Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-12-14
Gov. Scott ON the Ku-KIux.

Gov. Scott on The ku-AluX'
In his message to the Legislature
i(the greater portion of which we pub
lished last week,) Gov. Scott com
ments on the Ku-Klux, and his pro-
ceedings Herewith, in this State, in
the following vindietive and bitter
,spirit-a spirit unworthy any fair and
shberal-minded gentleman, and far
below the dignity that should attach
to the position of Chief Magistrate.
The existing Intervention Of the
military power of the United States,
for the suppression of domestic vi
olence" in the State, demands that |
should review the causes that have
made that intervention necessary. l
perform this duty with deep sense
of humiliation as an American citi-
zen, and with profound regret as the
Chief Magistrate of South Carolina.
1t had long been the boast of our
political system, founded az it is upon
,theexpressed will of the people, that
thespeaceful agencies ot the law we're
alone sufficient for the protection of
life and property. When, therefore.
it becomes necessary for the civil aG-
thorities TO; invoke the; aidfof the
military, for the protectiongn of the
citizen in the exercise+or his vested
rights, it is a declaration to the world
that, within the limits Of the State,
crime triumphs over law. * That such
is theta is Justly, due to- no act OF
the present State Government. It
has assailed no private right, and
committed no public wrong, and al,
ways remembering that it was estab-
lished to advance the interests of the
whole people, it cannot, with justice,
be charged with everhaving wanton
ly injured citizen either in his per;
son or estate.
The members of the Constitutional
Convention of 1868, with remarkable
unanimity, excluded from the new.
constitution every proscriptive fea--
ture, and by its provisions no citizen
was disfranchised, and every class OF
nersons and property was guaranteed
the equal protection Of the laws.
The administration elected under that
constitution endeavored faithfully to
reflect the generous spirit of its fra
mers. Impelled by my own personal
sentiments, no less than by what |
deemed wise public policy, | saw
in the men who had rebelled against
the National Government only the
citizens Of my country, who, it they
had done much wrong, had also,f as Il
consequence, endured much suffering,
and i sought to win them back toa
better feeling, that all classes Of our
citizens might dwell together as breth-
rem, under the shelter Of commo!r
mansion, and that the united efforts
Of the whole might be directed to
lifting the State up from the suniver-
sal prostration caused by the wanton
acts of part.
Actuated bv these motives, and as
o 4octimonv that ,fhe knew admins
tration was neither PARTISAN nor YIN
dictive, in my first message to the
General Assembly | used the fol
language on'the subject of po-
litical disabilities (:
81, would earnestly recommend
that your honorable body will, at an
early period, memoriallze Congress
to relieve eveay citizen~of South Car
olina from ali politicai disabilities.
| make this recommendation the more
readily from the fact that there are
believed to be none Of that class IN
this State who have committed lnfa-
mo IS offences against the laws OF
war.
"The statute Of disfranchisement
was. doubtless, wise and proper at
the earlier stage of reconstruction,
and Justly marked the nations abb
horence of those who, having been
the trusted leaders of the people, had
led them into rebellion against the be-
nign government of their country.
Yet the the continuance OF such distran
chisement would be an anomaly ur.
der our Republican system based
upon the doctriue of universal suf-
frage. Let us hope that such an act
of magnanimity will not be mistaken
by the class disfranchised, while to
deny it will tend to make them OBJ
jects of sympathy, and will be, as it
were, to keep a Knife sticking In an
open wound.
abandoned the hope or the sentiment
that impelled that recommendation,
SO far as the industrial class Of the
whites are concerned. Although they
COZ tributed largely to he wealth and
strength Of the State, yet, in former
times they were not permitted to
take any part in the administration
of its affairs. There is no natural
antagonism between them and our
present system OF Tree government
which, in its paternal care for the
welfare OF its citizens, has, for the
first time in the history of South Car
olina, enacted a homestead law, which
guards the threshold Of the poor
y mans dwelling, so that remorseless
creditors may not enter and sell the
roof that shelters hi wife and chill
dren, or seize the products of the few
acres that supply his table with food,
Whatever feeling of hostility any Of
these may entertain against the gov
ernment of their country, is the re-
suit, in a great measure, Of the will
full Misrepresentation Of their former
privileged rulers. to advance their
own political ends.
The General Assembly promptly
seconded this effort TO restore univer-
sal good will among our people. by
devising an equitable system of tax