The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1876-12-14


tation, our aim is to defend whateve
is pure, true, brave, manly an
chivalrous-in one word, whateve
Is Southern-in Southern character
| Chamberlain's Bogus inaugural.
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND Hous,
OF REPRESENTATIVE
accept the office to which, by tn,
voice of a majority Of the people O
this State, I have a second time beer
called, with full knowledge of The
grave responsibilities and difficult
ties by which it is now attended,
No considerations, except the clear.
est convictions Of duty, would be
sufficient to induce me to accept
this great trust under the circum-
stances which now surround us.
l regard the present hour in South
Carolina as q crisis ut which no
patriotic citizen should shrink from
any post to which public duty may
call him: In my sober Judgment
our present struggle is in defence
of the foundations of our govern
ment and institutions. If we fail
now, our government-the govern
ment of South Carolina-will no
longer rest on the consent of the
governed, expressed by q free
vote Of a majority Of our people.
If our opponents tri,1mph-I care
not under what grlise of legal forms
we, shall witness tho overthrow of
free government in ourState. ~
My chief personal anxiety is that
l may have the firmness and wisdom
to act III q manner worthy of the
great interests 50 largely committed
to my keeping. My chief public
care shall be to contribute my utmost
efforts to defond the rights, to guard
the peace and to promote the well
fare of all the people of our State.
Tho constant occupation OF my
time with other duties which I
could not postpone, has prevented
me from preparing tho usual state
ments and recommendations re
specting our public affairs. At the
earliest practicable day, I will dis
charge this duty. Our greatest
interest, our most commanding duty
now, is to stand firmly, each in his
appointed place, against the aggres
slons and allurements of our politi
cal opponents. Our position up to
tho present ootime has been within
the clear limits of our constitution
and laws. Nothing but the coward
ice OF weakness or treachery of
our own friends, can rob us of the
victory state what facts show,
what overwhelming evidence proves,
when / say that if We yield now, we
shall witness the consummation of
a deliberate and cruel conspiracy on
the part of the Democratic party of
this State to overcome by brute !
force the political will of O. majority
OF twenty thousand of the lawful
voters of this State. ~
I have mourned ovor public
abuses which have heretofore arisen
here. I have, according to the
measure Of my ability, labored to
make the conduct of our public
affairs honest and honorable. But !.
stand appalled, at the crimes against
freedom, against public order,
against good government, nay,
against government itself, which our
recent political experience here has
presented. And I am the more
appalled, when I see the North, that
portion of our country which is
secure in it's freedom and civil order,
and the great political party which
has controlled the republic for six
teen years, divided in It's sympathies
and Judgment upon such questions.
1t Is written in blood on the pages 1
Of our recent national history, that
no government can rest with safety
upon the enforced slavery or degrn-
dation of race. Iii the full Blaze
Of that great example of retribu-
tive justice which swept away a half
million of the best lives Of our coun-
try we see the American people
divided by purity lines upon the
question Of the disfr .nchisement
duo uoS SlntibClOll Ol Gu0 btt8Il0 race
whose physical freedom was pur-
chased at such cost. And, what
is more astonishing still, there are
Republicans who permit The errors
WHICH have attended the frstefforts
/ Of this race in aalt-goyernment to,
chill their sympathies to such an
extent that they stand coldly BY
and practically Say that q. the
peace of political serHtnde lis
better than the abuses and disquieb
which newly acquired freedom has
Brought 9li
a, denounee the conduct sof the
recent election, on the part Of our
political opponents in THE State. Us !
,lSvaBt brutal outrage. fraud, pro
scription, intimidation in oil forms,
violence, ranging through lall ita,
degrees, Up, TO wanton murder,
were its ctisve methods. The
icircnmst tances under which Ne hayse'
aesAnble 4 to ia .. show sis low hsa