The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-08-12

and the landlords will be held strictly ac
countable for all damages that may be
sustained by colored men thus wronged.
IF this was not intended to force my judg
ment and intinidate my conscience, it is
most unfortunately cxpresscd-it will SC
appear to the public when published. Ii
it was not SO intended, the positive assur
ance from me, that nothing contained in
your last letter will, in the slightest dc.
gree. influence my decision, may relieve
Your mind. You know full we'll that a
refusal to join Democratic Clubs is no le-
gal offence, and no breach Of contract.
You might have done me the iastice to
suppose that knew rs much. You could
havo easily satisfied yourself to this effect
if the supposition was too violent. At
any rate, you arc well aware that it is an
established legal principle, that an officer
is presumed to have faithfully discharged
his duty, until the contrary appears
Without single instance of dereliction
of duty proved against me, you might
have presumed, further, that l would, at
the approaching trial, discharge my duty,
and render judgment according to the
law and the evidence.
II l become satisfied, upon the hearing,
that these laborers ought not to be dis
possessed, they will remain where they
are. If my mind arrives at different
conclusion, the warrant OF cjectment will
be issued. If resisted by the armed bands
of negroes who intest that portion Of the
District, I will make out ~ full statement
of the case and submit it to you, in Ca
pacity other than that which you write,
for such action as you may dOem demand
ed by your oath Of office But no intimi-
daton can influence my judgment. l
havo my duties to perform, and, in my
humble sphere, they will be performed
conscentiously, and to the best of my
ability. If you decide, four days before
the trial, at distance of seventy-fve
miles, upon the testimony of one negro,
(who has never spoken word to me on
the subjoct,) that my contemplated judg-
ment-as to which am myself profound
| ly ignorant-is an act Of outrage; if l
have your assurance that | am to ''bc held
strictly accountable for all damages that
may "be sustained by colorcd men thus
wronged"-i. e., by my verdict can
only say, that, while such language from
one in your position augurs ill tor the
cause of Justice during your administers
ton, 1 must submit-having the power,
you must exercise it. A military trial,
wo thought, was thing of the past in
South Carolina for We had so interpreted
recent order of Gen. Candy. II my ac-
countability is to be established before q
civil tribunal, permit me to ask, how it is
You can predict their action with such
unerring certainty
You write as Assistant Commissioner
of the Frcedmen's Bureau; you also claim
to be Governor of this State. 1t will be
no satisfaction to the people of South
Carolina to know that you extend over
them two protecting arms, either which
You can drop at pleasure, according to the
oxirencies and circumstances of the case
| have written as respectfully as it was
possible to write, in replying to your let
ter. III hnvo misinterpreted your mean
ing, am sorry forit. Frequent perusals
have established me in the opinion that
the words you use will bear but one con-
struction, to wit: ~ rohectin upon the
discharge of my official duties, and an ef-
fort to influence me in the future by mill
tary intimidation. And ! have replied
at length, to satisfy You that your threat,
if intended as such, is wholly disrcgardod,
and fails to influence mo in either direc-
ton.
am, very respectfully, your obedi0nt
servant,
(Signed) II. w. SHAND,
Magistrate, Union District.