Year: 1876

Address of the Democratic State Ex-


ecutiye Committee of South Caro-


lima.


His excelleney the President of the
limited States did on the 18th day of
this month issue a proclamation where
by he commanded all persons engaged
in unlawful insurrectionary proceed
ines to disperse and retire peaceably
to their respective abodes within three
days from this date, and hereafter
abandon said combinations and sub
NIT themselves to the laws and constl-
tinted authorities of said State. This
nrocIamation is based upon the state
ments made by Daniel IL. Chamber
lain, the Governor of this State, W hlch
statements are aimed exclusively
against his political opponent, and are
proven to be untrue by the testimony
of every Judge in the State and every
trial Justice or other officer of the law
from whom response has been OBJ
tanned: every resident of the State
| knows them to be untrue every Re
nublican of character or intelligence,
or who is not in Office or seeking Of
| fee and MANY wha Aresin office IN tho
| State. have expressed horror and dis
gust at the course which the Governor
| has pursued. We say this much tor
our vindication. Never has people
suffered more by dishonor OF office and
dishonesty of officers never has such
n hold untruth been used for the sup
mort of movement which shakes the
niIlars upon which rests the constltu-
tional temple of a mighty people. Our
State is but petty portion OF the
Union, but we call upon our SISTER
States of the North to remember that
the experiment now being made toi
the domination Of our elections by the
bayonet and by soldiers as the irresls.
tible instrument Of a revolving loca
despotism, if successful, will become
the precedent before which the whole
fabric of American liberty fall, ant
which will be applied to other State
inst as soon as party exigencles requlr
Il We make this declaration OF ou
innocence, not in disrespect OF tn
president of the United States, but a
an act of Justice to ourselves as Amer
ican citizens and to put our case upo
the record for an impartial trial befor
the great national tribunal. We boz
/ in nerfect submission to the procla
nation of his sexcellepcy the Preslden
and exhort our fellow citizens, Whol
we represent in the present canvas
to weld full and entire obedience
every command in the said prociamf
. ton. =, ~ "a
climbs are associations for home pre-
lection; that they are not combin;
tions. as charged by the Governor
this State that there are but lew tn;
have arms or ammunition; that tho;
which have been equipped were
done with the sanction and sometime
With the aid OF the Governor, ar
have been recognized by him as usef'
and appropriate bodies, and not OF
of them has been accused OF dIsorde
We know that their necessity was o
casioped by the reckless distribute
of arms and ammunition among Il
colored people by the State official
and we further know that our WIN
citizens were, on the 10Th day OF tn
month, massacred at peaceful POM
cal assemblage, when by. agreeme
= with G. c. Bowen, Republican, Chal
man of Charleston county, and sher.
Of said county, and first PRESIDENT
eIcctor for the State at large on t
Renublican ticket, who was presel
Y thew went without arms to meet !
coIored race, the voters Of the social
\ Republican party in this State, "


peTe likewise. by Mr., BoWen's agre


meut. bound to be without arms 4; q


and we know that the politicians, W


are the authors of all our evils,


teaching among the colOred race I
use of the rife and the torch.
4 know that our homes are IN peril,


that our women and children are


nosed to the horrors of ruthless butt


ery and barbarity, but, neverthelt


we advise and command, so tar as


authority goes, that every such r
De- club against which the mlsrepresen
t;ons of the Governor of the State


aimed be forthwith disbanded, !;
= that the members thereof be held
h future only by those ties OF human
n which bind all good men togeth
y. that the name of the club be ab
- doned and the officers cease to e.


else their powers. This is said =


the express declaration that these cl


are not associated with or subject


our political control We repeat


we speak without disresDect TO


President of the United States.


acts upon the statements made by


Governor of this State, but we


It that we may show our willingness
.a obey without committing an unit
IS. against ourselves by seeming to


knowledge that of which we are


guilty. We are not engaged In un


ful and insurrectionaTy proceedl


we cannot disperse because we are


gathered together; we cannot r


1eaceably to our abodes becaus'


are in our homes in peace, distu


alone by the political agitations:


ted by the Governor and his min
A~ But we resignedly and cheerful


the performance of our duty, sus
y the execise of our individual and
yate rights to prevent evil to the v


the nnlV