The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-11-06
A Union League in Trouble.

It is a bad impression, that made by
the foul murder committed by the
Union League Of Pickons District, in
this State, on the 18th Of last month.
But it Is only moro strongly indica-
tive Of the evil that must result from
political organizations that arc secret
~ formed, secretly conducted, aud Sc
croily pledged, as to its individual
members, to carry out sat all hazards"
its secret purposes.
1t is to be hoped that the consc-
qucnccs Of the lawlcss acts Of the
Union League in PicEens will be n
lesson TO all other leagues of chat kind
in the South. These Leagues, as far
us we can uudcrstnnd their character
from their doings, are political organi-
cations set on foot by the Radicals Of
the North, for the avowcd purpose of
disgracng tho whito people of the
South. Their members told some of
their secrets in the course both oftbc
late riot in Pickcns, and of the trial
of tho instigators before tho civil
court.
Political organizations which are
born and attempt to be sustained in the
secret darkness of night and Of barred
and guarded doors, need not expect to
thrive in a country where democracy
is honorcd. Ina state Of war, u Gov
eminent may conduct its counsels in
secret, but in n state Of peace, for par
ties organizing tho scheme Of gov
crnmcnt, to conduct all its dclibcra-
tions in secret, with an armed guard
at its door, is subversivo Of all FREQ
government. The purposes Of such
organizations must eventually como to
an end.
as soon as We had finished writing
tho paragraphs above, which wo had
intended to be tho whole Of this arti-
Gle, we referred to our exchanges for
other subjects, and the first thing that
met our eyes was an article showing
how tho Radicals intend to work
things in tho election soon to como
of.
Tho onissarics Of Southern haters
and those blatant domagogues VIII can
30 easily talk of 'srebcls," as we'll rs
tho poor dupes Of their machinations
will one day find that the interests oI
Southern peace and Southern society
would have been far better taken care
of, had their boon no Interference b,
tho would-bo friends of the newly en-,
franchiscd.
But let c"ory ono read the follow
ing, which truo enough requires nc
comment to explain its meaning.
The State Central Committee of the
South Carolina division of tho "Union
League of America! are out in cir.
culur designed to consolidate tho col.
ored vote of the State in the interests
of such tickets as tho "mnnipulators'
may provide for their suffrage. W.
have not seen tho document, but find
in tho Charleston New$, of the 3Oth
which requires re commeEtto cSpla::
their meaning:
"Ballots. 1t IS advisable that the
strictcst socrcsy with regard to the
vote we arc to uso in the coming olec
tion shall be maintained it is there
fore recommended that there shall b,
TO ballots exposed Till tho day of cleo
tion. 1t is also recommended thai
certain unmistakcablc cmblems shal
appear on tho ballot, 50 that thos,
who cannot read will know that tho,
arc voting the right ticket. 1t is al
g so advised that strict instruction shall
be given that no name on the ticko
regularly nominated shall DO scratched
or torn otf--that the whole ticket shall
be voted. Should differences exist il
opinions with regard to candidates
they must be settled before tho nomi
nations are made.
"Unity Of Action 1T is imperative
If success is hoped for in our cause
and that opposition to our po Icy anc
principles shall be defeated, that di
visions and distractions in tho part,
QUAR- w PIoVeHleu, lhat unity ana mar
mony snail prevail; therefore, all who
bolt the regular nominations, or lend
themselves to conservative or rebel in.
terosts or infuenoo, shall bo consider.
3 ed enemies of republicanism- worthy
of announcement by our party, and
looked upon as the foes of humanity
justice and equal rights. Such men
shall be odious as traitors to the great
hope and interests Of the nation, as
we'll as a race
W. Stota Gnyarnnoart oono ~ 1o.k