The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-01-04
first ruiz the lsborers who we're subsis-

vas to protect the rights person aud
property that such . agagslnmeot would
sbe Without the protection ofthe lag, and |
would perish as it deserved. In brief,
we exposed the madness, the folly and
the xickedness of such >fncendiary |
teachiHgs, and exhausted the resources
'=ef kiadIy percussion, but they were for
the most part only'the more rooted iu
prejudice and the more violent in Its
manifestation
TSis summary Of the arguments by
which the colored people we're led to
fastcn upon the State, for the uext ztEo1
years, the same men who have so nearly
rune us in the past, demonstrates the}
eziseepee asAong them Of fatal hostili- |
~ te~afas as, which cannot. now be
Overcome BY gestle and kindly over
I tares. 1t is SO violent in some quarters
;as to threaten the existence OF society.
S It has been fostered and famed, aud
: kept .Sliye in q very large degree, By |
those whose duty II is to protect society I
.dagistraies and consefvators Of the
{ peace havezbeen foremost and unre-
! buked in incendiar9 ntteraDces and ae-
: tiops. 1t is allied not only with dema,
gogism-that demon, whose province
, it is to prostitute the spirit Of liberty
!. but also with agyarianisn, which strikes
at .he fouBdations Of civilized society.
TO this, add ignorance and the leader.
ship Of the worst, most uuscrnpulous aud
. selfish men, as rule, and some idea
may be formed of the dangers Of the SIT.
nation. i
A danger known is more than half
azerted. Sit is not our province to sug-
eest remedies. These will be for your
determination. Yet the utterances Of
personal views may be pardqned BY your
Kindness to those lully in sympathy
With you, ami having common inter
est In ali that concern your welfare as a.
people.
Ia the first place, let us set at rest
forever alldonbts about our position
upon the questions OF reconstruction,
which have been practically settled, aud
D deal with them as we do with other
laws. An accomplished revolution be
comes law. A contrary course isolates
us from all existing political organiza-
: tions, aud shuts out all hope Of peace
iul deliverance. Let ~ retain, 10 some
8 form, a solid combination for mutual
& protection aud the preservation of peace,
law aud order, under the lead of the
wisest, purest and best cstizers in every
community Ceaseless vigilance, eau
s ticn and selfrestraint, combined with
adequate and visible preparation for
defence, will insure the preservation Of
peace. There are declarations ofTirtu'
Gus purposes of hate from the Executive
of the State ana some Of our Legislators.
q In all the good they do let Us accord to
Them our hearty support. ln some
form, conservatism will surely triumph
8 in the next Presidential election. Un-
y der whatever uane it comes, the leading
ideas will be the same. Free trade,
acquiescence in accomplished facts,
s eqaai rights to all citizens, the supro-
macy of The General Government, but its
z Limitation within the scope Of its legiti-
& mate constitutional sphere, and the pre-
3 aervation Of the rights Of the States nn
4 der the existing consultation.
E In view of The probable triumph of
these principles, as evidenced BY the
result Of recent elections, VIC may calcu
late that there will arise in South Caro-
k lima, within the next tEo years, 10 the
bosor, of the Republican party. CON
sesvaiism in harmony with those priuci
s pies. So far as possible to do so,
l without participating in it, let us
welcome, aid and assist its formatiou.-
& If not retarded by ind,scrcet action on
E our part, it may be made to succeed
Il here two years hence. To be plain, any
organization in which We took open part
ltEsuid concentrate largely against it the
& colOred vote, under the lead of thcir
4 xorst men, playing, as heretofore, upon
E ,,heir prejudices, passions ane. fears
IL Our support, therefore, to such party
L should be rather negative than positive:
4 moral and passive rather than active
e Let us hold ourselves free TO act as
q circumstances may require, remember
i. lug that the restoration Of an impartial
s. and economical government in Stntb
I ) Carolina is of more vital necessity to US
j than anything else to be accomplished
! by political combinations. Towards the
4 cnlared people let us be kind. concilia-
n tory, Just and forbcsring, but brare,
nauiy aud self reliant Let US give
ssshem no pretext for violence, but ever
be prepared promptly 20 repel it. Shonld
I: outbreaks occur, let us localizs end
sssupprcss them, as nearly Under the forms
of law as may be- For lesser outFages
and acts Of inccndiarism, let US consti--
| siute voluntary police to bring oGeu-
ders to justice, and enforce order
imparlially. Let US increase the
aud conservative population
oi the State BY most liberal Inducements,
ded;cating q large portiou of'eur uncul
..ivated lands to that object, and lock-
!sing to immigration from our sister States
sas we'll as from abroad TO all such.
come from what quarter they may, iet
us extend a cordial welcome. Above
all, let us cling together rs brother
bood, and ealtirate the public virtues
manifested in the example OF our
ss.,nosto,s- ond the deeds of ouP heroic