Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-06
South Carolina.

President submits his views of the results to
be expected to follow the withdrawal of the
troops. After detailing at some length the
condition OF affairs in South Carolina, he
states hiSobjections to such action. The first is
that withdrawal of these forces from the
State House would be withdrawal of sup
port and aid against Democratic violence by
the Government of the United States to
which the State and State Government which
| represent is entitled under the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States. The
claim here made does not, in my Judgment,
involve an assertion of claim to the per-
manent presence and aid of the United
States IN uphOlding a State Government.
The next objection is that such withdrawal
at the lresent time, pending the decision OF
tho question of the validity of one or the
other of the governments, will be practical
decision in favor of my opponent. BY this
mean that my opponent is at this moment
fully prepared, in point of physical strength,
to overthrow the government which ] rep
resent. Why is this? The cause is honor
able to the political party which represent.
They are law-abiding they are patient
under the infection of wrong; they
are slow to resort to violence, even IN
defence f their rights they have trusted
that decent regard for law, a decent re
spcct for rights conferred by the Govern
ment Of the United States, would restrain
their opponents from tho violence which has
now overtiken them. They know now
that they can expect from their political
| enemies neither justice nor mercy.
| They have relied with unshaken faith upon
| the protection of the United States. If,
therefore, the Unteu States forces now sta
toned at the State House shall be with
drawn, they will regard that act, under the
circumstances now existing, as leaving them
exposed to the power and vengeance of the
armed illegal military organizations which
cover the State and constitute the political
machinery of the Democratic party They
will regard that act-I speak now only Of
the fact-as declaration hy the United
States that no further protection can be
hoped for, except such as they hold in their
own hands. They cannot alone maintain the
unequal contest, and certainly cannot ad-
wise further resistance that which would be
an imperative duty under other circum-
stances wonld become madness now. My
opponent demands the withdrawal of the
United States troops from the State House.
The demand is plainly made for purposes Of
political advantage in the present struggle.
What is this advantage? 1t has been sug-
gested that it is to enable Wy opponent to
pursue his legal remedies in the premises.
| Ii is a sufficient answer to this to say that
no hindrancc OF any kind now exists to the
peaceful and complete enforcement of all
legal remedies. Every legal right and rem
edy which belongs to my opponent under
any circumstances is within his unobstruct-
ed reach to-day, and has been on all days.
| This fact points at once 10 the conclusion
that. in demanding the withdrawal
| of the troops from the State House,
my opponent does not desire there
| by to secure his own right by lawful
means or peaceful agencies, but to rob me
and nv associates aud constituents of our
| rights by unlawful means and violent agen-
cies. Ii reference be made to the profession
of those who demand the withdrawal Of the
troops that they seek only to secure their
rights by lawful means, respectfully au-
swer that am familiar with such profess
sions They have been made with endless
iteration during cam paign of unprcce-
denied length, marked from its opening to
its close by every degree and form Of physi.
cal violence To one not familiar with the
condition of South Carolina the statements
have now made may seem e1travagant.
refer for confirmation of all | have stated
to the testimony taken by the Congressional
Committees during the past Winter, and
affirm that my present acquaintance with the
facts compels me to say that this testimony
falls short of the truth. The Republicans of
South Carolina have carried on struggle to
the present moment for the preservation of
their rights. Their hope has been that they
might continue TO live under FREQ govern
ment. The withdrawal Of the troops from
the State House will close tho struggle will
close it in defeat to large majority of the
people of the State in the sacrifice of
their rights in the complete success of vio-
lence and fraud as agents in reaching politi-
cal results
Washington adyices report that at Cab
met meeting, on Monday, after discussing
the foregoing paper, it was unanimously de-
cided that the Federal Government has no
constitutional right 10 order the Army into
the offci u headquarters of a State Govern
ment, except to Guell riot, or suppress
domestic disturbance when the Government
Of State is powerless to protect itself
This exception, in the opinion Of the Cab
met, does not now apply to South Caro-
lima, and the determination of the President,
therefore, to withdraw the troops from the
State House was unanimously approved,
and Secretary McCrarv was instructed to
issue an order in accordance with this deci-
sion.
Hampton had an interview with Postmas-
ter-General Fey and other members of the
Cabinet, to whom he repeated his assurances
that he would not resort to violence, but
would proceed against Chamberlain in tho
regular manner through the courts. and
until the question can be judciallv settled
he will allow no interference with Chamber
lain or his supporters in their occupation Of
the State House. Hampton says that as
soon as the troops are withdrawn from the
State House he will station his own officers
about it, and permit no one to interfere in
any way with Chamberlain until the contro-
versy shall he regularly decided by due pro-
cess of law.