The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-02-02
Speech Of Warren D. Wilkes, Esq, on the
Bill to declare Martha Law.

Bill to declare Martiai Law.
The Charleston Neacs gives the following sy-
nopsis of the able and eloquent effort of War
rem D. Wilkes, Esq. delivered on the oath Of
January, in the House of Representatives,
pending the discussion of bill to declare mar
tial law in certain counties of this State:
After tracing his own political course from
the time of the surrender, he touched upon the
cause of the troubles and the conflict existing
always between old and new systems. He ia
vored the new State Constitution and voted for
it. His course was untrammelled by party
ties. He regretted the acts Of violence in the
up-country. bat could not think all the people
guilty. The error of this people was in not
correcting public sentiment. The remedy, he
thought, for all these troubles, was: First, in a
correct public opinion second, in the appoint
ment of competent and faithful officers; third,
in the enforcement of existing laws and,
fourth, in bill such as that introduced by
Whittemore, for the better protection of per-
sons and property. Attend to these and you
need not pass this bill.
His prerorations are giveniu full: These are
my remedies for existing evils in the body poll
to restore peace and repress lawessness. Are
they not feasible and peaceful, and sufficient?
If the good sense of every intelligent member
shall yield an assent to my positions, where the
use of declaring martial law? Do gentlemen
know what it is to declare martial law? What
is martial law7 The mere will of the military
commander. Are you willing to strike down
the civil law, suspend the writ of hQbeas corpus
close the courts of justice, and place the li:es,
the liberties and property of the people of those
counties at the mercy of one man, unrestrained
and unchecked? Are you willing thus to de-
clare that the people of those counties are in
capable of self-government? Why, sir know
the people of those counties to be among the
most intelligent Of any in the State. Do you
think for moment that my Reform friends
around me represent a lawless, cut-throat con-
stituency? Sir, was born in Laurens Coun-
ty; know her SONS to be law-abiding and
high-toned, her daughters tender and refined
there may be, and doubtless are, some desperate
men within her borders, who have wantonly
taken life, and brought rcproach upon her fair
fame But We are not warranted in condemn
ing the good people for the acts of few bad
men; the former deprecate the conduct Of the
latter as much as you and do; if they are at
all do blame, it is because they did not perhaps,
exert their influence to control, by sound pub
lie opinion, the action of those lawless men,
What is true. of Laurens, i'll my opinion, is
equally true of Spartanburg, Union and New
berry. Are you then prepared to offer the peo-
pie of those counties martial law2 Such meas
ure is not tolerated in any despotism in Europe,
in but rare instances. Ii l rccollect Alright, in
all modern history there are recorded but two
well defined instances in which martial law has
been proclaimed-in Poland during the reign
of Catherine II of Russia, and in Hungary in
1850; and in those instances nationalltles were
obliterated. All, martial law was measure of
peace, in those instances, as despots understand
peace. Suwarrow, standing on the ramparts of
sacked and ruined Warsaw, gazing over the de-
wasted plains of crushed Poland, could we'll
dispatch to his imperial mistress: "Quiet reigns
in Warsaw" All, yes, looking into the bloody
graves of two thousand victims of martial law,
quiet did reign; but it was the quiet of the
tomb. So, too, under martial law, Haynau, the
butcher, restored quiet peace and order IN Hun
gary. Is such the peace, such the order, such
the quiet you propose to give the people OF
those counties? God forbid I hope not l
believe not. And yet, gentlemen, care not
what may be the color Of the militia you may
send into those counties, land have no doubt
colored militia would be treated more leniently
than white,) the people will regard it as tanta-
mount to declaration OF war; bloodshed will
ensue, and the people of all the upper counties
become embroiled; and If any officer is lett TO
report to the Governor, he might we'll report,
in the sentence of Tacitus: Fdciunt solitudtnunl
pacem appellant make solitude and call
it peace Gentlemen, order and quiet and Sc
curity reigns in the counties of Greenville,
Pickens 0conee and Anderson. Throw no
such firebrand among the people of those coun-
ties Do not drive them into position which
they do not wish to occupy. When the sun
rose this morning upon the tops of the blue
mountains overlooking this lovely Piedmont
region, stole down their sides, kissed lovingly
its silvery waters flowing musicaly to the sea,
it shone over a scene Of peace and quiet. The
husbandman went forth mcrrily to his daily
toll, the merchant to his counter, the lawyer to
his books and the mechanic to his anvil and
plane; all the industries of life are there to-day
being pursued in security and brotherly love.
Will YOU disturb the beautiful scene by the
rude tramp of the military? Heaven forbid
DO not be guilty of an act SO cruel to your