Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-04-18
chamberlain RetireS from the Guber-
material Contest in South Carolina.
COLUMBIA, S. c., April 10.

following address, retiring from the con
test for the Governorship:
To the Republicans of South Carolina:
BY your choice l made Governor of this
state in 1874. At the election the 7th of No
veuber last | was again by your votes elected to
the same office. My title TO the Office upon every
legal and moral ground, is to-day clear and
perfect BY the recent decision and action of
the President of the United States. | find
myself unable longer to maintain my official
RIGHTS with the prospect of final success, and
hereby announce to you that | am unwilling to
prolong struggle which can only bring further
suffering upon those who engage III it. In an
uouncins this conclusion, 1t is my duty to say
for YOU that the Republicans of South Carolina
entered upon their recent political struggle for
the maintenance of their political and
civil rights, constituting beyond question
a large majority of the lawful voters of
the State. You allied yourselves with that po-
6tical party whose central and inspiring prin-
ciple has hitherto been the civil and political
freedom of all men under the Constitution and
laws of our country. By heroic efforts and sac
riices which the Just verdict of history will
rescue from the cowardly scurn cast upon
them by political pacemen and traders, you
secured the Electoral vote of South Carolina. In
accomplishing this result, you became the VIC
tins of every form of persecution and injury.
From authentic evidence, 1t is shown that no
less than 100 of your number We're murdered be
cause they faithful to their principles and
exercised the rights solemnly guaranteed to them
by the Nation You were denied employment,
driven from your homes, robbed of the earnings
of years of honest industry hunted for your
lives like wild beasts, and your families out
ragged and scattered, for offense except your
peaceful and firm determination to exercise
ypur political rights You trusted, us you had
right TO trust, that if by such efforts you es-
tablished the lawful supremacy of your politi-
cal party III the Nation, the Government of
the United States i'll discharge of its Constltu-
tional duty, would protect the lawful Govern
ment of the State from overthrow at the hands
of your political enemies. From causes patent
to all men, and questioned by none who regard
truth, you have been able to rCome unlawful
combinations and obstacles which have opposed
the practical supremacy of the Government
which your votes have established. For many
weary months you have waited for your deliver
ance While the long struggle for the Presi-
dency was III progress you were exhorted by
every representative and organ of the National
Republican party to keep your allegiance true
10 that party in order that your deliverance from
the hands of your oppressors might be certain
and complete Not the fantest whisper of a
possibility of disappointment in these hopes
and promises reached you while the struggle
was pending. To-day, April 10, by order of
the President, whom your votes alone rescued
from overwhe ming defeat, the Government of
of the United States abandons You de-
Liberated y-wthdraws from you its support,
with the full knowledge that the lawful
Government of the State will be speedily over
thrown. BY a new Interpretation of the Con-
stltutIon of the United States, at variance alike
with practices of the Government and with the
decision of the Supreme Court, the Executive of
the United Sta evades the duty of ascertain
ing which of two rival State Governments is the
lawful one, and, by the withdrawal of the
troops now protecting the State from Demo-
cratic violence, abandons the lawful State Gov
eminent to struggle with an insurrectionary
force too powerful to be resisted. The grounds
of policy upon which such action is defended
startling. Ii is said that the North is weary
of the Southern troubles. 1t was weary, too, of
the long troubles which sprung from the stu
pendous crime of chattel slavery and longed for
repose. 1t sought to cover them from sight by
wicked compromises with the wrong which dis
turbed Its peace, but God held it to its duty,
until, through a conflict which rocked and ago
n1Zed the Nation, the great crime put away
and freedom ordained for all.
1T Is said that If a majority of the people of
the State are unable by physical force TO main
tam their rights, they must be left to political
servitude. Is this doctrine ever before heard
OF In our history? If it shall prevail, its
quences viii not long be confined TO South Caro-
lima or Louisiana
1t is said that Democratic House of Repre-
sentatves will refuse appropriation for the
Army of the United States If the lawful Govern
ment of South Carolina is maintained by mill
taIy forces. 1 he submission to such coercion
marks the degeneracy of the political party or
people which indor 3es it. A Government worthy
OF the name, political party fit to WELD power,
never before blanched at such a threat
But the edict has gone forth. No argument
or considerations which your friends could pre-
sent have sutficed to avert the disaster. No eff
fectlve means of resistance to the contamination
OF the wrong are lett.
My strict legal rights are, of course, wholly
unaffected by the action of the President. No
court of the State has jurisdiction to pass upon
the title to my office. No lawful Legislature
can be convened except upon my call. If the
use of these powers promised ultimate success
to our cause | should not shrink from any sac
mice which might confront me- 1t is cause
IN which, by the light OF reason and conscience,
a man might well lay down his life, but, to my
mind, my present responsibility involves the
consideration of the effect of my action upoi
those whose representative / am. | have hith-
erto been willing to ask you, Republicans of
South Carolina, To risk all dangers and endure
all hardsEips until relief should come from the
Government of the United States that relief |
Will never come. | cannot ask you 10 follow me
turtner. In my judgment, | can no longer
serve you by further resistance to the impending
calamity.
With gratitude t, God for the measure Of en-
durauce with which He has hitherto inspired me;
with gratitude TO YOU for your boundless conf
dence IN me; with profound admiration for
Your match!ess fidelity to the in which we
have struggled. | now announce tn YOU and to
the people of the State that | shall 90 longer
actively assert my right u the Office Of Governor
81 South Carolina. The motIYes and purposes
~ the President of the United States. in the pol
ICY which compels me to pursue my present
course are unquestonably honorable and pa
tuot3e. | devoutly pray that events may vindi-
cate the wisdom of his action. and that peace.
Justice, freedom and prosperity may hereafter be
the portion Of every citizen of South Carolina.
'S!Enedf ID. II. CHAMBERLAIN,
Governor of South Carolina.