Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-02-08
Affairs in the Second Military Di,tric,

\'0'e" ~ l" Jul coluHhS Houuay) auurcSS
ed by Col. \. j Willard, who was formerly
on the staff Of Gen. Sicklcs, but it is now
Chief of the Bureau of Civil Affairs iu this
| Military District, under the administration of
Gen. Candy, to Messrs Benedict Il Co., Of
New York, in reference TO the condition of af
fairs in this State b Charleston Courier.
HEADQUARTERS SD MILITARY DIsrR1or, \
BUREAU OF CIVIL AFFAIRS,
Charleston, 8. c., January 22, 1868.
Msssrs. @. H Benedict &c TO-, No. 81 Pine
street, Ne,o Yorh:
GENTLEMEN :-Ttcfcrring to your commu.
nication of the 4th instant, in which you state
there arc many persons who would gladly pur-
| chase and become permanent residents of this
State, could they prudcntly do SO but the
statements so frequently published in the dai-
ly press of outragcs, on the part both of whites
and blacks, have occasioncd throughout the
North general belief that property aud life
arc in constant jeopardy everywhere in the
unrcconstructcd States, and especially SO in
South Carolina, and in which you inquire as
to the truth Of these statements.
have the honor to state that my acquain-
tancc with the condition Of South Carolina
extends back to the commencement of the PC
rod OF its occupation by our Army, although
during that period | was absent few months
at the North In regard to both North and
South Carolina, since the first Of July last,
my chief sources of information are, the facts
officially reported, and known at these head
quarters. AS to the general question of the Sc
curity lifcand property in the State Of South
Carolina, the best evidence that can be ad-
duccd is to be derived from the conduct Of
the people themselves. They move about the
cities and country in the pursuit of business
or pleasure without any marks Of apprchen.
sion, and without any unusual precautions.
There have been few exceptions to the uni
vcrsal application Of the statement, but am
not aware of, any such exceptions at tho pres
ent time The cities arc remarkably free
from that description of violence that is re.
gardcd as most hostile to the security of life
and property. The streets are considered safe
at all hours, and people go about them with
less apprehension than they would experience
in travcrsing under the same circumstances
the streets of any of tho large Northern cit
les. There has been marked decrease in
the amount of crime committed within this
State since the irst year after its occupation.
During 1866 the prcpondcrance was on the
side of outrage committed by whites against
blacks. During 1866 the number of crimes
committed by blacks against whites prcpondc.
rated. During the last year the class of
crimes that sprung in 1865 and 1866, out of
the disturbed political relations of the coun-
try have decreased to such an extent that the
military tribunals, which have unusually ad-
judcated cases of that character, have had
comparatively little to do.
The crimes and disorders occurring at pres
cnt in the two States of North and Soath Car.
olna are such as the ordinary administration of
justice can take care of. If the courts of the
two States had the confidence of all classes.
and the requisite material and means for the
detection and punishment of offenders, the
community would speedily be reduced to cx-
celcnt order by these means alone.
In this connection it is perhaps interesting
to you to know that from the first occupation
of the State, the mildcst means Of preserving
order have always been sufficient. AS far as
my information goes, and it is believed to be
accurate, since the military occupation of these
States the maintenance Of order has not occa-
stoned the expenditure Of single cartridge,
tlao;toI;ota WOULD donhtlo.o doo: ro ~ l,r,,r