National Republican., 1878-10-14
AFFAIRS N sorTH CAROLINA.

The tidings from South Carolina, which
appear in another part of this issue, are not
calculated to inspire any hope that the Re-
publicans in that State are to have any
chance for citizenship or even life in the
pending political campaign. HAMPTON has
ceased to rule the State. either from choice
or necessity, and the militia are now doing
the bloody work ofthe rifle clubs in ntimldut-
ing and numbering the people, without him
draucc on E:s plrt. Wherever the Rcpul-
lc.ns insist uIon their rights the scenes Of
1-7G are re-cnactcd until death. expatria-
tion, o. ahicct submission to thi. iron rule
cgsucs. Surrender your rights as citizens or
your lives, i the Democratic demand now in
South Carolina, and HAMPTON is as veal;
and harmless aS rcclu,c
In this regard there are some serious
questions to be considered hy the President
OF the United States in connection with the
sacred obligations he assumed when he took
the oath OF Office and entered upon the
da,irs of hi trust The Constitution Of the
United states guarantees to the people Of
ctch State in thi, Union n republican form
~ AJst lll44A Nv anu ~ ''t stlEfll
tive of race, color, or birth. equal and full
protection in all his rights before the law,
and the President tool; a sacred oath before
high Heaven that he would support the
Constitution Of the United States "a an en-
trcty. Hence lie is bound now in this hour
Of wrong, violence, outlawry, and murder
to see that South Carolina has n rcpuh-
| lican form of government, such as the
Constitution COntemplatcs and assures,
and to the end that Republicans of
that State are fully secured In all the
rights promised them under the guarantees
of the Constitution. A failure to apply
proper remedies to overcome these evils Is q
surrender Of prcrogltiye and n violation of
the official oath. The President cannot
alIOrd, neither will we anticipate or intimate
that he desires or purposes to avoid the re-
sponsiblitics OF enforcing the Constitution
and the laws by the majesty Of the Govern.
ment at this time. We cannot relnquish
the hope that he will admOnish, and, if
needs be, even command, the people of South
Carolina TO respect the Constitution and the
! laws in all their requirements, and If they
will not heed this admouition teach them
that the Constitution and the Union still live,
and that no State is now outside the Union
or the power of the Constitution. This
is no time Ior triling or temporizing. If the
| Union is a dclusOn; If the Constitution Is
cilr,e in itself and has lost its power OF vim
dicutiOn; if the laws are dead letter. il
the President Is pOwcrlcss to preserve the
Constitution or enforce the laws, or If he is
indifferent 50 these stern responsibilities, OF
neg.cctlul Of, or deaf to, tho appeals that
come up to him from South Carolina lOI
protrcttOn Of rights aud life then the people
Should understand tho true state Of the
ca SC 1T once, that they may protect them,
selves Is they best can. We say, in view OF
the intelligence that comes to us from til,
south, that the time has come for testing
the validity Of this Government in the ex.
crc-e Of its constitutional powers, and the
sooucr it yeI.!ies that power the better II
Will be for the national unity, peace, and
pclpctuity.
South Carolina to-day has no goyemmcnt
that can control outluwry, prevent violence
aud protect life. WADE HAMPTON is NJ
respected rs Governor; neither does he cx,
rrcss executive prerogatiyes as against til,
crusaders who are prosecuting, depressing
killing, and cXpelIin8 RcguhIicau., whit,
and black from the State, The State is in
the hands Of an armed mob, and WADr
! HAMPTON, who assumed to be Governor by
usurplDon, either is berct Of the power or
the disposition to vindicatc the laws, pre-
serve the peace, or protect life against th'
aruled lauditti who are carrying terror