The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-12

has been certainly dcr!ict in the dis
charge Of his dc.;c., IN ~. sooner leaning
proclamation to these organizations,
instead Of waiting until "all the counties
of the State" were involved, for ne must
have known that "such combinations Of
men are illegal aud strictly forbidden by
the laws" To quote the language of his
proclamation. when the organization be-
gan many months ago. He cannot plead
ignorance of the laws, nor can he set up
the pretext that he WE, disposed to re.
gard the organization as harmless and
inofiensive, for the reason that the con-
duct of the "rife clubs" in no wise differs
at this time from that which was observed
at the outset. So far as we have been
able to discover, the general demcanor of
these organizations has not changed, and
their chief employment has been to at-
tend political meetings in body, un-
armed as general rule, and the expert
ence of every one engaged in the cam
paign will justify the assertion that the
organization itself has been the means of
checking disorder and turbulence, az the
meh were under control and guidance.
The Immense gatherings in every quarter
OF the up.country have been marked by
a sobriety, decorum and good order un-
surpassed in all previous experience, and
it is the :ilest slander when Gov. Cham
berlain asserts, upon his official rcspon-
sibility," that these men were engaged
in promoting illegal objects, and in com
mitting open acts of lawlessncss and
violence" The right of the people to
asseinblc--a right guaranteed by the
organic law Of the lnnd-has never been
called into question heretofore, and the
manner of their appearance in public
assemblages is not prescribed even by
the Revised Statutes" on which Gov.
Chamberlain seems to rely with such
confidence. AS free American citizens.
we have the right to attend political
meetings in body; we claim the right
to go on horseback. if we choose: and
cesfs citizen of South Carolina can wear
n rcd jacket, if his taste and inclination
so dictates All the proclamations and
fulminations to the contrary are mere
6rutem Juimeni Such intcrdictions can.
not be enforced in u free country, among
liberty-loving people!
There is another point in regard to the
formation of the <o.called rifle clubs"
which mIM not be overlooked In many
instances, The name itself is misnomer
when applied to the organizations in
Anderson County, for they are organised
us Hampton Guards, Hampton Reform
Clubs, Tilder Mounted Clubs, and other
appropriate dt 'gnations to Indicate TINT
their objects are TO secure good govern
ment and elect faithfnl, honest and in
corrupiible men to office. Even the
astute Governor will not deny the privi-
lege and right of citizens to band togeth-
or for such purposes! Besides, these or
ganizations are not armed with weapons
OF war, not drilled in tactics, not
formed into battalions, regiments and
brigades, nor have they exercised any of
the ordinary means OF making themanlves
known as a purely military organization.
As matter Of fact, these companies
combinations or bands of citizens do not
come within the scope of the Governors
proclamation, and hence they are cnti-
tied to disregard its threatenings and
stand firm against such uniustifiable
menacings.
We do not hesitate to express the opin-
ion that there is no contravention of law
either in these organizations or in their
conduct, 40 far as we have been able to
ascertain the facts connected with their
history. The members embrace the best
citizens of Anderson County, whose pur-
poses are lawful and iaudable, and these
objects must be steadily pursued u1.o the
end, for the reason that the demand for
good government in South Carolina IL
paramount and supreme There must
be no relaxation of effort to secure the
ciectiuIs &c the Democratic candidates
and whatever is right and proper must
be done to secure that result. We want
q peaceful, quiet and orderly election,
and we advise the utmost prudence, dis
cretion and firmness on the part of our
fellow-citizens who agree with us in polit-
lca' opinion. But they mus. not become
alarmed or intimidated by the extraordi-
nary and unauthorized conduct of the
Governor, whose desperation and RASH
ness would rrecipitate collisions between
The races, ''.d bring chaos and confusion
nto every community. Only men like
Chamberlain will profit by disorder and
iisquietute throughout the State, and,
he citizens he is now maligning in every
possible manner are in duty bound to pre-
rent ouch result by maintaining firmly
md uncompromis:ngly their position, re-
pecting the rights Of all classes, molest-
ng no one in person or property, yet
that the peaceful and deter
mined measures of this campaign shall
lot be Shwarted by the malicious threat
ngs and villainous declaration Of an
'nscrupuiuus partisan like Governor
chamberlain. In q word, steady pur-
lose, fixed determination and unaltera-
lie resolve will tide over present Difficult.