Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-04-14

Constitution OF the United States, at
variance alike with The previous
practice Of the government and with
lhc decisions of the Supreme Court,
the Executive Of the United States
cvadc The duty Of asccrt,,ining which
Of the two riva! state governments is
the lawful one, and by the withdraw
Of troops now protecting the State
from domestic violence, abandons The
lawful State government to u strug-
gle with insurrcctionary forces
too powerful to be resisted.
The grounds Of policy upon which
suc!. action is defended are startling
1t is said that the North is weary Of
Tie long Southern troubles. 1t was
weary, too, OF The long troubles Which
spraiig from the s,upcndous crime Of
chattlc slavery, and longcd for re-
pose. II sought TO cover them from
sight by wicked compromises with the
wrong which disturbed i!s peace; but
God held ii tAi,:s duty until, through
Il conflict Which rocked and agonizcd
Tic nation, the great crime WAS put
away, an, freedom was ordained Cor
all.> 1t is said ,tbati il Il majority Of
the people Of il State arc unable, l,y
physica force, to maintain their
rights, tlicy mus, he left TO political
scrvi,udc. Is tl.is doctrine ever be-
fore heard in our history? Ifit shall
prevail, lis consequences will not long
be confined to :oush Carolina or
.oni>ilia. It is said that Il Damo-
cratic House Of Representatives vii
refuse IN appropriation for the army
Of tile United States if the lawful
government Of South Carolina is
maintained by the military forces.
Submission TO such coercion marks
the degcnc.acy Of the political party
or people which cndurcs it. a
government worthy the name, a poll
teal party fit TO WELD power, never
before blanchc.l at such Il throat. But
the eaict has gone forth No arsu-
mcnts or considerations which your
friends could present have suniccd to
avert the disaster. E&o effective means
Of resistance to the con summation Of
the wrong are lett. The struggle can
be prolonged. Ny strict legal rights
are, Of course, wholly unaffected by
he action Of TIE President. No court
Of the state has Jurisdiction to pass
upon The title to my otic, NJ law
III! Legislature can be convened cx-
ccpt upon my call II the use Of
these rower> promised ,lil;mn.e sue
cess 20 our cause, | should not shrink
from aay sacrifices which might con
front nc. Its Il cause in which, by
the light OF reason and conscience,
man might well lay down hia life.
But TO my mind, my p,cseur rcspon-
sunny iIlSolNc' tlc CotlSlucItIiOu OIL
the effect oi my action upon those
whose representative am. hare
hitherto been willing to ask you,
Republicans Of South Carolina, to
risk all dangers and endure al hard
ships until relicfshoull come from til he
Government Of the United States.
That relief will never come. | cannot
ask you to follow me further. In my
best Judgment | can no longer serve
you by further resistance to the i'm
pending calamity.
With gratitude TO God for the
measure Of endurance with which he
has hitherto inspired me, with graft
tudc TO YOU for your boundlcss conf
dcncc III nc, with profound admir:.-
ton for your matches fidelity to the
cause in which we have struggled, |
now announce to you, and to the pco
pie Of the state, that | shall no longer
actively assert ny right to the Office
Of Governor Of South Carolina. The
motives and purposes Of the Pre- ,idcnt
Of the United States, in the policy
which compe's me to my present
caurse, are unqncstionabiy honorable
and patriotic. dcvou,ly pray that
events may vin,licatc The wisdom 0 f
his action, and that peace, justice
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