New-York tribune., 1870-11-01
THE POLITICAL HORIZON.
SOUTH CAROLINA.


LAwLEssNESs AND MURDER-THE KU-KLUx.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Oct. 22.-The election which
took place in this State Wednesday last passed of
very quietly and has resulted In overwhelming tri-
umph the Republicans Scott has doubtless carried
the state by $4,000 majority ard four Republicans
elected to the next Congress- Large numbers of the
tive white citizens voted the Republican ticket for the
nrst tme and thousands Of others would have done
had not been for the fear of personal injury at the
hands Of the al-ruling class OF politicians who have
ruled this state 10 ruin it for the last half century
The thraldom Of public opinion terrible requires
man OF more than ordinary moral as well physical
courage to Withstand It, Every is resOrted to to
Keep the poor whites from going to the Republicans
and the most outrageous alsehoods constantly kept
in circulation, and when these fail TO accomplish tne
object desired then threats and intimidation are o"ou
into requsitiOn. 1t costs something as VIII de'non
strate before close this letter. to be Republican ~ %
State, particularly II one chances to be ha"'0 y"
Commonwealth
rna Whit Democracy are again up 10 their old tricks
n, traud and violence and already serious OUTBREAK mas
occurred at Laurens Court House. one OF '"o "Pi"
counties where seven mon have Deen sno' anu hn
so,ey because they were Republicans, ana took Poh
nent mart In the past elections An outbreak happened
,hoc or near there four weeks ago. ana Gen. Terry
a,ssa az the disposal of tie Governor com
nsnv of H. s. troops, which were sent TO the In
fected district and remained until Thursday, the morn
ing after the election when they left Tor TINS city
III balance
dered 70 York No sooner had the troops got 1afy
ont OF hearing OF pistol shots the white Democrats
who had apparently awaited this opportunity began an
attack upon the four five State eOnstabes, driving
them out OF town. They broke into the armory where
the guns of the militia kept seized all the arms ana
took possession Of the horses Of the consabuary ana
egan pursuit Of the fugtves. Seven are reported
killed outright, and several others badly wounded
IAurens situated about miles from this city, and has
no railroad communication, except over dllapuatod
old road much out of repair that 1t is even dangerous
10 ride il handcar. There Is no locomotive
now on the road consequently, 1t is extremely diicut
to hear from there anywhere within 20 miles of the
Court House The KuKlux have possession OF all the
roads, and viii permit no one to pass.
Another company of u s. troops sent to Ncwbury
this morning, and probably another will be sent to
Laurens speedily. The Hon. joseph Crews and Wade
Perrin both members of the last Legislature and men,
berseec Of the next Assembly, reported killed The
former is white and the latter COOred There
is nothing but the strong of the mill
tary that viii ever keep such lawless men in sub-
lection. The civn authorities are set at defiance
But the most nhuman brutal outrages that ever dis
Democracy. was last night invited into the office OF
of the state officers to witness sight that chilled
only a single candle being lighted TO enable us 10
see more closely the objects we were called
ranged side by side and dyestcd of all the clothing Of
the upper part of the body sat two salwart men and
Uncle Tom and dreamed Of the brutal Lcgree but it was
@ade man myself l%a' %as possible 'i to exist % as
tact Yet last night l lr had the evidence Of my
put his fingers into the gaping wounds prepared to
their homes at dead OF night carried distance and
then stripped oi tier clothing and lashed and beaten
The woman's back terribly mutilated
and torn, and never desire TO witness such
sight again. Their only Offense so far as
known. appears to be that they were Republicans,
OF them having been selected as manager at Of
mtted the outrage but when arrested and brought be-
fore magistrate for preliminary examination every one
oi them is able TO prove an ah by score OF witnesses
II need he Trials here farce, and justice is nothing
but mockery. The civil authorities are powerless
T. 5. Government can enforce the Fifteenth and other
Just wen be remanded at TO the tender mercies
Of the hends inearnate The names Of these people
The Governor United states senator Robertson, Con-
Ioge and several others these poor
heart Of an anchorite An old gray haired white
other OF The election managers was treated In the same
ho,st ~ r T nerr oe oo, hir i
ture and refinement, and strange to say, they find
plenty OF supporters among the people Of the North
have been committed since this campagn began 1t was
intended to prevent these from opening polling
should and they succeeded their efforts Neither of the
came This all took place last sunday night, the 10th
and within few miles Of the COurtHouse. How mucf
iodiscrace civilization by such damnable operations
How more of these poor defeneess people are to be
rced before the Government that made them citizens
viii inerpoSe to protect them Are We TO be told that
because the Judiciary system in the counties where the
whites largely In the majority is defective and those
who administer II not only unwilling to protect, but
actually assist In the persecution Of the colOred people,
that there l. redress for such wrOngsi
the United States Government has not the power to
interfere and its citizens from the assassn's knife
the cOwaTds bullet, IT is quite time that we had
form Of government which exercise such power.
put end TO such heish transactions else let
acknowledge the utter futihty OF republican form OF
government.