Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-10

10 Cle luulVluudl duu peIeoual i'Suo VI o'A
citizens of the country, of all classes and con-
ditions. The line of demarkation between
the two great national parties in the country
is framed in their different doctrines as to the
rights of the States the Democratic party
presenting the autonomy of the States, and
the tendency of the Republican party being
towards consolidation and Capitalization OF
the General Government in derogation of the
rights of the States under the constitution.
This understand to be substantially Cover
nor Hampton's position"
Reporter "Is this policy, General, in &C.
cord with your own political course in South
Carolina from 1870 down to this timer"
Gen. Butler: "Yes, entirely so. Hence in
1870 I took the position that whilst the Re-
construction measures of Congress may have
been unconstitutional and revolutionary, they
were not null and void, and, without intend.
ing to reproach any one, think the Demo
cratic party made great mistake in 1868 in
Incorporating in its platform the provision
that the Reconstruction measures of Congress
were Unconstitutional, revolutionary and
void The fundamental principle of the Re
form movement in South Carolina in 1870,
the Reform platform being drawn up by Gen.
Kershaw, was that the civil and political
rights of the colored race should be recognized
equally with those of other citizens. l can
vassed the entire State upon that platform in
1870. In 1872 this platform was adopted
substantially by the National Democratic
party, and in 1874 upon that platform the
Democratic party carried the country with a
tidal wave. ...-r ,..-.. g..
"In my judgment the success of the Demo
cratic party in the country is due to the fact
that, having taken that position upon the
Reconstruction measures, it put itself in po.
sition to assume the aggressive, and defeated
the Republicans in all sections of the country.
Hitherto it had been on the defensive, and
consequently could make no progress towards
securing the political power of the country.
II see no reason why Democrat cannot be
as liberal in the great matter of personal
rights as Republican. It is in the rights of
the States that the two great parties differ, and
through the States must the liberty Of the
citizen be preserved. As far back as 1866,
when 1 was member of the Legislature un-
der Andrew Johnson's regime, I took the
ground that all that was required, at that
time, was an act, few lines in length, simply
guaranteeing to the negro, now that he had
been emancpated, his civil rights, and leave
it to the future to regulate his relations to the
government and to the country. 1 believe
now that if that policy had been adopted, we
should have avoided very many of the evils
which have overtaken US. And hence 1 vo-
ted against what was known as the "Black
Code" because I deemed it unwise and injudi-
cious. have never made any point on this
because of the great respect I had for those
who differed with me. They we're patriotic
and earnest.
II have always insisted that the negro, be.
ing free, was entitled to the fullest protection
of the law but have never admitted that he
should be superior to the white race in mat
ters ofgovernment or otherwise. 1t is against
this assumed superiority on bis part, by the
Radicals, that l have so earnestly centended
and battled.
1.-THE effect of the Radical policy in South
Carolina has been to produce an abnormal
and unnatural relation between the races, and
one which never could be tolerated with safe
ty to either. 1t has suited the fanatics and
the Radical politicians Of the North and
South to misrepresent me upon this subject,
and whilst their policy has been sending the
negro to destruction, by creating antagonism
between the races which must always result
in the overthrow of the weaker, I have been
interposing my influence and my personal
effort for his protection and welfare.
81 have never had any difficulty with the
negroes, and have the same servants that |
have had for ten years, with whom my rela-
tions have always been kindly. They were
excited against me by interested politicians,
and because was active in exposing their po.
litical vllainies and outrages upon the coun-
try. Ifeel that have contributed somewhat
to the restoration Of honest government in
South Carolina, and, therefore, can afford to
treat with contempt their malignant ISLANDERS
and abuse. i have no other wish, and no other
object, than to secure perfect harmony and
good feeling and kindness between all classes
and races of the country" ,....'-..'.; =.
Reporter: ITO change the subject, Gener-
al, what do you think will be the result Of fthe
prosecutions of the Ellenton and other politi-
cal prisoners ?" ''..." a... ."""l9 ff1"
.a Gen. Butler ~ have no idea that they can
be convicted. The whole matter was inquired
into before the special committee of the Uni
ted States Senate that sat here last winter,
and the prosecuting officers do not expect, in
my judgment, to procure conviction: l
have been recently Informed by two leading
Republicans that Corbin and Earle have q
lot of negroes in Charleston, and are hatch
ing conspiracy specially against me in con-
nection with the Hamburg matter. They
have packed the grand jury by placing upon
it some of the most corrupt and facile of their
political henchmen. I am fully advertised Of
their purposes, and whilst have no objection
to the fullest and most complete investigation
of my actions, and whilst have for nearly
a year been trying to get this matter investi'
gated in the courts of the State, l do not In
tend to submit quietly to this persecution by
these two individuals, who have it in their
power to avail themselves Of the legal ma
chinery of the General Government to op-
press and misrepresent their political oppo-
nents. I shall have to resort to a very SUM
mary proceeding to protect myself against
this contemplated outrage / have received
my information from leading Republicans,
who appeared to speak whereof they knew.
"It would be we'll that the composition and
the manner of the organization of the grand
Jury be inquired into. / think it would de-
velop plan that would startle and disgust
the country. The days of star chamber
courts and packed juries are surely over in
this country"
The interview here closed. j. K. B.
WORSE THAN THE PIN BAcK.-A letter
in Northern paper, from the great centre
of fashion, says that the "eel-skin" dress is
now the great rage both in London and Paris.
L IL l. l. C L. h..l