Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-11-02
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION.

We urge the Democrats of South Carolina
to the utmost selfrestraint, TO absolute peace
and nou-resistance, no matter under what
provocation. The real situation in South
Carolina begins to be understood in the North,
and the language of the President's procla.
nation will not change opinion here. 1t is
very we'll understood by people who care to
know, that there is no insurrection in the
State, no domestic Violence" no "combina-
tions against law" no disorder whatever
which the Governor, ifhechose to do 80, could
not easily and summsrily put down. What
effort has Governor Chamberlain made to put
down "insurrection" or domestic violeuce?"
None at all. If such . state Of things has
existed, as General Grant is made in his proc.
lamation to pretend, the Governor has had
abundant time to call the Legislature togeth.
er; but he has not done so. ~ He should have
called out the State militia but he has not
done 80. In short there are no proofs Of the
existence of an "insurrection" in South Caro-
lima, or of domestic violence" or of any Of.
fort of the Governor to find or suppress
either.
There is good deal Of vague talk Of "ride
clubs" Suppose Governor Tilden should en-
roll all the roughs and all the illiterste and
ignorant population of the State, and none
others, in the militia; should arm them with
State arms; and suppose then, in, the midst
of an exciting political campaign, he should
suddenly order al the remainder Of the citi-
zens-the whole of the substantial and intel.
ligent classic disarm, and, If they hesita.
ted, order wholesale arrests by Federal. mar
shals and call on the President for troops
what would be said of such proceeding?
Yet that is precisely what Governor Cham
berlain has done and what the President abets
him in. Fortunately, so far, the members OF
the "riAe clubs" have quietly submitted to ar
rest. In fact, the whole plan" Of the Demo
cratic canvass necessitates peace and order
on their side; and this is so certain and evi-
dent that the call of Chamberlain for troops
has clearly no other object than the hope to
stir up riot and violence We trust that the
Democrats will be on their guard and give
not the least occasion by their own conduct
for the success of this. base scheme. And We
again advise the colored men Of South Caro-
lima to vote for General Hampton. He has
promised them equal justice, absolute security
and fair play, and they may depend on his
word. '.''.:'
The Presidents proclamation, made for no
true cause, misstating the clear and we'll un.
derstood facts in almost every paragraph, or.
dering the dispersion of an insurrection which
does not exist, on pleas which are notorious!!y.
without foundation, and threatening to send
to the State not only the regular army but
the militia of the States, is. surely too grave
and dangerous an abuse of power to pass un.
noticed BY Northern voters. The clause OF
the constitution, under which the President
shelters himself and Governor Chamberlain,
evidently supposes the Governor OF 2 State
to have attempted to put down disorders be-
fore he is entitled to call for Federal help. It
supposes the emergency to be 90 serious that
be would call the Legislature together for
consultation before he appeals to Washing
ton, if possible; and for this Mr. Chamber
lain has had abundance of time. It snp-,
poses at least actual and notorious Illegal
combinations too powerful foF him to put
down; but there Is not the least proof OF any
combinations whatever, except one; OF the res
pectabIe people Of the State TO defeat Clover
nor Chamberlain at the polls. There can be-
no plea even of resistance on the part of the
rife clubs, which are for the most part, il not
entirely, legal and chartered Organizations,
Their members have submitted quietly TO ar-
rest wherever they have been called oh.. The
plain. and dissgreeabl truth isemslt to be that
the President Of the United EStates has been
led to abet Governor Ghsmh mherlsin, iin sn st,
tamnt Ia f,raata rjpt IN South Carolina fOr