The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-20

victory from the hands that won It,
by u gigantic fraud aud = base coDspir-
Rcy.
| When the members elect of the
General Assembly repaired tn the
Capitol to lake the seats lo (which the
people of South Carolina had assigned
them armed soldiers of the Federal
Government confronted them, and
their certificates Of election we've
amined and passed upon by n corporal
Of the guard. A spectacle 81 hulnlIl-
ating - Il free people, aud so fatal L"
republican institutions, has never Z
presented in America. II e"uld not
have been witnessed even here where
civil liberty has for years bceu but u
mm:k cry, had not lie ruthless hand ot
military power struck Gown the most
sacred guarantees of the Constitution ;
for the tread of the armed soldier, ~
he made lis rounds through the halls
OF Legislation, Vas oyer. The Prp>trate
form Of Liberty herself 1t ~uS amid
these 0minous, there appalling s%celies.
that the me mber- of tile Genera! As
SemhIy were called on To assume their
duties Us the representatives of u Tree
State. aud that Slate one of the nri2i-
nal thirteen who won our independ-
ence and framed our Constitution.
| That the natural, patriotic inli .nation
Of people did not find expression
in violence, is creiitahle in the high
est degree 10 them, and this was due
in u large measure to the statesman
line and higmiiied conduct OF lhose
members Ui the General Assembly.
| who hud been made the victims of tins
gross outrage ui their persons and this
daring conspiracy against their con-
:. itulionul rights. Debarred the free
exercise OF their rights Ivy the pres
lence Of All armed force. Il legal quorum
of The lower House, after placing on
record s noble protest, quietly with
drew from the Capitol and proceeded
to organize that brunch Of the General
Assembly. Nut one form ut law lor
one requirement of the Constitution
was wanting to give force aud legality
to this organization. and that liz au-
Ihorily has not been fully recognized.
is due solely 20 the same armed usur-
patton. which las suhor,linated the
civil TO the military p"wer throughout
this whole contest. OF the disgrace.
ful, dangerous mud revolutionary pro-
cee,lings resorted 10 10y the deteate'i
party after the organization OF the
lower House, 1t is needless tor me I /"
speak. You have been the witnesses
and the victims of these. aud the civ.
iiized world has lonked on with amaze.
ment. disgust aud horror; you have
seen a minority nf that House usurp
p0wers of the whole body you have
>een the majority expelled from their
hall by threats of fnrce {; you have
seen persons having uo shadow Of IL
claim u members admitted to seats
Us Representatives., 10y the votes o!
men who themselves were acting IT.
direct violation of the Constitution !;
and you have seen the last browning
act of iufany by which u candidate
fur the office OF Governor, defeated 10y
the popular vote; had Linn ELF des'lared
elected Ivy his ca c"~ii~plrai0rs. !
make no comment IN these dagrah,
nutrages and wrongs; it pertains t"
the General ASST ulbIy To take such nc.
lion in regard to them ~ that honora-
ble body ma deem proper. But ii IL
due to my lntsition H. the Chief Magis
trate of this commonwealth to place
on record my solemn and indignant
protest against acts which / consider
as subversive OF civil liberty and de-
structrve of our form Of COVER nment.
These are questions which concein no;
us alone, but the people of the United
,,ates for If acts so unauthorized and
10 unconstitutional are allowed t.
pass without rebuke, popular g"vern-
,x,.,t a., ,t,t,l;.l uH LA, tho ldNf,Stifn.
ton will give place To military de>F'l.
ism. Our duty the duty OF every lM.
triOt, Is 10 demand u strict coilstruc-
ton nf the Constitution and u rigid
adherence to it's provisions. We cai,
only thus preserve our liberlie. ami
our government. A great task 10 be
fore the Conservative purity of this
State. They entered on this contest
with Il Platform 80 broad, 50 strong
20 liberal, that every honest citizel'
could stand upon it. They Ieorgani.
zed and accepted the amendments q:
The Constitution in good faith; the!
pledged themselves to work reform
and 10 establish good government =
they promised to keep up Ill efficien'
system Of public education {; and they
declared solemnly Tint all citizens vi
South Carolina, of both races and "i
boil, parties, should I've regarded a.
equals in the eye of the law, ull TO 1T
fully protected in the enjoyment q,
every political right now lossessed b.
them.
To the faithful observance or these
pledges We stand committed, aud l, Ar
The representative of the Conservative
party, hold myself bound 10y ever!
dictate of honor aud OF good iaith I"
use every effort to have these pledges
redeemed fully and honestly. 1t H.
not only t. ourselves hut to the coloret
people OF the State, that the wise, just
aud liberal measures should prevail III
our legislation. We owe much Of oui
late success to these c"l"red voters,
who were brave enough I" rise above
the prejudice of race, and honest
enough, to throw off the shackles oi
,nrly in their determination to save
the State. BY thee who, misled
by their fears, their ignorance or b!
evil cnunseling, turned a deaf ear to
our appeals. we could not he virdic-
tive but magnumimous. Let us siiO"
to all of them that the true Interests q
both races can best te secured hy Gull
tivuling reace and pInn"ting pros
reiity anlulg all classes at our fellow.
citizens. ! rely confidently OH the
support of the members "fthe General
Assembly in my efforts to attain llieh''
laudahle ends, aud I Trust that al
l,.,.I,., Dr tI,n nrSorrn,anf will unift,