The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-19
Governor Scott, of south Carolina,
Refuses to Use the Militia.
he SAYS THE CIVIL AUTHORITY MUST
SUPPRESS oUTBAGEs.

A telegram from Charleston, dated
Tuesday, says
Governor Scott yesterday sent message
to the Legislature in reply to the concur
rent resolution asking why military force
for the protection Of life and property bad
not been sent into the riotous and reirac-
tory counties of the State, aud why the
outlaws in those counties have not been
brought to condign punishment. The
Governor says; "While deeply deplore
the disturbances to which your resolution
refers, can scarcely venture, as the Execu-
tive of the State, to pronounce any of its
counties riotous and refractory upon
the reported cases of individual out
rage, and while no information has
been received in this Office indicating
anything like county organization to
defy or defeat the law cannot say
with truth, upon any information in my
possession, that in any section of the
State the laws are not executed; for not a
single case has been reported in which the
officers of the law have been resisted in the
discharge of their duties. There is no in
vasion which am called on to repel no
insurrection which | am called on to re.
press. But, if there was any portion of
tho State ia which violence and disorder
were so general as to disarm the power of
the civil courts, must say frankly that |
have no such militia force as would be
competent to suppress them and if had,
have no means to place and maintain
such force in the field. If by the out
laws who have not been brought to con-
dign punishment you mean those indi-
viduas who have lately perpetrated the
outrages in the counties of Spartan
burg aud Union, can only say that
every effort has been made that could
lawfully be made by the Executive to
discover those criminals and bring them to
a speedy trial. 1t is my opinion that the
civil law of the State ought to be sufficient,
and it is my determination that it shall be
sufficient to protect the person and property
of every and any citizen of the State, how
ever humble, ffieudless, or obnoxious.
| cannot bring myself to contemplate
the use of an armed force to punish in
diyidual violation of the law in time of
profound peace. Such remedy would
be as bad as the disease, and would DO
public declaration that there was no civil
government in South Carolina, and that
we are living in condition Of social
anarchy. am bound by my oath of Office
as the Executive of this State, and ia
reverence for the principles Of consiitu-
tional liberty, which are the vital force
of true republicanism, to see that the
law is duly enforced before resort to
other and dangerous powers. dare
not and will not assume that justice can
not be administered until the effort has
been made, and the failure evident. 1t is,
therefore, my intention to see that the law
is enforced, and when l fail in the effort
l will unhestatingly call upon you for the
extraordinary powers to which society
must resort for selt-protection. But at
present would call your attention to the
fact that all the cases of reported violence
are individual violations of the law; that
none of them have assumed the character of
public combinations against the law, and
that they are all within the regular juris-
diction of the criminal courts"
AS the Governor had just returned from
Washington, it is possible his course has
been suggested by the President.