National Republican., 1876-10-02
MARTIAL LAW,

hAhIlAL LAW.
"Threats that martial law will be declared
in certain counties IN South Carolina are freely
circulated They 'intimidate' nobody. The
constitutional power to suspend the privilege
of the writ of hdbedS corpus is limited TO CAGES
of rebellion or INVASION There is certainly
no rebellion in South Carolina, nor is there
any resistance, except by negro Radicals, to
the laws of the State or of the United States.
The power to suspend the writ of hGbedS corpus,
under the Ku- Klux act, has expired by limita-
tion. And if President Grant should choose to
| usurp the authority to do an unlawful act, In
putting South Carolina under martial law, he
and the party will make nothing in this State
by the move. The canvass will go on just the
same, and with the same result. In the North,
moreover, the effect of the usurpation would
be to insure the election of Tfden."
Free Lance" in the same number from
which the above is copied Of the NeDs AMI
Courier, (Sept. 25,) says, under date of
Allendale, Sept. 21
"some disapprove very decidedly of mill
| tary regime, advocating, rather, an organiza-
ton for active service, if necessary, but under
| the name of something else. | have
| always believed in calling everything and
everybody by the right name, and repeat the
| proof has been given me in the late small
difficulty between the races on the Port R)yal
| dale with Capt. II. w. Richardson's company,
| Tuesday, the 10Th.
"The captain did not receive intimation his
command would be needed until ~ O'Clock m +.
His men were scattered over fifteen miles, and
had to be summoned by couriers. He lived
seven miles himself from the place of rendez-
vous, and was obliged to go home and return
| preparatory to leaving. By o'clock p. m. his
| company, numbering fifty men, were in the
| saddle, well armed, and full of zeal for any
| emergency"
Free Lance" it will be seen, believes
Tin martial law" if it is declared by the
"bandits," and the News and Courier
prints his communication approvingly
under the title of "our citizen soldiery." !"
This ''citizen soldiery" means the Dem J.
cratic rifle clubs; not the State militia
under the command of the Governor; not
the posse comitatus called out by the sheriff
of county to keep the peace; but Demo-
cratic rifle club commanded by one Capt.
Richardson, who reported to one Col.
CAN'T, who in turn reported to General
Hagood. After describing raid to emil
letts," and an entertainment at the planta-
ton of Mr.. William Dunbar, near that
point, and giving an illustration of the
necessity for drill and discipline in the club
organizations, this correspondent concludes
as follows:
"This part of the country, I am glad to say,
is thoroughly united and prepared for any
| emergency. Every night, over an area of
twenty miles, picket duty is done. At dis
tarce of every five miles three men are sta
| toned, to act as couriers If necessary. By this
| Il L.
| moned in less than two hours. We have strong
| men at our head, to whose good judgment,
think, we can ascribe the safety of this portion
| of the country, therefore subscribe myself
GREE LANCE"
There is no mistaking this fellows mean
ing. He declares himself "free lance, !"
a bandit. The Ners and Courier prefers
to call him "citizen soldier" The editor
thinks that will sound better North and
aid in the election of Tilden. EditorIally
he denounces martial law, if declared by
the President, as usurpltion. He says
there is certainly no rebellion in South
Carolina" but proceeds at once to show
by published correspondence the existence
of armed rebellion on the part of "citizen
soldiery," who are thoroughly organized
and doing picket duty every night over an
area of twenty miles By direction of the
rebel General Hagood. The NsUs and
| C0uritr defies the National Government.
"The canvass will go on just the same and
with the same result" That is, Generals
Hagood, Hampton and Butler will continue
to break up peaceful assemblages in the
shape of Republican meetings with squads
of armed bandits or ''iree laDces." TneY
will continue TO shoot down Republican
leaders wherever found outside of the pro-
lection Of United States troops. They will
pay no respect to United States mlrshsls
and their deputies and supervisors of elec-
tions. They will not acknowledge the
negro to be citizen. They Will not accord
to him the privilege of the franchise They
will not allow white bandits to be punished
for the murder of negro. They will rule
the State by the right ard power of mob
law, by the power Of the free lances Of the
chivalTy, by the organized, armed banditti