The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-11

The following correspondence ex-
plains itself: .,.,---....-...... ....
SPARTANBURa, August 81, 1865.
GOVERNOR R. X. SCOTT: At O meet
ing Of the citizens of Spartanburg,
this day, held at the Court House,
we, the undersigned, were appointed
Committee to forward to you n
copy of the enclosed petition and
remonstrance. 4.
While we have not shrinked from
being frank and emphatic in our
utterances, las faith and duty de-
manded, we have endeavored not to
be unmindful of the respect to which,
by virtue Of your high and reponsi-
BILE office, .yon are entitled.
1t is written: "Blessed are the
peace-makers." Such we desire, and
such it is pre-eminently at this juno
ture, in your power to be.
With % white population out-num-
bering the colored three to one,
Spartanburg District has enjoyed,
since the close Of the war, an exemp-
tion from disturbance without
parallel in the State. Not murder,
scarcely collision, has occurred be-
tween the races. Kindly relations
have, on the. contrary, been to
great extent. maintained; and so far
as this District is concerned, we feel
little apprehension of immediate
danger to ourselves or our families,
should any evil-disposed blacks, (of
which class we are glad to believe
there are very few among u.s. or
blacks of our own, or the adjoining
Districts, (misled by their unprinci-
pied white advisers,) attempt any
violence, it would be met by short
and sharp retribution.
AS citizens of the State and as
neighbors, however, we recognize the
obligation to contribute whatever of
power, or of influence, we possess to
maintain law and order through the
length and breadth of the land; and
to avert, if possible, a collision of
races, becoming every day moro i'm
minent, from the seaboard to the
mountains-n collision which, how
ever and wherever inaugurated, can
result only in o dire calamity and
suffering to the whites, and in ruin
and determination to the blacks.
When, upon recent occasion, the
Executive Of the State was apprised,
bya respectable committee CT citizens
from Union District, of the existence
of armed organizations of negroes,
who were openly parading and
threatening the public peace; when
he was informed of their avowe1 pur-
pose, with concert on the part of
similar organizations from adjoining
Dlstricts,) to assault the Jail and
release the prisoners therein confined,
under due process of law, this infor-
nation was treated almost with levity;
but assuredly without the grave con-
slderation and promptitude of action,
befitting the emergency. Without
due investigation had, their fears were
pronounced groundless; no steps
were taken to enforce the law pro-
hibiting such organizations, and the
negro incendiary. hearing that in
Union District, not only escaped
without any public censure, but,
unless we are greatly misinformed,
was even treated with favor. The
fruit of such mistaken policy, Ito
characterize, in no stronger language.
the conduct of our Executive, for
whom we would fain cherish respect. !
has not been slow in appearing.
Upon its last trip, the train of the
Union and Spartanburg Railroad,
conveying women and children, was
placed in jeopardy by collision be-
tween a few whites and band OF
armed negroes, assembled at the
Santuc Depot'to escort, as his body
guard, this very black desperate. who
claims to be their commander. We,
the people Of Spaftanburg District,
(whose fears cannot be supposed
unduly excited,) beg, therefore. to
confirm the testimony of our fellow