The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-22
APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.
Review Of the Political Decision by
GOV. Evans.

Review of the Political Decision by
GOV. Evans.
In view OF the decisions Of Judge Goff and
the consequent crisis upon the white people
of the Stale, Gov. Evans yesterday issued the
following address 10 the people Of The State.
IL Ia q historical review OF the history OF the
Registration law and the plans and purpose,
words of advice and dadmonishment. The al
dress is as follows
Fellow Citizens: In 1865, after the most
bloody struggle for principle In the history oI
the world South CarolinianS laid down thelr
arms and accepted In good faith the results OF
the war. The State was put under martial
law, and under the reconstruction act the ls-
norant slaves, whose letters had Jusl peer oeeIl
broken, manipulated by carpet baggers from
the four quarters of the earth. were placed IN
entire control OF our State government. Al
ter q farce of an election for delegates 10 con-
stitutional convention, the constitution
which has been our organic law since 1858 was
adopted at the dictate oi Gen. Canoy. lne
conditions which followed ana me resulCS ot
placing ignorance and vice IN tne cOnIr0i o
the government are known TO all men. This
condition lasted until 1876, when the oppres.
sion and misgovernment had rendered our
people so desperate that wi Tn one impulse
they asserted their manhoou ana Overture" e."
the despotism of the carpet-baggers ana re-
sumei control of the States affairs.
While the coEstitutionality OF the recon-
struction act was never questioned oy US, De-
cause we were pOwerless 10 resist, !he luts
tiou of State sovereignty within the limits
nrescrIbed in the constitution. In accordance
with southern Interpretation, mas since necn
affirmed by repeated decisions OF The supreme
Court OF the United States. Thai court even
asserted that the States had never been out OF
the Union, thereby indirectly declaring In
valid the Acts of Congress. e-admittlng tnen
after reconstruction: The rignt oi siate 10
national interference is recognized through,
out the Union, and it is no peculia or special
claim on the part OF South Carolina 10 exer,
else that right SO long as her State officers ana
her General Assembly obey the constitution
of the United States and the laws OF Congress.
This is so well recognized that do not pro-
pose to discuss II further put leel that we cau
safely rely upon the integrity and patriotism
Of the Supreme Judges to re-affirm and maln-
tain it. ,,.
been law-abiding and respect the constitution
and courts of the United States, but when the
Judges of those courts wantonly Invade anu
trample under foot the recognized rights OF
our people guaranteed by the Federal consul,
tuition, they have right 10 assert tnemse ives
and maintain their sovereignty and lnae,
pendence. This they have ever done and Will
continue to do, and will resist with all the
means within their power usurpatlon anu
tyranny OF partisan politicians In high places
who disgrace the judicial ermine. We can
not, nor have we the desire to. resort TO arms
10 resist his unjust decree, but we can ana
neople 10 thwart the conspirators who are
plotting to overthrow our civilization. In
this struggle we confidently rely on lhe sym,
paLhy and moral support OF all lovers OF gooa
government and States rights throughout
the Union. The sovereignty OF the states
within their proper spheres. Is as dear to NJ
sachusetts and Ohio as it Is TO South Csrollna,
and the principle cannot be struck ;Sra doWn mere
II is unfortunate that the passions anu pref
udices excited by the war In regard TO tue ne
gro should influence the opinions ana ieelngs
Of Judges in dealing with this vital principle
but IL will follow inevitably that II this prln-
ciple is once destroyed, this country VIII be
convused with revolution for the restora,
lion of the liberties of white men, that Will
far eclipse that other fatal struggle Tor the
emancipation of the blacks ,o-c
The restoration of white supremacy in 1876
placed in office and In leadership OF the STATE
as United States Senator; Nj. G. Butler, United
States Senator, Charles Fl. Simonton, chair
man of the Judiciary committee and leader OF
the House OF Representatives, later districl
and circuit judges of the United States Court.
and John G. Sheppard, speaker or the House
of Representatives, Lieutenant Governor AND
afterwards Governor. In 1882. under the lead.
ership of these men, the hegislatare Psssso Rsss
tration Acts," designed to preserve white su
premacy and white mans government.
These laws worked admirably and up TO this
proceeding no complaint has ever oeen hearo
of their Injustice, oppression or cri iminal ity.
The citizen who dared raise his voice against
them was denounced as an enemy OF DIS
State. Those who were TOO young 10 noiu oi
dce and take part in such affairs were taught
| TO respect these men as patriots and their
handiwork as the palladium Of our liberties.
This regime, becoming arrogant anu dlstaste-
| full to majority of our people ana repughant
in their policy to our institutions, was over
thrown. and the people in 1890 by the election
of h. r. Tillman as governor, declared that II
was not their intention to create an oligarchy,
in S they oe the
have been made to reverse TINS Verdlct Oh the
sovereign people, but 1t has been sustained
each time with vehement determination.
The Reform movement had nothlng to DO
with the election and registration laws. We
received them as a legacy from the admins
tration of 1882 We have upheld them az the
acts of the people, and as constitutional
means of selfpreservatiOn. Some OF these
men who are responsible for and who have
en- loved the benefits and honors OF office un-
der these laws have turned upon their Stale
since their retirement. ny an appeal 10 one
Iiou a politician who disgraces judicial er-
mine of the United States Court and mas
ouerading as judge, they have succeeded IN
having the registration law Declared 9ncon-
stitutional, null and void. The chief argu-
ment made before him was the defamation Of
YOUR State, and insult, If insult could come
from such source to your State ofilcers Un-
der this decree the doors have been thrown
open and the ballot again placed In the hands
of every man, white or black. Of the age OF 81
years The abuse and slander heaped upon
the State by the counsel tor the plaintif was
only surpassed by that of the judge in his
document styled decree In equity.
But the pity Of it, the humiliation, and the
shame of II is yet to be told Besides this JEFF.
ferries on the bench sat an old man, whose
head was grey, who had fought on the field OF
battle for States rights, who had been Speak
or of the House Of Representatives OF South
Carolina and in whose handwriting part OF
your registration laws exist In our archiVe
There be sat wearing alike the judicial er-
mine, heariog his Slate DETAINED, his COM
rades in arms denounced as rebels. and his
own handiwork adjudged as crime. II the
| law was crime, was ne not me crimlnai Z
| ewes moist with tears OF humiliation? Alas,
they were not! With Mephistophelean grin
on his wrinkled face he nodded assent to the
| from court in equity. while the black audi.
ence exclaimed "A Daniel has come TO judg-
ment; yea, Daniel"
| The ex-senator who has been holding eau
! cuses in Columbia at private houses, having
| the ear OF the court and holding 1.-The foot OF
| the chancellor" returned to his home, feel Ing
| that bis movements had not been detected
| but the responsibility shall rest where IL be-
! longs. Let the people not blame poor, lean
| and hungry counsel, who are barking merely
| for bone, but visit the sin upon the heads OF
| the arch conspirators.
| upon us without our will or consent at a time
when peace was lowering over the State.
| South Carolina is enjoying an era of indus
trial Improvement, factories are being built In
| greater number than elsewhere In the South.
| The credit of the State ranks higher than ever
IN it's history. our bonds not being purchase
| BILE at q premium OF less than ten per cent.
The march of progress is about TO be stopped /;
| the black pail of negro domination hovers
| over us; we must meet the issue like South
Carolnians. There are only two flags, the
white and the black, under which will you en-.
! list? The one, the white, peaceful flag OF An
! glo-SaXon civilization and progress: or the