Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-18
From the New York Times
An open Letter to Gov. Chamber
lain of South Carolina.

WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON ON THE CHANGE tow
ARD THE GovKRNoR-THE TRUE FEELING OF
| THE SOUTH SHOWN IN THE TURNING AGAINST
HIN-wHr THE TERRORISM Is RRsoRTED TO
THE EFFECTS OF sLAvERY-THE Ex-sLAvE-
HOLDERS, NOT THE POOR WHITES, RESPONSE
BILE.
| BosToN, Oct. Is. 1876.
DEAR Gov. CHAMBERLAIN: Our acquaintance
and friendship are not of to-day. Years ago, when
you were completing your collegiate course at
| Yale, knew how clear, just and decided were
your convictions regard to the anti-slavery
struggle, and how steadfsst was your adhesion to
| them under circumstances requiring rare moral
courage and noble disregard Of consequences
to yourself. Ever since have watched your ca
rcer with deep interest-especially from the time
you became a citizen of South Carolina and more
particularly since your elevation to the Governor
| ship Of that stste-and whether acting in your
private or public capacity, your conduct has been
marked By such circumspection and wisdom such
gentle, manly courtesy and refinement, such pat
riotic devotion to the cause Of the whole country,
such fidelity to principle, in ferreting out and ex
posing Judicial corruption and official mal-ad-
miuistrstion even under republican rule, such dis.
interested zeal and slsepless vigilance in seeking
10 promote the best interests of all the people of
South Carolins, without distinction of caste OF
party, and such heroisu in unhinchinsly confront
ing trials aud dangers Of the most formidable ma
ture, As to excite my highest admiration and TO
secure for yourself the sympathy, respect, conf
dence, ard hearty approval of every true friend
| of freedom throughout the land.
hailed, as q cheering sign of the times, your
denomination for the office which you now so mer-
| itorousy hold; and, eminently deserving as you
are Of the support of all classes, for the signal
services you have rendered the State in the expul-
sion of untrustworthy officials, saving to the
Treasury millions Of dollars as compared with
previous administrations, and assiduously endeav
oring to effect a general reconciliation of disas-
| trous conflicting elements on the basis of equal
and exact justice, cherished the hope that, how
ever candidates for subordinate positions might
be regarded, you, at least, would receive such
| concurrent approval as would indicate q common
desire to retain 'the right man in the right place.
1t cannot be pretended that with all your sympa-
thy for race so long "peeled, meeted out, and
trodden under foot" you have shown any undue
leaning toward them in administering the laws,
or dealing with official incompetency or corrup-
ton. On the contrary, you have spared no de-
linquent on account of his complexion but, as in
the notable cases of Moses and Whpper, have no
bly, demonstrated thatyou have been no "respect-
err Of persons" and have lifted yourself far above
| all partisan and caste considerations. Transact
in ereBlptum!
But, it seems, you are to be as bitterly scorned
do
you had been guilty of the worst crimes and had
prostituted all the powers committed to your trust
to the most venal purposes. Against the opposi-
ton now so fercely combined for your overthrow.
including, as il does, the great body of those who
so madly rose in arms for the destruction of the
Federal Government, and who reveal themselves |
TO be in state of chronic sedition-neilher free
dom Of speech, of the press, nor the unquestiona
able right to assemble peaceably dd hJitunl for |
the adoption OF legal political measures can be
exercised without imminent personal danger or
the risk Of bloody catastrophe. The laws Of the
State for the protection of equal rights among the
citizens openly and successfully set at defiance.
The reign of terror is in the ascendent, the reign
Of law is in the dust. AS Governor of the State, |
without the prompt and vigorous interposition of
the National Executive you are as powerless to
enforce order and afford security to the emperied
(wheher white or black in the discharge of their
constitutional duties, as the feeblest occupant of
the soil. Standing before the country unimpescb.
ed and unimpeachable, you are certainly entitled
to decent treatment and fair play by virtue of your
official position; but. instead of this, YOU can
make no attempt to address your constituents
rira poee without being assaed with the coars
| est epithets, Kissed and howled at and oyerpow
cred by the ominous ''rebel YELL" This as Won
have calmly set forth in your cogent dignifed,
and irrefutsbc reply to the preposterous letter OF
the Chairman of the State Democratic Executive
lCommittee-was your experience at the republic
can gathering at Edgefeld, at Newberry at Alb
beville, at Midway, and at Lancaster. Each
OF those gatherings was ruthlessly invaded by
hundreds of mounted white miscreants armed
with shot-guns and pistols, 1.-THE "Reform support
ers OF Tiden and Hendricks lawlessly demand
ing one hall the time for their side of the ques-
ton, and virtually taking the whole-ther object
being not to argue, but to menace; not TO com
pare candidates, but to find pretext for
slaughtering the defenceess colored victims of
their hatred and oppression None but dasta,ds
and assassins behave in this manner, and that Won
| escaped from them with your life was owing
doubtless, to your admirable self control and IN
the consciousness that you were walking among
scorpions and along the perilous edge OF preci
pice-the slightest deviation threatening a fatal
| result-so that no possible Indictment TO murder
, /
Their portraiture was drawn to the life ages ago
(see Isaiah Xxx with prophetic skill and fore
sight; Their lips have spoken lies, their tongue
hath muttered peryerseness their works are works
Of iniquitv, and the act Of violence is in their
hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make
haste to shed innocent blood wasting and de-
struction are in their paths. The way Of peace
they know not, and there is no judgment in their
gongs Yea, truth faileth, and he that departeth
from evil maketh himself prey" Shuddering
: earth and indignant heaven cry out against them
IN thunder tones But, primarily, this controversy
is not with you, nor with the republican party.
nor with those who have been so maryeiously
! brought out Of the house of bondage; it is d.
recty, lsgrsntly and defantly with the ever living
God, whose laws are not to be violated with i'm
punity; whose edct is that the reaping shall be
As the sowing; who was never yet evaded duped
or circumvented; and who, in the sequel "accorI-
ing 10 their deeds, accordingly lie will repay"
They are their own deadly enemies; enemies to
the character, repose, development and prosperity
of the State; enemies of the republic in al that