The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-21
[FRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

The bill of Whipper's declaring martial law
in the upper counties of the State, was dis
cussed yesterday and to-day Without arriving
at any definite result, save that it excited an
cry feelings and showed determination on
the part of some of the colored members to
enforce the full power of the State militia.
On yesterday the main speech by the oppo.
siuon was made by Barker, white Radical
from Edgefeld. He acknowledged the viola
tions OF the law, but thought that until 1t was
shown that the ordinary officers Of the law
were unable to execute 1t there was no pro-
priety or authority for resorting to unusual or
violent measures. There was no evidence be-
fore the General Assembly to show that the
officers of the law were incompetent to the
task, nor had resistance to the law been made.
There were no re6elions, no lHsnrrectIons, no
combinations against the law; Martial law he
thought virtually declaration OF war. he
continued In the following strain: | ask you II
the General Assembly came here to urge war
or 10 make peace? Whenev, you attempt to
make peace by sending twenty-five hundred
militia to the up-country, you may prepare ior
war. The very men who advocate this meas
ure would be the first men to cry out for
the mountains to hide them. They are
advocating the very steps that the lead
ing men of this State advocated In 1861,
men who got up the fighting and then had
business elsewhere. It was said that the
white people Of the State would not fight.
Whenever the militia made its appearance in
the up-country that question would be tested.
Whenever that came about the bayonets would
be used, and there would be blood from the
mountains 10 the seaboard. The White peo-
pie of this country were no longer going to be
imposed upon by the colored militia. He
would 20 as far as any one 10 bring these mid
night assassins to justice. His vote would
never be recorded in favor Of such a measure
as this.
Whipper made one of his characteristic
harangues in favor of blood and thunder; and
he could not well do otherwise, being the
father OF the bill.
Byas also occupied large portion Of the
time of the House. He was Ia favor Of spend
ing the last dollar he had and the last dollar
hisfonstituenss had to effect his purposes
The debate to-day was very temperate In It's
general character and must do much to Kill
the passage Of the bill.
Mr.. Hurley made one Of his peculiar
speeches. He said the constabulary depart
ment had wofully failed; nine out OF ten crimi-
nails had escaped Justice. He believed the
Governor to be kind man; he could not say
No to anybody; he did not blame him. Oh,
no. "What Is the use," he exclaimed, ,,of
the militia going into the up country where
they will be met by an armed band of trial
justices. who will swear they have come to de-
prive them of their fees?" He went into
dissertation on these important officers, and
explained how 1t was in Charleston. Every
one had his runners out who paid no tax. If
a man was caught looking at lamp-post, some
runner wanted him to 60 to trial Justices
Office. Every woman with child in her arms
was supposed to be seeking such an office, TOO.
The people Of the up-couutry were an agri-
ricultural people; they did not desire to see
men coming to their counties bearing arms
and beating drums; they had beaten their
swords into ploughshares.
Mr. Hunter, from Charleston, made neat
and strong speech against the bill, and was
followed by Crittenden, from Greenville, on
the same side. Briggs followed in q long
speech, very temperate In Its character, and
well prepared. He was in favor of the course
pursued by the Governor.
Jones, from Georgetown, had his turn at
blood and thunder.
RADICAL MEMBER SPEAKS sENs1BLY.
Mr.. O'Connell, from York, finished the
debate for the day in o speech OF about an
hours duration. He held The attention OF the
House and spoke right to the point. He said
he represented the sentiments of the better
class Of people Of tho up-coantry. 1t was very
strange that all the 7alor came from the lower
coRltry, whilst the members from the up
country did not care to see any exercised.
Jones interrupted, blaming the Radical lead
ers Of the up-country for melting such state
ming Off to some safe quarters.
O'Connell replied that he had always re.
malned with his constituents, but he agreed
with the gentleman (Jones) as to the running
away business. Such men were the occasion
OF all the rows. If the violent men Of both
parties were taken by the neck and thrown
into the sea, there would be no more difficult
ties. He admitted that Outrages had been
committed, bat the course proposed certainly
would not help matters. In the first place, the
militia were inexperienced and incompetent.
He referred to Whipper's remarks in relation
to the twenty-five hundred veterans being sent
up from the seaboard. These men, he said, have
some daily agocation that will pay them more
than SIG per month, and if any men were sent
they must be offscouringS Of the cities, for
whose action the Republican party would be
held responsible. In the case OF martial law
being declared the rights Of the citizens and
those counties would be placed in the hands
Of ignorant and irresponsible men,. The mill
tia could not be maintained except at an
enormous expense to the State. le was sug-
gested that the respective counties should pay
these expenses, but they could not 40 It.
Should they be sold out bodily, they could not
sustain the expenses of the number OF the
militia proposed. The militia could not re-
main there all the time, and when they leit
matters would sbe only worse. He referred
to North Carolina as an example where |
the Radical party had lost the State |
through the militia. He endorsed Cover |
nor Scott as having exhausted all |