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


as this paper is mailed gratuitouslye
week to his address. Mr.. Chamberlain
has been certainly derelict in the dis
charge of his duties in, not sooner issuing
a proclamation to these organizations,
instead of waiting until "all the counties
of the State" were involved, for he must
have known that "such combinations of
men are illegal and strictly forbidden by
the laws" to quote the language of his
proclamation, when the organization be-
gan many months ago. He cannotplead
ignorance of the laws, nor can he set up
the pretext that he was disposed to re-
gard the organization as harmless and
inoffensive, 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 demeanor 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, as the
men 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 viless slander when Gov, Cham
berlain asserts, upon his "oficial respon-
sibility," that these men were engaged
in promoting illegal objects, and in COM
mitting open acts of lawlessness and
violence" The right of the people to
assemble right guaranteed by the
organic law of the land-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 a body; we claim the right
to go on horseback. if we choose; and
every citizen of South Carolina can wear
a red jacket, if his taste and inclination
so dictates. All the proclamations and
fulminations to the contrary are mere
brutem fulmsn! Such interdictions can
not be enforced in free country, among
liberty-loving people!
There is another point in regard to the
formation of the so-called "rihe clubs" /"
which must not be overlooked. In many
instances, the name itself is a misnomer
when applied to the organizations in
Anderson County, for they are organised
as Hampton Guards, Hampton Reform
Clubs, Tilden Mounted Clubs, and other
appropriate designations to Indicate that
their objects are to secure good govern
ment and elect, faithful, honest and in
corruptible men to Office. Even the
astute Governor will not deny the privi-
lege and right of citizens to band togeth-
er 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 themselves
known as 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 enti-
tied to disregard its threatenings and
stand firm against such unjusti6able
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, so 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 laudable, and these
objects must be steadily pursued unto the
end, for the reason that the demand for
good government in South Carolina is
paramount and supremel There must
be no relaxation of effort to secure the
election of the Democratic. candidates,
and whatever is right and proper must
be done to secure that result. We want
peaceful, quiet and orderly election,
and we advise the utmost prudence, dis
cretion and frmness on the part of our
fellow-citizens who agree with us in polit-
ical opinion. But they must not become
alarmed or intimidated by the extraordi-
nary and unauthorized conduct of the
Governor, whose desperation and RASH
ness would precipitate collisions between
the races, and bring chaos and confusion
into every community. Only men like
Chamberlain will profit by disorder and
disquietude throughout the State, and,
the citizens he is now maligning in every
possible manner are in duty bound topre.
vent such result by maintaining firmly
and uncompromisingly their position, re-
specting the rights of all classes, molest-
ing no one in person or property, yet
demanding that the peaceful and deter
mined measures of this campaign shall
not be thwarted by the malicious threat
ings and villainous declaration Of an
unscrupulous partisan like Governor
Chamberlain. In a word, steady pur-
pose, fixed determination and unaltera-