavits, which comes from the
highest sources Republican as we'll as
Democratic will surely convince the
authorities at Washington, that there
Il no earthly necessity Of resorting to
60 extreme o measure as declaring
martial law.
Senator John Scott OF the Congress
sional Investigating Ku Klux Sub
Committee, on his return hom
from South Carolina, mado such rep
eesentations to President Grant Of tho
continuance Of Ku Klux outragcs in
certain counties of the State where
the Committee had bcen holding their
= l.
investigation, that tho President
deemed the mstter worthy Of a Cabi-
ne. Council, and we have been told
from day to day that all tho powers
conferred by the Ku Klux bill would
soon be enforced sgainst certain re.
fsactory Counties Of the State. Bat
the proclamation has not been forth:
coming. The whole subject was re-
fsrred to the Attorney General,
either to await further developments,
or for; the purpose Of sitting tho truth
Of the af1daTits and statements. 10
these statements and affidayits Of
Senator Scott, the leading eitizons and
officials Of all parties in spartanburg
County, make full and explicit de-
hial. They declare they have made
sdiiigcnt enquiry and have been un.
able to hear Of o single outrage haV'
ing been committed since the Com
mittee left" 80,
The statement is signed by tho edi-
Cor of the Republican journal of that
county, the Senator and Representa-
tives in the State Legislature, the
United States Commissioners, tho
Sheriff, Clerk, and Probate Judge, tho
United States Assistant Assessor, and
prominent citizens ~.
sPho Spartan says BY way Of com com
ment:
This statement made by two
United States officers who arc IN our
midst, ought to be sufficient to prove
TO the mind Of Senator Scott, that he
has been imposed upon by tho ''com-
munieations and aaf6davits," upon
which he iounds his statements made
to the President, and his rccommen'
dation that martial law be doclar-
ed in this County. Furthermore, We
learn that leading Radicals horc ad-
nit that no outrage has occurred IN
Spartanburg since tho Ku-Klux Com
,niittoe were here. No doubt '-com-
munications and afidavits" have been
sent to Senator Scott, chairman of the
committee who were here, m1sreprc'
senting our County by false and ma
ricious statements, which were intcn-
"a to induce him tousc his influence
iii bringing about martial lsw. we
arc at loss to know who made the
afidavits referred to, but do know
that it is oaly those who wish to keep
up excitement and trouble in the
country, and to crafty their ma,
licious feelings. We pronounce such
statements as wilfully false and made
only to serve party purposes and
crafty malignant feelings.
The Chester Exporter and the York
rille Enquirer make statements equal
ly emphatic with regard to their SOY,
eral counties, and we suppose that it
will soon appear, if it has.'not already
appeared, to the authorities at Wash.