The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-05

your opinion thus formed, does great
injustice to the 4citizens of this Dis
trict, and reflects with great severity
upon my official conduct.
AS q civil officer, my contact and
intercourse with whites and blacks
are of frequent occurrence; and,
while the people of responsibility and
property, following the example of
the radicals now in power, are fast
resolving to prefer political friends to
political enemies, I have yet to hear
of any attempt to violate existing
contracts, because of political action.
Negroes, generally, do not join De-
mocratic Clubs; and little effort is
made by the whites to induce them
to do SO. The few who have Joined,
have been SO much abused and
threatened by others of their own
race, we'll armed with United States
muskets and other weapons, that
the temptation to remain awayeis
very great. All this will be estab-
lished to the satisfaction of the
officer, whom you purpose to send
hither to Investigate these matters.
And now for a simple statement.
AL aged gentleman, of great respect
ability, applied to me, under legal
advice, for proceedings against t,Do of
his laborers, to compel them to leave
his plantation. He charged that they
had repeatedly broken their contract,
and that he cou!! stand it no longer.
The particulars of the breach, he
stated to be, frequent abandonment
of their work, against his express
orders, to attend drills and league
meetings, once or twice every week,
during work hours. He asked my
opinion about the matter, and I re-
fused to give it in advance of the
trial. He applied to me for the ne
cessary notice, prescribed in the "Act
to amend the law in relation to
tenancies," 13 Stat, 49,, "whose
duty" it became to issue it. This
Act has been extended in its terms
by General Candy, and thus specially
approved Of by him. The notice was
issued and served personally, July
Is, 1868. The negroes sent word
back, "That they would go to Colum-
bia. to see about it." They went, or
sent, I presume, and have received
countenance and support from the
Governor of the State, upon their
er parte statements.
Now, / conjecture that this case is
the sole foundation of the charge you
prefer against the landlords of Union
District. I am satisfied that you
could have heard of no other in
stance. An ejectmeut, for the cause
stated in your letter, could not have
taken place in this District, without
something being said about it, with
out its reaching my ears.
Did not these freedmen, through
their nttorney-for, if 1 have been
correctly informed, they remained at
home and sent one of their race from
an adjoining plantation-show you
the copy of the notice served upon
them? If they did, you must have
seen that they were to show cause
before me, in ten days from the per-
sonal service thereof. why a warrant
of ejectment should not be issued
against them; if you did not then
see it, you must, or should have
known, that such was the require.
ment of the Act. The information
received by you, must have con-
vinced you that the trial had not yet
taken place. In fact, threats are al
ways intended as preventives; and,
therefore, your threats show that you
were aware that the trial was in
futuro.
It was under these circumstances
that your letter was written, in which
You say, that call such acts of out
rage will be carefully investigated,
and both yourself U and the land
lords will be held strictly accountable
for all damages that may be sustained
by colored men thus wronged." If
this was not intended to force my
judgment and intimidate my con-
science, it is most unfortunately ex-
pressed-it will SO appear to the pub
lie when published. If it was not so
intended, the positive assurance from
mo. that nothing contained in your
last letter will, in the slightest de-
gree, influence my decision, may
relieve your mind. You know full
we'll that refusal to join Democratic
clubs is no legal offence, and no
breach of contract. You might have
done me the Justice to suppose that