The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-11-02
"A REIGN OF TERROR
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
A Miserable Persecution Of Helpless People.

A Miserable Persecution of Helpless People.
The New York Herald has a dispatch
from Newbern. y. c., dated the 18th ult. +,
from special correspondent, who says:
The proclamation suspending the writ
OF habeas corpus in nine counties of this
State has been grave though trust not
fatal blunder. Since my arrival in South
Carolina have been en- aged energeticaly
IN coming to just conclusion of the real
condition of affairs, and am compelled to
report that nothing has occurred which
Justliies the grave step taken by the Presi
dent. asked the military commandant of
the place il any case had come to his knowl.
edge Of the United States marshal being
resisted, and he replied in the negative. |
further inquired if there was any organiza
ton, secret or otherwise, in the county
inimical to the government, and he admit.
ted that he knew of none. The radical
county auditor, who told me that there had
been great many disturbances, confessed
that he could not give me the particulars
of any single one which had occurred sin ce
November last, and he also admitted that
there was no opposition to the enforcement
Of the laws of the State. Every rencontre
between a negro and white man GROWN @
out OF personal quarrels is magnifed into
II ku.klux case. Thus far but one arrest
for ku Kluxism has been made in the
county, and that was before the proclama
ton of the President on the en- pdrte state.
ment. a negro. The accused surrendered
without resisting the marshal, aud protests
his innocence.
sin the upper counties Of Spartansburg
Chester and York perfect reign of terror
exists. Bands of soldiers traverse the
country after dark. taking persons from
their beds at midnight and hurrying them
to Jail without explaining the cause oftheir
arrest. Nearly three hundred men have
already been arrested in this way. The
military authorities, acting, it is said, nnder
the instructions of Alderman, who is at
forkville, refuse to permit relatives or
lawyers to see the prisoners. Among those
arrested are some of the most prominent
citizens of the counties named, soma of
them old men, incapable Of acting the part
alleged against them. Hundreds of FAM.
lies are moving into Georgia and North
Carolina Business houses have been closed.
plantations abandoned, and u general gloom
prevails everywhere. 10 add to the des
peration Of the whites the radicals have
begun promulgating ialsehoods. The re.
ports OF collisions between the Ku Klux
aud the UniLed States soldiers are positive.
ly untrue, as no band of armed men has
yet been met with anywhere. How much
longer can say this, however, is difficult
to predict, as all accoants agree in repre-.
sentlng the feelings in the upper counties
as being very intense. The worst feature of
the whole affair is the fact that any negro
can have as many white men arrested as he
desires by simply swearing that he saw
them with the Ku-Klux, and thus innocent
men are likely to be, il they have not al
ready been, incarcerated in prison.
The door has been opened to the wreak.
ing OF private .ngeauce by means of per
jury, and this accounts for the extraordi.
nary exodus taking place. President Grant
has been most shamefuliy deceived regard
ing affairs here. | repeat that in not A
single county has there ever been any
opposition to the enforcement of the laws.
nor can find a single person who can
mentiona single instance ofsuch opposition.
Advices from York county, s. o., where
the writ Of habeas corpus has been suspen.
ded, state that many arrests have been
made, aud the parties lodged in the county
Jail.
Numbers are leaving the county. Deser.
ted families are suffering, and business of
all kinds is suspended II is said half the
male population of Chester county has left,
leaving the women and children unprotect.
ed. In Spartanburg and Union counties
the stampede aud suffering ace 'en &c eat
err. 1t is impossible to conceive the terror
and excitement that prevail.