The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-18
SOUTH CAROLINA.

SOUTH CAROLINA.
Gov. Chamberlain Retires From the Contest.
The United States troops moved out
of the South Carolina State House at Columbia
at noon on the 10th and Immediately thereafter
the following was issued: ~
TO THE REPUBLICANS or SOUTH CAROLINA:
BY your choice was made Governor OF this
State in 1874. At the election in November
same office. My title to the office, upon every
legal and moral ground, is to-day as clear and
perfect. BY the recent decision and action of
the President of the United States, find my
self unable longer to MAINTAIN my official
rights, with a prospect of ultimate success,
and hereby announce to you that am un-
willing to prolong a struggle which can only
bring further suffering upon those who en-
gage in it. -
Announcing this conclusion, it is my duty
to say for you that the Republicans OF South
Carolina entered upon their recent political
struggle for the maintenance OF their po]iti-
cal and civil rights, constituting beyond
question large majority of the lawful votes
OF the State. You allied yourselves with the
principle has hitherto been the civil and po-
itical freedom of all men under the confti-
tuition and laws of our country. By heroicIet-
forts and sacrifices, which the just verdict of
history will rescue from the cowardly scfm
now cast upon them by political place men
and traders, you secured the Electoral vote
of South Car lna for Hayes and Wheeler.
In accomplishing this result you beca pc
tie victims OF every form OF persecution aad
injury. From authentic evidence it is sh0Pn
that no less than one hundred of your nun
Der were murdered because they were faith
full to their principles, and exercised tie
rights solemnly guaranteed to them by the
nation. You were denied employment, driven
from your homes, robbed of the earnings of
years Of honest industry, hunted for your life
like wild beasts, your families outraged and
scattered-tor no ofense except your peaceful
and firm determination to exercise your polt-
ical rights.
You trusted, you had right to trust, that
if by such efforts you established the lawful
supremacy of your political party in the ma
ton, the government OF the United States, in
the discharge OF its constitutional duty would
protect the lawful government OF the State
from overthrow at the hands OF your political
enemies
From causes potent to all men and ques-
toned by none who regard the truth, you
have been unable to overcome the unlawful
combinations and obstacles which have op-
posed the practical supremacy OF the govern
ment which your votes have established. For
many weary months you have waited tor your
deliverance. While the long struggle for the
Presidency was in progress you wert exhort-
ed by every representative and organ Of the
national Republican party to keep your allie
glance true to that party, in order that your
deliverance from the hands of your Cypress.
o,s migh be certain and complete. Not the
taintest whisper of a possibility OF disappoint-
ment in these hopes and promises ever reach
ed you while the struggle was pending.
To-day, April 10th, 1877, by order of the
President whom your votes alone rescued
from overwhelming defeat, the government
of the United States abandons you, deliberate
~ withdraws from you it's support, with full
knowledge that the lawful government of the
State will be speedily everthrown. By new
Interpretation of the constitution of the Uni
ted States, at variance alike with the previous
practices of the government and withshe de-
cisions of the supreme court, the Executive OF
the United States evades the duty OF ascer-
tanning which of the two rival State govern
ments is the lawful one and by Withdrawal OF
the troops now protecting the State from do
mestic violence, abandons the lawful State
government to struggle with an injured
The grounds of the policy upon which such
action Is defended are startling. 1t is said
that the North is weary OF the long Southern
troubles. It was weary, too, Of the long
troubles which sprung from the stupendous
crime Of chattel slavery, and louged for re-
pose. It sought to cover them from sight by
wicked compromises with the wrong which
disturbed its peace, but God held { it to its
duty until, through conflict which rocked
and agonized the nation, the great crime was
put away and freedom was ordained for all.
. 1t is said that it majority of the people Of
the State are. unable by physical force to
maintain their rights, they must be lett to
political servitude. Is this doctrine ever
before heard Of in our historyG II it shall
prevail, its consequences will not be long
confined to South Carolina or louisiana
1t is said a Democratic House OF Represent
tatives will refuse an appropriation for the
army of the United States il the lawful gov
eminent of South Carolina is maintained by
military force. The submission of such coer-
cion marks the degeneraoy Of the political
party or people which endures it. A govern
threat. 81
But the edict has gone forth. No argument
or considerations which your friends could
present have suficed to avert the disaster.
No effective means Of resistance to the con-
summation OF the wrong are Lett The strug-
gle cannot be prolonged.
My strict legal rights are of course wholly
unaffected by the action of the President. No
court OF the State has jurisdiction to pass up.
on the title to my Office. No lawful legisla-
ture can be convened except on my CALI It
use of these powers promised ultimate sue
cess to our cause l should not shrink from
any sacrifices which might confront me. It
is : cause in which by right OF reason and con-
science, man might we'll lay down his life.
involves the consideration Of the effect OF
my action upon those whose representative
am. s
have hitherto been willing to ask you Re-
publicans OF South Carolina to risk all dan
gers and endure al hardships until relief