National Republican., 1876-01-04
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CFrom the Charleston, 8. c.. News and Courier,
December y.
The mass meeting of the citizens Of Charles
ton last night was what 1t ought to be-a
gathering of calm and resolute men, who know
their danger and face 1t; who neither diminish
by temerity nor aggravate by timidity the
gravity of the work that lies before them; who,
fixed in the conviction that pure judiciary
and an honest government are required for the
preservation of liberty, property and order,
are resolved at any hazard to obtain them.
They represent, in what they said and did, the
opinions and irrevocablc determinations of the
reople of Charleston. Out of the sin and sor-
row of tine judicial election shall be born, If
we dare and do, South Carolina as broad and
deep in its popular foundation as the South
Carolina of to day, and as stainless, as gener-
GUS and as just as the South Carolina of olden
times.
The action of the meeting last night was
embodied in preamble and series Of resolu-
tiops submitted by Gen. James Conner, than
whom the State has no worthier or more de-
voted son. They briefly and vigorously set
forth the efforts Of the Conservative citizens
to secure "peace, stability and good govern
ment, through the Republican party" the
utter and hopeless failure to obtain relief
through that agency, and the determination of
the Conservative citizens to assert their right
TO good government and faithful administra-
ton of the law. The earnestness and fidelity
of portion of the Republican party, led by
Gov. Chamberlain, are fully and gratefully
recognized, and they are earnestly invited to
aid US in the attainment OF common end.
But the predominance of the worst elements
of the Republican party, and the failure of the
Republican minority, through no fault Of
theirs, to establish a good government which
should respect the rights and protect the in
terests of all The people of the State, is sdemon-
strated by the logic of events, and it is en-
phatically announced that the responsibilities
and obligations imposed upon the Conserva-
tive citizens, in this emergency, will be fear
| lessly met.
The preamble and resolutions are free from
glittering generalities which catch the ear and
signify nothing. They go directly to the root
Of the difficulty, point out the knot and show
how it should be cut. The election of Whip.
per and Moses, ''UhoSe proper place in court
house is the criminals dock, is All insult to every
| honest citizen, and violation of every safe
| guard which the law affords to life, liberty
and property" By their election ''thc sery
formations Of our social fabric endangered"
To the attempt to place infamy and corrup-
| ton, as personifed by Moses and Whipper, on
! the seat of justice 1--WE will not submit" And
the Conservative citizens of Charleston SOL
| emnly aYow their purpose "to resist IL TO tie
end" These are no idle words. All that they
convey, in spirit and letter, is meant. What
Is threatened Iri as last resort, be done. Noses
and WhippeT shall not file the bench by their
| presence! When the polcer Of the Erautire is
exhausted, and The SWoTeIls Court fails as, the
people, in the crcrcise Of their OTigiHa rights,
must arise and destroy the incarnadOns Of
| 'tpl,iadsP aud drereRge.n
The preamble and resolutions are not lin
! tied in their scope, however, to the judicial
election. When Moses and Whipper shall be
| removed from the arena the task will not
| have been accomplished. The Legislators who
| are $50 regardless of duty, and so reckless of
| the character, the peace and the prosperity of
the State" ninst be drigea from pc'gsr. The
good conduct OF those colored people who have
| not been "nisled by evil counsels'' is frankly
admitted, and the Conservatives bind them
selves to preserve to the colored people ''eyery
right and privilege guaranteed by the Consti-
| tuition and laws of the country" But the
domination" of their race ''over the property
| and rights of the white people of the State
| will be resisted to the last, and UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL 1T PREVAIL"
In the contest now begun the Conservative
| citizens of Charleston promise Governor
Chamberlain their steadfast support. This
! they owe to the man who, in the words of the
distinguished merchant who presided at the
meeting last night, Islands like granite wall
between an oppressed people and those who
lives, liberties and homes" The people
must, nevertheless, Themselves strike the GLo~
,rhich shall make them free. For every citizen
there will be room and place. They who can
not act, can counsel and advise. They who
| cannot work, can give of their means to those
whose sole wealth is earnestness and yigor.
The struggle will be long and arduous. First
to be reached is, the undoing of the election Of
Moses and Whipper, and inseparably connected
with that is the universal movement, from the
Blue Ridge to the coast, for the salvation Of
South Carolina and all her people. That is
the great work before US, a work that will be
done and well done, ere another year be past,
if the people Of South Carolina are willing to
make, for their affairs and firesides, little of
the effort and sacrifice they consecrate, day by
day, to commercial and agrieultprslt life nso No
success in their LaTiTfdio ris With nnd;snnteG
sway. 1t IS wisest it is easiest, as well as most
paIIiotic, TO make the needed effort now, in
order that this people may live thereafter in