The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-22
Under " hich Flag?
Fair Elections or Fraud and
intimidation ?
Gov. Evans Issues an Address.


issuing of the following address to
the people of the State in regard to
Judge COTS decision. 1t is a racy
document to say the least
Fellow citizens: In 1865, after the
most bloody struggle for principle in
the history of the world, South Car
olinians laid down their arms and ac-
cepted in good faith the results of the
war. The State was put under mar
tial law, and under the reconstruction
acts the ignorant slaves, whose fet-
ters had just been broken, manipu-
lated by carpetbaggers from the four
quarters of the earth, were placed in
entire control of our State govern
ment. After farce of an election
for delegates to constitutional con
vention, the Constitution which has
been our organic law since 1868, was
adopted at the dictate of Gen Candy.
The conditions which followed and
the results of placing ignorance aud
vice in control of the government are
known of all men This condition
lasted until 1876, when the oppres
siou ani misgovernment had render.
ed our people so desperate that with
one impulse they asserted their man
hood and overthrow tine drspotism Of
the carpetbaggers and resumed con-
troll of the States affairs
While the constitu,ionality of the
reconstruction act was never ques-
toned by as because we were pow
erless TO resist. the question of State
sovereignty within the limits pre-
scribed in the Constitution, in accord.
ance with Southern Interpretation,
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 indi-
rectly declaring invalid the acts of
Congress re-admitting them after re.
construction. The right of a State
to manage and direct it's internal
affairs without national interference
is recognized throughout the union.
and it is no peculiar or special claim
on the part of South Carolina to exer-
else that right so long as her State
officers and her General Assembly
obey the Constitution of the United
States and the laws of Congress.
This is so we'll recognized that do
not propose to discuss it further but
feel that we can safely rely upon the
integrity ahd patriotism of the sn-
preme judges to reafirm aud main-
tain it
The people Of South Carolina have
always been law.abiding and respect
the Constitution and courts of the
United States, but when .he judges
of those courts wantonIy invsde and
trample under foot the recognized
rights Of our people, guaranteed by
tie Federal Constitution. they have
a right TO assert themselves and main
tain theis sovereignty and independ
ence. This they have ever done and
will continue to do, and will resist
with all the means within their power
usurpation and tyranny of partisan
politicians in high places, who dis
grace the judicial ermine. We can
not, nor have we the desire to. resort
to arms to resist his unjust decree,
but we can aud will exert the united
efforts of liberty-loving people to
thwart the conspirators who are plot.
ting to overthrow our civilization
In this struggle we confidently rely
on the sympathy aud mora! support
of all lovers Of good government and
States rights throughout the Union.
The sovereignty of the States, within
their proper spheres, is as dear to
Massachusetts and Ohio as it is to
South Carolina. and the principle can
no. be struck down here without re-
ceiving mortal blow elsewhere
1t is unfortunate tina: the passions
and prejudices excited by the war in
regard to the negro should influence
the opinions and feelings of Judges in
dealing with this vital principle. but
it will follow inevitably that if this
principle is once destroyed this coun.
try will be convulsed with revolu-
tion for the restoration of the liberties
of white men, that will far eclipse
that other fatal struggle for the eman.
cipation of the blacks.
The restoration OF white supre-
macy in 1876 placed in Office and in
leadership of the affairs of the State
Wade Hampton as Governor, and
afterwards as United States Senator,
and NJ G. Butler, United States
Senator. Charles II. Simonton chair
man of the judiciary committee and
leader of the House of Representa-
tives, later district and circuit Judge