Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-15
GOV. EVANS BLOWS A BLAST His Address to the White People
 of South Carolina. CARPET BAG DAYS RECALLED
And the Struggle That Put an End to Them
 Is Duly Accounted.
AND IT IS THE SAME OLD ISSUE NOV.
CTS Over Us-There Are Only Two Flags-Under Which Will You
 Epl;stP"-Tlngling Words

Columbia S. C.. May 14.-The forces of the political party in power are gather ing here now to reach some decision as to the course they shall pursue in the coming election, which, under Judge Goffs decision, must be held with an open ballot.
 Tillman, Irby and McLaurin and all the leaders are here. Irbys state ex- ecutive committee meets tomorrow to take action looking to the maintenance of white supremacy. Tillman is at the executive mansion in consultation with Governor Evans. It looks now as though stormy times are ahead. Today the gov- ernor issued the following pronunca- mento, bearing on states rights and fed eral interference:
 Fellow citizens: In 1865 after the most bloody struggle for principle in the history of the world, the men of South Carolina laid down their arms and ac- cepted in good faith the results of the war. The state was put under martial law, and under the reconstruction act the ignorant slaves whose letters had just been broken manipulated by carpet baggers from the four quarters of the earth, were placed in entire cntrol of our state government. After farce of da 6leCliOu lOT ueleSdleS to a COnSI1Iu- tlQnaI convention, the constitution which has been our organic law since 1868 was adopted at the dictate of General Canby. The conditions which followed and the results of placing ignorance and vice in the control of the government are known of all men. This condition lasted until 1876, when oppression and misgovern- ment had rendered our people so desper- ate that with one impulse they asserted their manhood and overthrow the des- potism of carpet-baggers and resumed control of the states affairs.
 While the constutionality of the recon struction act was never questioned by us, because we were powerlesS to resist, the question of state sovereignty within the limit prescribed in the constitution in accordance with southern interpreta- tion has since been affirmed by repeated decisions of the supreme court of the United States. That court even asserted that the states had never been out of the union, thereby indirectly declaring in- valid the acts of congress readmitting them after reconstruction. The right of state to manage and direct it's interna: affairs without national interference is recognized throughout the union. and it is no peculiar or special claim on the part Of South Carolina to exercise that right so long as her state officers and her gen eral assembly, obey the constitution of the United States and the laws of con gress. This Is so well recognized that I do not propose to discuss it further but feel that we can afely rely upon the in- tegrity and patriotism of the supreme judges to reaffirm and maintain it.
 fThe people of South Carolina have al- ways been law-abiding and respect the constitution and courts of the United States but when the judges of those courts wantonly invade and trample un- der foot the recognized rights of our peo- pie guaranteed by the federal constitu- tion, they have a right to assert them selves and maintain their sovereignty and independence. This they have ever done and will continue to do, and will resist with all the means within their power the usurpation-and tyranny of partisan politicians in high places, who disgrace the judicial ermine We cannot nor have we the desire to, resort to arm3 to resist his unjust decree, but we can and will expect the united efforts of liberty-loving people to thwart the con spirators who are plotting to overthrow our civilization.
 Tn this struggle we confidently rely on the sympathy and moral support of all lovers of good government and states rights throughout the union. The sov- ereignty of the states within their proper spheres is as dear to Massachu- sets and Ohio as it is to South Caro- lima, and the people cannot be struck down here without receiving mortal blow elsewhere.
 Tt is unfortunate that the passions and prejudiceS excited by the war in regard to the negro should influence the opinions and judges in dealing with this vital principle, but it will follow inev- itably that if this principle is once de- stroyed this country will be convulsed with revolution for the restoration of the liberties of white men that will far eclipse that other fatal struggle for the emancipation of the blacks.
 "The restoration of white supremacy in 1876 placed in office and in leadership of the affairs of the state Wade Hamp- ton as governor and afterwards as United States senator and M. c. Butler United States senator, Charles H. Si- monton chairman of the judiciary com mittee of the house of representatives, Taber district and circuit judge of the United States court and John c. Shep- herd speaker of the house of representa- lives, lieutenant-governor and after wards governor.
 Tn 1882 under the leadership of these men, the legislature passed the laws known as the election and registration acts designed to preserve white suprem- acy land a white mans government. These laws worked admirably, and up to this proceeding no complaint has ever been heard of their injustice, oppression or criminality. The citizen who dared raise his voice against them was de- nounced as an enemy of his state. Those who were too young to hold office and take part in such affairs were taught to respect these men as patriots, and their handiwork as the palladium of our liber- ties. This regime, becoming arrogant and distasteful to a majority of our peo- pie, and repugnant in their policy to our institutions, was overthrown, and jamn R. Tillman as governor, declared that if was not their intention to create