The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-10-07
The South Carolina Militia-Cal
Governor Moses for Federal Aid.

Governor Moses for Federal Aid.
The New York Herald, in a recent
article, directs attention to. the remark
able practical commentary on one OF the
provisions of the Federal Constitution,
which is furnished by the reply of At
torney-General Williams, to the call OF
Governor Moses for troops to suppress
domestic violence in Edgefeld, that one
cornpaily was already there, and was
deemed sufficient; and points out the
gross absurdity of the confession that
one company of Federal soldiers was
to quell disturbance when
the whole militia Of b State was unable
to put down.
Vet the Federal Constitution grounds
the right to bear arms upon the cohsld'
Grafton of "a we'll regulated militia being
necessary to the security Of a free State, -
and regarding itas the bulwark OF Re'
E6ublican freedom, relies principally upon
the military arm of the State to suppress
ali domestic violence. Governor Moses
however. i'm a State where the blacks
outnumber the whites in the proportion
nearly, Of two to one, corfesses that tht
negro militia are utterly worthless, ano
assigns this as reason for calling 1ol
Federal troops. In this, as the Hcrdlo
remarks, Governor Moses doubtless OK
hibits, not cowardice, but sagaclty, anc
his estimate of the value Of the militls
of the State is probably correct. Tho
black troops behaved we'll enough in
the war because they were drilled be-
fore goingSinto the fight, and were then
supported by white troops, but VIVA,
could the undsciplincd black militia o
the State do, when confronted with the
Scared veterans of many q hard hght.
AS well might we expect flock OF sheep
to stand before all array OF lions:
But what is the conclusion from the
whole matter? Simply this, that our
State governments are not what the
trainers of the Constitution designed
them to be, and that governments which
need to be supported by Federal bayo-
nets are anything else than Republican,
The theory of Republican institutions is
that the preponderance Of military ca
pacty is with the majority OF voters,
and no government can be called Re-
publican in which it does not exist.
With such constitution of the State, it
must be q rare occasion that the State
government is not fully competent to
take care of itself without invoking for
eign aid; and in fact, in the whole his
tory of our government, there has been
no instruction against the State gov
ernment which was not promptly sup
pressed, until the inauguration of the
system of reconstruction. Under that
system, property, intelligence, and mil
itary capacity have been excluded from
the governing body, and the conse-
uuence has been, that the State govern
ments have ceased to be Republican,
and require to be propped by Federal
bayonets. Such is the case throughout
the South, and affords sad commentary
upon the Congressional system of re-
construction. e.
The inseprrable connection ffetween q
we'll ordered militia and free institu'
tions, is clearly set forth in report
made many years ago, to the New York
Legislature, by its present Governor:
ut is striking illustration of the ge--
MUS of our institutions" said General
Dix, "that, although we have been at
no period without q standing army, the
few instructions which have interrup'
ted our domestic tranquility have been
suppressed by the citizens themselves
Indeed, the nature of our political lnstl'
tutions and the spirit of the people are
such that the employment of any Other
than militia force on these occasions
would inevitably have the effect OF rem.
dering every contest more protractet
and sanguinary. A regular force in the
permanent service of the central govern
ment, is apt to be regarded, however un'
Justly, as an instrument OF power WITH
out affinity with the mass Of citizens
and when Employed against any portion
Of the people it assumes from that very
circumstance the aspect of oppression
But to q body of insurgents the spec
tacle of a military force depending on
the separate authority of the State
drawn from among themselves and com
posed Of those who have participated in
the very evils which they are seeking tc
redress, presents q moral example o
forbearance, order and submission tC
the laws which must have a wholesome
influence in ollaying the violence o.
their resolution"
But with o militia constituted as ours
is now, it seems to be folly to give then.
arms much 1nore ammunition. Whilst
powerless for the purposes of self-pro'
lection, they inspire an ill-foundcd con-
fidence in one race, whilst they offer o
standing menace and afford constant
cause of irritation to the other race.