American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-23

uSCu 10 pTOflOte tue StCCtSS VI pO
li,i;al party. Uudismayed, though
shocked, by this gross violation Of
the Constitution of the country, OuI
people, with ii determination that II,
fol &c could subdup, no fraud could
defeat, kept steadily and peacefully
in the path of duty, resolved to as
sert their rights as freemen. at the
ballot bOx-that great court 81 final
resort before which must be tried
the grave questions ut the suprem
acy of the constitution and the sta
billy Of our institutions. WHAT the
verdict OF the people of South Caro-
lima has been you need not be told
1t has been reverberated through.
out the Sra.es, and its echoes come
back to us from every land where
liberty is venerated, declaring in
tones that cannot be mistaken that
standing on the constitution of Oui
country, We prop ,se to obey tine
laws and to preserve the peace; fol-
i'm us lies its peace and honor, an,i
to carry out in good faith every
pledge made by US for reform and
honest governme bt. We intend To
prove to the world the sincerity Of
.ur declaration, that the sole motive
which inspired the grand contest we
have SO successfully made was no;
paltry ambition for party suprem
acy, but the sacred hope of redeem
ing oui st tie but it was sought to
wrest the fruits OF this victory from
us by a gigantic fraud aud a base
conspiracy. When the members
elect of the General Assembly re.
paired to the capitol to take their
seats, armed soldiers of the Federal
Government confronted them, and
their certificates OF election were
examined and passed on by corporal
of the guard. IL was amid these
appalling scenes that the members
of the General Assembly were call
ed upon to resume their duties as
the Representatives of u free State,
and that State one OF the original
thirteen who won our indepe Il lence
and framed our constitution. Tue
presence OF an armed fOi ce prevent
ing . legal quorum of the lower
house, they, after placing on recor d
"a protest, quietly withdrew from
the capitol aud proceeded to organ
ize that branch Of the General AS
You have seen a minOIlt,
Ut the house using the powers
Ut the whole body: you have
seen the majority expelled from
heir hall by threats of force;
You have seen persons having no
show of claim as members admit
ted to seats as Representatives by
the votes of men who themselves
were acting in direct violation of
the Constitution, and you have seen
the last act of the GROWING infamy
by which a candidate tor the Off q.
If Governor, defeated by the pJpu-
lar vote, had himself declared elect
ri by his co conspirators. II il
iue to my position as the ch eft mag
strate OF this commonwealth to
place OH record my solemn protest
against acts which l consider as
,ubver,ive Of civil liberty and de-
of our form of govern
nent. A gre It task is before the
,onsei yative party of this state
They entered OIL this contest with
! platform SO broad SO strong, so
liberal, that every honest citizen
;ould stand upon it; they construct
ID and accepted the amendments
# the constItu ion i'll good faith;
hey pledged themselves To work
nut reform and establish good gov
rnmeut; they promised to keep
Up an efficient system OF public ed
and they declared solemnly
hat all citizens of South Carolina,
f both races and of both parties
h0uld be regarded as equals in
he eye of the law, all to be fully
Protected in the enjoyment OF every
right now possessed 10y
hem. To the faithful obseI vance
t these pledges We stand commit
esl, and as the representative OF
he conservative party, hold myself
ouEd by every dictate of honor
nd of good faith to have these
hedges redeemed fully and honest
Y. Let US show to all of them
hat the true interests of both races !
an be secured by cultivating peace
nd promoting prosperity among
II classes of our fellow citizens. |
rIy confidently OIL the support of /,
ne members of the General Assem-
iy in my efforts to attain these
aubable enls, aud l trust that al!
of the government will
mite cordially in this patriotic
'ork. If so united and willing. J
18th resOlute and earnest determi-
alton, we may hope sool to see |
re dawn of a brighter day for our
tate. God i'm his infinite mercy
rant that it may come speedily,
nd may He shower the richest
lessIngs OF peace and happiness
n our whole people,
At the close of the address,. the
18th Of Office was administered by
rial Justice Marshall to HanptO8
, Governor, and to w. ID. Simpson
, Lieutenant Governor, the crowd
uncovered while the cere-
ony was being performed. The
lair in which Gen. Hampton was
,ated, was then wrapped in the
,tios.al cOlors, he was borne on
Ie shoulders of dozen men to his
,tel, escorted by the entire crowd.
sveral prominent gentlemen AL
'essed the multi ude from the .
ont Of the hotel, the congression-
com mittee occupying a prominent
,siIiOn on one of the baIconies.