The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-08-09
Tn Governor scott.s Footsteps.

In Governor ScOtC's Footsteps.
The State quotes the law under which Gov
ernor Tillman has armed his constabes, and
refers to the rule of Governor Scott, as fol
lows:
The sections of the General Statutes Of
South Carolina upon which Governor TIL
man relies for authority TO arm his liquor
"Section sis. The Chief Constable Of the
State. and the Deputy Chief and Deputy Con-
stables In the counties. shall exercise all the
common law and statutory powers OF cOnsta.
bles, and all authority given TO the police or
watchmen by the statutes of the State. and
by the charters and ordinances OF tncorporat T.
ed towns and cities, concurrently with such
officers. Said Chief Constable Of the State
and Deputy Chief and Deputy Constable In
the several counties shall at all times obey
and execute the orders OF the Governor In re-
lation Of the public peace and the execution
OF the laws throughout the State; and 1t shall
be their duty to see that the laws are observed
and enforced, and shall especially use their
utmost effort and endeavor TO repress disorder
and prevent crime.
"Section 5l9 The Governor shall have au.
thority, whenever In his Judgment II may oe
necessary, to arm the constabulary, ana 20
any emergency to assume control OF Ine
whole or any part Of the municipal ponce IN
cities and Incorporated towns; and 10 anthor'
lie the Chief Constable Of the State, or amy
Deputy Chief Constable to command assist
ance In the execution OF process. suppressinG
riots and In preserving the peace: .s
under these sections are very broad, anu tnat
he can II he choose take command Of the
Charleston and Columbia and Sumter police
for the purpose Of carrying out his purposes
by force. A.,
These sections are bequeathed TO us by the
Radicals. They we're embodied in one Of the
first acts passed by The "ringed: streaked and
striped" Legislature Of 1868. Under the au'
thority given him therein, Governor SCOT ap.
pointed the notorious John B. Hubbard Chief
Constable, and his force harrassed the white
people rs Governor Tillman's spies are DONG
OF the State, they left these sections on the
books only because II was felt that the STATE
should have set-of In election times TO the
Republican supervisors and deputy marsnals
Since 1876 State constables have only oeen
used at election times, except on one occasion
when. at the request of the local authorltles
dozen OF them were sent to capture an out.
law who had terroized his section.
The dispensary law simply provides tnal
1.-The Governor shall have authority TO ap.
point one or more State constables 70
see that this Act Is enforced" We DO mol
think that the constables 80 appointed are 70
be considered constables auihorlzea oy ad eae !.
but nder the Radical law there Is no ques-
tion that the Governor has power 10 40 pref
" much what he pleases. The only Iimlta-
ton ia (Section SID that there shall De no
more than two paid constables for each couh-
We have given the facts, rs of public inter
est. 1t is worth knowing that In turnlng loose
Sp ns spd Peops Sarsass hem Elm
used the methods and the authority OF GOV
ernor r. Z. Scott. We do not know that GOV.
eruor Scott ever instructed his conStaoies 10
sh9ot down any one who might S remsm6sSed e4psTsd
that General Scott reigned twenty-five years
ago, and In an era when the full measure OIL
our liberties had not been developed oy
Reform Movement"
It's quite likely that Governor Scott did
not meet more fierce opposition than Cover
nor TIllman Is now meeting.
But we presume the history OF those old
times will bear out the assertion that Scotts
constables suppressed lawlessness. and we
take 1t for granted that Tillman's constaoles
will teach the lawless element In 1893 the ne.
cessity Of obeying the law.
The State of South Carolina must be gov
erned By somebody. Either the frenzled mob
which recognizes no law, must govern, or else
the civil authorities must suppress outrageous
mobs.
The unwise and captious opposition TO TIL
man has weakened the opposition and
Tlllman with the people.
Following It's ugly report OF the Sumter as
sault on the constables. the Columbia Even.
Journal next day discusses the probability Of
lynching any constable who may resent an
insult from the mob.
The Press and Banner would be very sorry
for anybody to get shot, but Governor Till.
man ia bound to enforce the law In every part
OF the State, and the law will be enforced
alike in city and country. BY what method
of reasoning does the Journal regard the city
exempt from obedience to the laws which
the country people must obey7
II the daily newspapers OF this State would
counsel obedience to law, we would have
none of these proceedings which tend TO bring
about bloodshed.
If a newspaper aligns itself with the law
less slement OF the State, and indiscreet per-
sons suffer, the mores the pity.