The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1868-01-23
TEsE .yOURNA AL.
Tuesday, Sarsuary a3, EsGs.
Report OF General Scott, mmissioner
of the Freedmen's Bureau.

1t Is QllllculL 10 TGIcf ". GllIS iel'ott,
without abandoning that self control,
so necessary at this time, when arbitra-
ry power is maintained and exrcised
by the bayonet, but we feel called upon
to invite attention to some Of the as
sertions made, as well as to the uncan-
did and harsh spirit which pervades
the entire document. If the assertions
are true, it is due to the people of the
State, that the instances upon which
these general charges are made, should
be specified, that the offenders may be
held up to the escorn and contumely they
merit, and the whole body Of the peo-
pie relieved of the odium involved.
It is asserted that large number OF
the planters took every opportunity to
defraud the laborcrs and to discharge
them without just remuneration.
The civil magistrates are charged
with want of energy so great as to
throw the freedmen almost wholly on
the Bureau for the maintenance oftheir
rights.
That an equitable system Of laws
for tho protection of the humblest citi-
zon docs not exist. and has never exist
ed in South Carolina.
The report admits that there is no
legal restriction to the admission Of COL
ored iusanc to the Asylum at Columbia:
and neglects to state, that for twenty
years past, provision has been made
for them by law, i'll that institution.
But the most monstrous imputation
upon the people of the State is contain
ed in the following extract which we
copy perbotim.
"The civil courts of the State do not
differ materially in Il cir consideration
of the freedmen from that which they
observed q year ago. The fear ofmil-
itary Interference, however, and the re-
cognized danger Of displacement OF oEli-
cials, at present, exert all influence,
salu.ary, so long as it lasts.
But Justice to the freedmen, and imIar-
-l.-.i..4.A.>-4 ...-d thn s+l ea
inhabitants, will not be found until the
code of the State is completely and
radically reformed, and the proper dis
tinctions and requirements which now
debar poor men from prosecuting,
while they open Jail doors to rich ones
are done away with, and replaced by
equitable provisions in statutes THAI
are at once wise and just, humane and
enlightened.
Until then, and before such medica-
ton of this body polite, I shall not
have to report to you aught but the
same story often repeated, and still
everywhere heard among the poor
whites and freedmen in the State.
Fortunately, however, for our pure
and irrproachable judiciary, as well as
for the humber people of tho State,
Gen. Scorr himself, has furnished the
clue to explain this labyrinth Of pervor
sion and misrepresentation in the fol-
lowing concluding paragraph.
"The adoption Of O new State Con-
stitution under the Reconstruction acts
will alone afford the remedy hoped for
in the changes which new Legislatures
may make in the laws of the State,
which will not attempt to classify the
people thereby to be effected.
The whole paper is written in the
interest Of radicalism, as this passage
clearly indicates.
We, have only to say in reply to these
general aspersions, that so far as the
charges affect the conduct Of individ-
uals, or the abuse power or derelic-
ton of duty on the part Of officials, the
military authorities alone are respon-
sible for the last year, since they have
had full power, not only to punish the
individuals, but to remove the offending
officer.
That in so far as the charges impute
to the State of South Carolina, want
of just and equal laws, the military au-
thorities are responsible for the contin-
uance Of such deficiency. For in them
alone is vested Legislative power.
That such deficiency does not exist,
because in September 1866, the legis-
lature, by law, abolished every disabil-
ity of the negro, save one, that prohib7
its marriage between white person
and person Of color.
Lastly, that it is easy to make gen.
eral charge which cannot be dispersed,
and justice requires (even as admins