Year: 1871

Governor Scott Denies Any Portion Of the


state in Insurrcction-The Civil Power


Sufficient to Suppress Disturbances and En-


force the Laws.


CHARLESTON, Jan. II. 1871.


Governor Scott yesterday sent message to the
Legislature in reply to concurrent resolution ask
ing why military force for the protection OF ufe
liberty and property had not been sent into the
riotous and refractory counties Of the State, and
why the outlaws In those counties have not been
brought to condgn punishment. The Governor
says


While deeply deplore the disturbances to which
your resolution refers can scarcely venture as the
Executive OF the State to pronounce any Of It's cOun
ties rotous and refractory upon the reported cases
has been received In this ofce indicating anything
OF county organization to defy defeat the law,
possession, that in any secon Of the State the laws
are not executed; for not single case has been re-
ported In which the onicers Of the law have been
no invasion which am called upon to repel-no
insurrectfon which l am called upon to suppress.
But II there was any portion Of the State IN which
violence and disorder were general as TO disarm
the power OF the civil courts must say frankly
that have no such mitS nS force az would be compe,
to place and maintain such force In the field. II
by the outlaws who have not been brought to con-
have lately perpetrated the eutrages IN the counties
OF Spartanburg and Union can only say that every
enOrt mas been maze tn0C COulQ lawfully De maze
by the Executive to discover those criminals and
bring them o speedy trial. 1t IS my opinion that
the civil law Of the STATE ought to be surl-
cient, and 1t is my determination that 1t
shall be Sufficient to protect the person
and property Of every and any citizen OF the
State, however humble, friendess or obnoxious.
cannot bring myself to contemplate the use Of an
armed force to punish individual violations OF the
law IN time Of profound peace Such remedy
would be as bad as the disease, and would be q
public declaration that there was no civil govern.
ment in south Carolina and that we are living In
condition OF social anarchy. am bound by my
oath OF office as the Executive OF this STATE and In
reverence for those principles OF constitutional
liberty which are the vital force OF true republican,
ISM to see that the law duly enforced before
sort to other and dangerous powers I dare not,
and will not assume that justice cannot be ad-
minstered until the effort has been made and
the failure evident 1t is therefore my tnten-
tion to see that the law Is enforced, and when
fail in tho effort Will unhesitatingly
call upon you for the extraordinary powers to which
society must resort for sefprotecuon; but at pre-
sent would call your attention to the fact that all
tho cases Of reported violence are individual
violence OF the law; that none OF them have as
sumed the character Of public combinations against
the law, and that they are all within the regular
jurisdiction Of the criminal courts. !,


The Governor concludes by suggesting measures
for more vigorous, complete ana efficient Organi
zation OF the machinery necessary for the aAmins-
trattQn OF criminal justiCek