Year: 1876

mean that when statements appear as comlnt
from yourself, or from others who are robeo
with the dignity of Office, which ought to at
tach importance and credibility to what
they say, and when these utterances, as in the
instances above cited, are totally false and
affect the character of the State, it is the duty
I respectfully submit, of the Governor to de-
nv them. And if he (the Governor) believes
them to be true, it is his duty to restore peace
and order; and to do so it bis sworn duty to
call upon the citizens to sustain him and en-
force the law. All these assaults are made
against the Democratic party. Whatever
may be our political error, in your estimation
in belonging to the party, we are none the less
citizens Of this State, and as such we have the
right to ask of you the protection which in
your official position you alone can give.


Ifthere be terrorism and violence in the
State, call upon US to suppress it, and do not
let the name of the State be perverted to dis
honorable political purposes.


You, and no one better, know that the white
people of South, Carolina are struggling as
few people ever have done to cast off burthen
of corruption and wrong such as yet few peo'
pie have ever borne 80 long. In your own
words, speaking of your own party:


"Reform, if it was not of itself right, has
become absolutely necessary, or the State will
sink"


"The party has ever been going into cam
paigns promising retrenchment and reform
and never performing it."


"Matters cannot run for six years to come
as they have for the past six years."


"These figures" (speaking of legislative ez'
penses) II may say are unparalleled in the
history of American legislation. 1t is steal
ing pure and simple"


And, referring to the election Of two Judg'
es-elected, I may say, by the leading men
now on the ticket with you "Their election
has sent thrill of horror throughout tbs
State. r I look at their election as q
horrible disaster" "The civilization of the
Puritan and the Cavalier, of the Roundhsad
and the Huguenot, il in peril. Courage, de-
termination, union, victory, must be our watch
words"


"No party can rule this State that supports
Whipper and Moses. There is but one
way to save the Republican party in South
Carolina, and that way is to unload Whipper
and Moses and all who 60 with them.
Neither the administration at Washington,
with all its applisnces-civil and military
nor all the denunciations of the world heaped
upon me, can save the Republican party here
from overwhelming defeat during this year,
unless we can persuade the people of this
State that such things as these judicial cleo.
tions will be undone and never by possibility
repeated"


You know that the men who were the lead
ers, who conducted that election, and who per-
petrated the wrongs of which it was feeble
expression, are the same men who control the
ticket upon which your name stands, who de,
vised your party platform, and are to-day
your political exponents You know that il
is against all this that our unfortunate people
are struggling; and yet you know full we'll
that their efforts, although in the warmth Of
canvass, are orderly and within the law
Your manhood compels you to approve our
course, but we do not call upon you for that
AS candidate you are entitled to all the
benefits which can accrue from the measures
which ,yopr plloweEs Cor, if, you would permit
me, would say your party leaders, for your
independent course was very diferent,) have
auOpteu. DuL ne Luo SoSoiuoA Va sho SoessS
you are called upon to either contradict the
assertion that the law is overthrown and that
terrorism prevails, or to suppress this lawless'
ness and it is our right that you call upon
US before you appeal to the government Of the
United States. Our services are at your com.
mand, and whatever is our duty, we are ready
to do. ..


To recur. I beg leave again to extend to
you the invitation, and ask of you to commu'
nicate it to the candidates upon your ticket,
as it is meant for them as we'll as for yourself
It is the wish of the Democratic party that
you accept it, for we are earnestly desirous to
remove the bitterness Of race feeling, which
we attribute to the prejudices and erroneous
views which have been instilled iuto the col.
orsd race. And we honestly desire "peace.
ful and untrammeled discussion, that the
people may become enlightened on the issues
of the day"


Your early reply will be deemed favor,
and if such be your wish, preparation will be
made to receive you at the first meeting that
it shall be your pleasure to indicate.


have the honor to be, very respectfully
your obedient servant,


A. G. HASKELL,
Chairman State Dem. Executive Committee.