The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-11
GOV. BROWNS REPLY.

GOV. BROWNS REPLY.
Gentlemen: I have the honor to &C
knowledge the receipt Of your communi-
cation, asking my views upon the present
political situation. In reply | have to
state that do not entertain the shadow
of doubt that ;Tilden and Hendricks
were legally and fairly elected President
and Vice President OF the United States
at the election held on the 7th of M.
vember last. 81 -
An effort has been made by the Radi-
Gals by false and fraudulent canvass OF
the votes in South Carolina, Florida and
Louisiana to count in Hayes and Wheel
er, and thus get the advantage of the
Governors certificate and the seal of the
State to enough votes to make a majority
for their candidates. In this way they
expected to get the benefit Of a prima
facie case, and they intended to throw
obstacles in the way of any rebuttal to
their prima tacie right to the Inaugural
ton of their candidates.
The result in Oregon has changed even
this, and given to the Democratic candi-
dates, who are in fact fairly elected, the
advantage of the prima facie case. This
has no doubt very much frustrated the
plans of the Radicals, and caused them
no little trouble. But there have been
indications of purpose on their part to
have the President OF the Senate, in .vio-
lation Of all usage and Of every known
rule, to assume the jurisdiction to himself
to make the count and declare the result
in the presence of the two Houses OF
Congress, when the constitution only au-
thcrizes him, as the presiding officer Of
the Senate, to open the returns in the
presence of the two houses. 1t does not
say that they shall be counted by him,
and I believe the usage for three-quarters
of century has been to count them by
tellers appointed by the respective Hous-
es. In other words, the two Houses Of
Congress have the jurisdiction to count
tile vote and declare the result, and
neither the presiding Office Of the Senate
nor House, nor the two combined, has
any such power.
/ know that serious fears are enter
taiped that the leading spirits Of the
Radical party at Washington have de-
terrniued to so conduct the canvass Of the
votes as wfongfully' to declare Hayes and
Wheeler elected and then inaugurate
Gov. Hayes as President by military
force. This cannot be done, as all intel
likent citizens know, without reckless
disregard Of the constitution and laws of
the United States, and revolution aud
a change of our. system of government.
Whenever a candidate who received, q
minority of the votes cast at an election,
and who has been counted in by the
most shameless and unblushing- fraud
and unfairness, shall have! been inaugu-
rated as President of the United States,
and invested with all the powers Of that
position by military force, our govern
ment ceases to be republic, and we
become the subjects of military despot-
ism. ,.... ..ge ..i,:.a.
/ am aware it has been said, in such
an event there should be no resistance
offered either by the people or the legally
| elected; candidates, but that we should
submit to the outrage and vote the party
perpetrating it out of power at the, next
election In other words, we should
guard the purity of the ballot boz and
abide the military =usurpation. Butt q
such usurpation should be successful and
should be acquiesced in, what reasonable
hope can any intelligent person have oi
a better result at q subsequent election
Having succeeded by the use of sue
| means, ,the party in power would strength.
| II
renew the frauds and duplicate them
again and again, at the subsequent elec.
ton, and, sustain their own announce.
! ment of the result. BY the use Of the mil.
itary. Should the people. of the United
States submit patiently and peaceably to
military usurpation on the present occa:
sion, it. is mere mockery to talk, of the
peaceful remedy of the. ballot. box in the
future. History shows that power once
:usurped by military force is never sur, y,
rendered but Ut the point of the bayo.
net. -. '';'.'' - - - -
But you may ask ME what should be
done in such AN emergency. My reply
is, everything possible should be done
| peaceably to avert the calamity. And I
have mo- doubt by the proper means 1t
ran be done. .! .'s:~ .,...sg. 100. ','.
1t is fact which cannot, l suppose,
be denied, that in the Northern States
the Republican, party is possessed 'of the
larger Iiortion.of the wealth of that sec,
ton. The largest bankers DroGers, man
uiacturers, bondholders, &C., are general,
l-iy Republicans, and they have heavy
pecuniary interest at stake in maintain
ing the peace and prosperity Of the coun
Try. On the other hand there may be an
association, of politicians belonging tq
that party at Washington who would
prefer civil war to a surrender of power.
Ii the Democratic party should quietly
back down.. and pernititself' to be bill
lied :; and its candidates whs were7legally
elected to be set aside, and the candidates
defeated by them inaugurated BY military
power; the large class Of wealthy persons
above mentioned, while: they might dis
approve the act, would NOT trouble. thenl1
selves to make any DECIDED, demenstra.
tionsI Of their disapproval. They would
leave tlieir leaders to manage the govern
ment, while they gave attention 70 their
own private interests. But if the De
mncracy stand firmly BY. their rights in
every section OF tile Union, and let it be
distinctly known that they intend to
maintain them, the intelligent and
wealthy class OF, Republicans North, to
say nothing of all other persons loving
peace and good order, would doubtless
unite In compelling tfieir leaders to re
sppc, the popular will; land would refaise
to sustain them in revolution andmihtaty
Iusurpation. ,,v.-. 80 70 y
large majority of the intelligent peopie
of the North of both parties, who-have
read. the evidence and the, different pub
licatipns in reference tp the canvass OF
the votes in Florida and Louisiana, be-
lieye in their hearts that the Republican
canvassing boards have decided mostiu iun:
justly; and perpeGTated agross iFttud and
outrage upon the country. i, feel ,eatire:
ly satisfied that the developments which