The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-04-18

I ivy tIClbtIul.
THOMAS e.. DUNN,
Comptroller General,
F. L. CARDOZO,
IL. E. HAYNE-
Secretary of State.
JOHN II. TOT. BERT,
Superintendent of Education.
JAMES KENNEDY,
AdJutant and Inspector General.
The following is the address of Mr.. Cham
berlain:
TO the Rcpnhlicanset South Curolinu:
Stale in 1874. At the election on the It'll of
elected to the same office. My title to the of.
flee. upon every legal and moral ground, is
to-day clear and perfect, BY the recent de-
clsioi and action of the President of tue
United States | find myself unable longer to
main.afn my official rights with the prospect
OF final success, and hereby announce to
you that / I'M unwilling to prolOng n struggle
which can only bring further suffering upon
those who engage In 1t.
In announcing this conclusion, 1t Is my
duty to say for you that the Republicans of
litical struggle for the maintenance of their
political and civil rights. Constituting, be-
yond question q large majority OF the lawful
voters Of the State, you allied yourselves
inSpirin" principle has hitherto been the
civil and political + ccdOm of all men under
the constitution and laws of our country. by
heroic efforts and sacrifices which the Just
verdict of history will rescue from the COW.
ardly scorn now cast upon them by political
placement and traders, you secured the cleo
iOral vote Of South Carolina for Hayes and
Wheeler. III accomplishing this result you
became the victimsof every form OF perSccu-
ton and injury. From authentic evidence tits
shown that not less than one hundred OF
your lumber were murdered because they
were faithful to their principles and exercised
.f.lfr ~ ma tHnI IA tlAn1 NV fhn
nation. You were denied employment, driv-
en- from your homes, robbed Of the earnings
of years of honest industry, hunted for your
lives like wild beasts; your families outraged
peaceful and firm determination to exercise
your political rights. You trusted, lis you
had Il right to trust, that if by such efforts
you established the lawful supremacy OF
your political party In the nation, the gov
crnmcnt of the United States, in the dis
charge of its constitutional duty, would pro-
tect the lawful government of the State from
overthrow at the hands Of your political en-;
emies. From causes, patent to all mon and
questioned by none who regard truth, you
lave been,unablc to overcome the unlaw.
full combinations and obstacles which
have opposed rt the praei'ea xn,c Supf yoar
votes nave established. For many weary
months you AVE waited for your deliver
ance. While the long struggle Tor the preSi.
every representative and organ Of the nation.
al Republican purity to keep You: allegiance
true to that party In order that your de!ive'
ancc from the hands Of your opprcSsors nigh
whisper Of the possibility OF disappointment,
In these hopes and promises ever reached you
while the struggle was pending To-day
April 10, 1877, by the order of the President
whom your votes alone rescued from over
United States a%bandons you; deliberately
withdraws from you It's support, with The full
knowledge that the lawful government OF thu
State will be speedily overthrown.
: BY a new Interpretation OF the constitution
Of the United States, Mt variance alike will
the previous practice Of tho government ant
witt the decisions OF the supreme Court, TN
Executive of the United States: eyadcs ih'
duty of a%sccrtaining which of two rival State
Governments Is the lawful one, and BY TIT
withdrawal of troops now protecting I'M
State from domestic violence nbandcns tn.
lawful State government to n struggle will
insurrectionary forces too powerful 10 be re
sistf !. The grounds OF policy upon which
such action Is defended are startling.
long Southern troubles. 1t was weary, too
of the long troubles which sprung from TIT
s~tupendouS crime OF chattcl slavery and
longcd for reposc.' 1t sought to cover thee
from sight by wicked compromises with INT
wrong. which disturbed its peace, but Coo
held 1t to It's duty until, through a ~contiic1
which rocked and agonlzed the nation, the
great crime WAS put away and freedom was
It is said that II n majority Of the people. o
n State nrc unable by physical force to main
tain their rights, they must be left TO a ,polit'
heard in our history? II 1t shall prevail. Its
consequence shall not long be confined tC
South Carolina or Louisiana.
.rcsentativcs will refuse an appropriation fol-
the army OF the United States If the Lawful
government Of South Carolina is mnlntaineC
by the Military forces. Submission to suct
cal party or people which cndures it. 4 gov
eminent worthy the name, q political party
tit to weld power, never blanched at such 4
threat.
or consideration which your friends could
present have sufficcd to avert the disaster
No effective means OF resistance TO- the con
sH@ cam lie p]r OF 5hs Tror ny "r sir iSis' legal raf S sighi,
are OF course unaffected by the action OF tho
President. No court Of the state has juris'
dictiOn to pass upon the title of my Office
No lawful Legislature can be con vened OK
cept upon my call. If the use of these pow.
ers promised ultimate success to our cause, J
should not shrink from any sacrifices which
should confront me. 1t Is q cause In which
by the light of reason and conscience, a man
mind, my present responsibility involves the
consideration of the effect Of my action upon
those whose representative l am. l have
hitherto been willing to ask you. Republi'
cans Of South Carolina, to risk all danger,
and endure all hardships until relief should
come from the government Of the United
States. That relief will never come. l can,
not ask you to follow me further. In my best
Judgment. Team no longer serve you by fur
Their resistance to the impending calamity.
! With gratitude to God for the measure o.
endurance with which He has hitherto in
lspirrd me, with gratitude to you for your
: hnnndlrss confidence In me, with profound
admiration for your matchless fidelity to the
cause in which we havestruggled, ! now an.
ounce to you and the people OF the State
that | shall no longer actively assert my RICH.
to the office of Governor of South Carolina.
The motives and purposes Of the President
pcls me to my present course are unquestion.
ably honorable and patriotic. | dcvoutly
pray that events may Vindicate the wisdom
of his action, and that peace, Justice, freedom
and prosperity may hereafter be the portion
OF every citizen OF south Carolina.