Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-03-14
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY. MARCH IL, 1867.
south Carolina.

A petition has been presented 10 Con-
grsss signed by one thousand loyal col
orsd citizens OF Charleston, praying
or the establishment OF territorial
government In South Carolina and for
protection In their civil and political
rights. The appeal made in this docu-
ment gives us view which is impor'
sant at the present time Oi the real state
OF affairs in the Tebellious States. They
act forth that since the suspension of the
provost guard and provost courts at
that point, or in other words the cur
nilmeut OF the military jurisdiction in
that State, there is no protection for the
civil and political rights OF the freed
men. They alege that in the Interior OF
the State the freedmen are bGrbarously
and inhumanly murdered for no other
crime than that they assert their rights
under the proclamation o! emancipa-
ton and under the amendment abolish
ing slavery In the United States, and
that the civil courts wholly fail to do
them Justice; that no indictments are
found for the commission OF the most
heinous and outrageous ofenses that
no convictions are found for murder Of
the freedmen in that section.
The country have presented to them
In this document, evidence from a loyal
source, not from men engaged in the re
bollion. not from men who Ought
against the country, but from those who
under all circumstances in the past his
tory OF the nation, have been true TO its
flag, true TO the Union and liberty and
as loyal colored citizens OF the United
States demand protection, The repre-
sentation OF their condition is far worse
than in q state OF slavery, for then they
had the protection OF the master; now
they have arrsyed against them the pre-
Iudices and the prosecutions Of diSloyal
men who are embittered against them by
reason OF the noble and patriotic stand
they have taken in favor of the Union.
They should have the protection extended
10 them which is their right as American
citizens, as there is now no distinction
under the Constitution of the United
States between citizens or between per-
Sous, whatever may be their color, race,
or previous condition. They ask for a
territorial government, in such form as
will give each man, accounted Cltiztn
OF the United States, resident in that
State, an equt voice whereby the peo'
pie may be secured a republican form OF
government.
This is but Z Just demand that 10y
atty may become supreme and no longer
be considered a crime. Then will they be
protected from outrage and wrong and
republican liberty be safe. Protection
Of some character should be granted as
being for the best interests of the wholC
people OF South Carolina. Justice, hu.
mainly, social and political harmony de.
mand it. The cOlored man is made ther
a suffering outcsst and his interests
willfully neglected. The courts fail tt
inHCt punishment on white men thai
outrage them and they have 20 submit
powerless to wrong and abuse to the de
eisions OF the civil tribunal. Their,
justice is & moCkery and injustice i!
clothed in the garb of righteousness anC
lyFa 10 II
places they dare not even now assert tn,
liberty secured them by the emancipation
proclamation ifthey do, they are driver
from their homes, poor, homeless, naked
sursry and without shelter. Thei,
wives and their children, the old anC
anfebled and deCrepit, who have beef
worn out under the task.master, auC
the tender infant and the sick all sliko
are now compelled TO seek refuge il
temporary huts in the woods and aloDl
he public highways. They have drop
ped from the clutches of slavery int
The wicked grasps OF powerful prtiu
dice, which would conuive for them Z,
more ruinous fate than brutal slavery
1t will make liberty s. curse instead o
blessing. and its advocates, enemies tt
mankind, the glorious emancipation
proclamation an edict OF ruin ant
Indebtedness, and the great triumph O
Federals arms a failure. Therefore the,
should in some form have the electiv
franchise irrespective of color or race s.
eheir just right, as well as for their Owl
safety, the growth and perpetuity Of fire.
institutions of republicanism and III
safety of the Government.
Washington Ntesns,