Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-10-24
SOUTH CAROLINA.

y
ed to political pressure and issued procla>
nation stating that sit has been satisfactorily
shown to him that instruction and domestic
violence exist in several counties of the State
of South Carolina, and that in nOny counties
of the same State combinations of armed Or
CARNATIONS known as rife clubs ride up and
down by day and night, murder;ng some
peaceable citizens and intimidating others, ="
aud he therefore, in pursuance of the author
ity vested in him under the constitution.
commands all such persons to dispense and
retire peacefully to their homes within three
days, aud he inyOkes the aid and cooperation
OF all good citizens of the State to uphold
the laws and preserve the public peace" A
military order has also been issued putting
federal troops in the field for use in case those
awful rife clubs refuse to dry up and blow
away, and bodies of soldiers are already on
their way to that State.
As the Now York Sun pointedly says,
there is no evidence before the country to
sustain the pretezt upon which Grant issues
his proclamation to the people OF South Car
DINA.
He says that insurrection exists there but
his proclamation contains the first news of it.
The term Instruction is not one of vague i'm
port, but of definite meaning, involving re-
volt, rebellion, or violent and organized up
rising against the authority. No such state
Of things exists 10 South Carolina. There
has been no attack upon the State Govern
ment, DO resistance to Federal law, no defiance
OF the judicial over, nothing that can be re-
garded as in any way revolutionary.
Again, Grant says there are "certain CON-
binations in the State that cannot be control
led or suppressed by the ordinary course of
Justice" There is no evidence whatever to
support this. Had there been, he could
have pointed to he times and places when
and where the course of justice has been in
terferred with or thwarted He could have
mentioned the counties or localities, and Civ
en- some indication Of the nature aud extent
of the resistance
Thus the proclamation is destitute of any
justi6abe basis Whatever.
The mendacious assertions with which the
proclamation opens we're made merely as q
show of regard for that part of the Constitu-
ton which warrants the use of military force
by the Executive.
Grant calls upon the insurrectionary poru-
lstion to submit themselves to the laws and
constituted authorities. That they will con-
tinue to do this, we have not doubt That
they will conform to the terms of the procla>
nation is beyond question. Even the So
called Rife Clubs" will be disbAndel.
Wade Hampton and other leaders of the op-
position to Chamberlain have already request
ed the enbers of these clubs to disband
large additional force of Federal troops
has already been ordered into the State BY
the War Department. We predict that they
will meet with nothing 10 the shape of resist
ance from the \ citizens of South Carolina.
though attempts to stir it up will doubtless be
made by demagogues in their own interest
and for electioncering purposes
In speech made at Chester, s. c., on
Saturday week, Gen. Hampton said: Gov
ernor Chamberlain may bring all the Infantry
and artillery in the United States army, and
station company at every poll, and it will
not change one single vote in South Carolina
We welcome the United States troops. We
desire peaceful and fair election, and they
will give it to US; and, furthermore, they
will see for themselves that the people of
South Carolina are for peace; that We have
been UNANIMOUSLY slandered by an unscrupu-
lous demagogue; that We are but struggling
for good and honest government, for free
thought, free speech and free men,"