New-York tribune., 1866-12-25

Is65-THR LAWS 40 PROTEcTIoS-THR CASE Oh
Mr.. swAYzg.
Correspondence Ct Tie N. Y. Tribune
SAVANNAH Ga, Dec. 10, 1906
Tho probability that Congress viii place the insugeDa
States under territorial governments is exciting vast
deal of discusson and little fear among our uDre|
constructed brethren Their diseussi not Of avery
angry or boisterous nature but earnest and apparently
conducted with bated breath and under sort of subduna
impression that through their folly they have brought
upon themselves most dire calamity Many, however,
appear 70 have abandoned themselves 10 complete ind<
ference in regard to future and spirit of reckless
ness ana defiance such as could only be called into activity
by the demo1alizing influence OF Slavery.
This class defy the North-the Radicals-to do their
worst predicting in times past total ruin to all who
dare d. OF think anything not agreeable to Southern
wishes feelings and sentiments The abroGaion OF the
present illegal governments Of the Rebel Satcs they seem
10 argue win not inure the Southern peopei but twl
most assuredy utterly destroy tie credit Of the Federat
Government render its promises TO pay worthless and
reduce Yankeedom generally 10 complete chaotic imam
How Congress and the patriotic portion Of people
may be Influenced by the terrific prophecies OF people 50
eminent for prophecy, unabe TO determines pat va
sincerely hope that they will, in no event. be iyhened
from the early discharge Of duty SO urgently ana npefa
lively necessary that Of giving immediate protection to
the freedmen and the few white patriots OF the Sou:
portion of the people of the North and some Of theS
representatives in Congress- 10 think that beeausd
o,rtain Iar of favorable character have been enacted
by some of the Rebel States the freedmen will be prof
tccted in their rights and, were this opBion-s m0'
fatal falaeyenterained only by ew, OF by persons o
little or no influence, should feel anxiety for tho
future. But we sony to learn that sueh man az
those which throng Plymouth Church that with the ex1
ception of "few Districts the conduct OF the southern
people themselves has been kinder toward the freedme
than could have been expected beforehand and worthy ot
far higher appreciation and praise aud eneouagemond
than il has yet received in the North Anal maVei az
that goodness of God which tempered that change so
,lf hot trorp m
we have only to say that Mr.. Beecher IN making such
glarngy false statement must have been astonlshngY
Ignorant Of the who are every week-t not every DAY
numbering aud prosecuting teedhen anu Whie ononr
lists South Carolina and other Rebel Staos in he mosu
wanton cruel yindctive, and devitsh manner IL may
be claimed by Nj Beeeher and others VINO tnhK as nc
does that only the candle commit these outrages and
that their actions condemned by the respectable por-
tion of the white community ths, however, 10 not true,
as we know from personal knOwledge but If II were ue
all are alike involved in the guilt attached TO these Oa
RACES from the ncOntroyerbe fact tla although at least
three hundred black people have been killed in Georgia and
Sntb Caroina since Shrisimas 1900 not single murI
derer been punished any notice whatever taken II
the murders by the civil authorities except in perhapss
three cases In this State in which they compeed
by the military authorities, to arrest the murderes; and.
in those instances they acted only to save the emnas
from being tried by courmaral and thus shield them
from the punishment due ther crimes.
10 vQpld Be Just easy 10 get ytrS in the STATE On
Ne,c- York 10 eoUiet person Of Jor hoot.
ing a mad dog 10 get Jury Of Rebeis % Hd hebeL
giiy upon Charge q k,aHg aegrG. IN aHSe ms
we say and have fal, perfect and clear view OF thu
meaning import character, and influence OF saeh an e15
nllc declaration. But let the case be reversed, and
the mob allow him TO live 70 go through the taTee org
trial. the negro charged with murder w upon the most
himsy crcumstanal evidence be condemned 70 ueath-
Such is the temper Of the whites that eoored man can
attempt 10 defend his life against the KNIFE OF gum oh
pistol of his whlom oppressoTs, ony with he eeranr
oflosing it, ,-o
Slayery-among people who entirely deny that the negro
has any rights in common with theniseVes-"ho uehy1
tbat me negro has any rights that white man Is bound
10 respec.what arc laws however just they may be lh
diction, worth They are utterly worthless. Laws ara
eaecyeanswer the ends OF ustlce-ony WAeh they en-
BODY and express the sentiment OF the people, lhe aNs
uassed By Rebel Legislatures for the protecuon OF ina
freedmen do not embody the sentiment OF the keoesi
and they passed not to protect freedmen hut 70 500
cnre for the Rebel States power and influence IN Cow
@ SaoH' Snc6 laws are dead letter They have wroagh}
no change in the moral tone and temper Of those whd
owned slaves and who were engaged IN the Rebellion
It's, therefore, the imperative duty Of tho National
Government to protect the loyal whites and blacks from
the relentless prosecutions OF the Rebels and thereby saVs
the nation and the Rebels also, from disgrace such af
has yet fallen upon any people claiming ChnsiiaG
civilization.
IL will be remembered by the readers of THE TRIBuSa
that eolored planter named Harry Thomas was most
bmtaly murdered in Columbia County Georgia in OctO-
ber last at his house and in the presence OF has wif
and mother by about dozen white nelghbors led on bY
respectable white planter named smith that ye OF ne
party were arrested by The military authorities and hande
over to the civil authorities and that the eSidesce ad-
duced was deemed sufficient 10 hold only one OF the paTy
respectable named Perrin Last week Perrin vas
brought before the court the argued and the juy,
"aer retiring TO their rooms short ure, returned Ver<
dict Of not guilty"
This Perrin was the man who, after the party bad
choked and handcued Thomass wife, and bad put thirs
teen balls Thomas went into the house and informed
the mother Of the deceased that the mgg Wouu nave
10 look out now; the damned Yankees played OUT"
meaning that civil authority was restored ana t1ere wa5
no longer any fear of military authoty therefore, killing
nfggers" could be INDUCED IN with lmpunlty. ThS
ASSERTION is strictly true
In former letter we made mention Of the fact that j.
Clarke Swavze q white Unonst Of Griffin bad been
driven from his home by mob. The facts Of the
that he was waited upon by six men, formerly officers in
the Rebel army who claimed cprcent the resPectabl
norton of our citizens and notified that unless ha
ieft within 4S hours he would be hanged Mr. Swayza
entered suit in the United States District Court against
them and they arrested by the United states Mar,
sha with the assistance Of the military authorities and
LODGED in Fort Pulaski which, Of course, caused much
etement among the rebeous portion Of the community
They have been released bail, and have become tht
heroes aud the lions of the day. The Rel papers speak
cthem among the respectable ctttzeS and OF er
hgk character" while they edeng the character Of
Nr swavze-a peaceabe, intelligent, and honest man,
whose ony FAULT that hes patriotin most uneasnrpd
terms They yify him only 70 sustain the rufans who
drove him from his home and family, and because thew
know that they have nothing TO fear fom tho Courts in
ease ~ prosecution for libel And all this demonstrates,
eoaeusively that tho hatred Of the Rebels for Union men
is egrailed only in intensity, BY their disregard for law
an der and their love for ne i0sf cause" We have
sceu many extreme cases of yiAdctive and implacabd
b g. but any so hi;tor, so ntolennt sayagey
atless 80 murloT0usly cruel, that which the Rcbds,
day. entertain toward wbite Southern patriots; and,
oy are not murdered 0s freedmen are it not because
hg are not heartily dcsl lsed nom any want oR
disposition to murder them but simply because they ara
wnite; and, TO murder q white man. may mY0ve moro
b. "A ru fn tUf lfflor a