Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881, 1878-06-01
General amnesty.

1hS SoiuIhbia correspondent Oi lhc
Journal cf Commerce reports that the
recent meeting OF the Rcput.ic; II
Executive Committee was hclu at
the suggestion Of l'rcsi'icnt HAYES, to
consider the matter Of Il general am
nesty, concerning which IL corrcspon-
dence has been going OH between
Governor Hampton and President
Hayes for some time. There are
many prosecuti ons hanging over citi-
2ens for completely in the old Ku-
Klux riots, more than a hundred in
dictmcnts against those who were
engaged in the Hamburg and Ellen
ton troubles, and also many South
Carolinians who arc serving out their
terms of Imprisonment in the Albany
penitcntiary; for these Govern +
Hampton is very dcs;rous that a
general amnesty be declared, and
President Hayes does not seem uvcrsc
to the plan provided, all prosecutions
against all political offenders in South
Carolina should be dropped and that
those already convicted, should be
pardoncd. We have never believed
i'll political persecution; it is op. oscd
to the cardinal principles Of Demo
cracy and never can be in. accord
with the Anglican system of liberty
as set forth in our Constitution; but
where actual fraud exists on the part
of government officials and the proof
Is direct, prosecution against such
transgressors cannot, by any use of
language, be made persecution. To
declare general amnesty or issue
pardons under such circumstances is
to license crime and hinder the pro-
gress Of justice. The mere fact Of
the offender being IA Governor, or
Judge or Legislator is no reason why
lie should be pardoned any more than
r. petty county oohhcrni, 0r-H common
offender against the rights and pro
perty ola citizen.
The stealing of money by legisla-
tive processes is no more justifublc
than the stealing Of money by the
unvarrantable processes Of the bur
glar, or the taking of pig from a
neighbours pen.
Social society is regulated by a
proper protection Of the property
and persons of its members, and every
ofiense against these must be pun
ished; so with political society the
rights Of the citizens and the prop
erty Of the government must be Sc
cure against offenders, or the organi-
zation fails to accomplish its end and
anarchy ensucs. If pardon in the
latter case is necessary bcca use it
savors of political pers ccution, then
pardon in the former is necessary
because it savors social persecution,
which makes the whole system Of
government worse than farce.
We do not pretend to kn,w what is
behind the curtains but nothing should
be there but the purcst motives; and
having unbcunded confidence IN the
integrity and patriotism Of Governor
Hampton, we aresrcricctly willing to
allow him to carry out his purposes
as he may think best for the good Of
our dear old State. Love not hatred,
gratitude not condemnation, should
fill the breast of every one for him
who has SO successfully pilotcd the
noble old vessel Of South Carolina
Democracy through The stormy period
OF the last two ycars-a period when
human passion ragged at its highest;
when sectional bitterness and party
strife invited the rupture Of every
tie that bound citizen to citizen and
sub .ject to the government; and when
corruption and crime, Ly an assumed
authority, held in allegiance the honor
and pride Of Carolina's noble sons.
The dangerous sea is not yet passed,
but the gland old vessel, bearing the
marks Of hundred voyages, with
not q plank sprung or spar broken
and with Hampton at the wheel, will
safely ride the bllows AID enter d
haven of rest.