The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-11-10
The Condition Of South Carolina

published the following letter to him
from a reliable source;
Rock Hnl., York District. ;, G., /
October 20, 1871
Hon. Rererdy JohoasoR, Baliimorc,
Nd;
DEAR SIR; > One Of my
brothers has been arrested aud thrown
into the common Jail by United States
soldiers without charge or accusation
without form or warrant of law, with
out the shadow Of right or justice.
Before the suspension Of the writ Of
hobeas corpus, profound quiet prevailed
in this section of the country men
were pursuing their business avoea,
tious in the most peaceful manner, and
a season Of prosperity was beginning
10 dawn upon US but now words are
almost inadequate 10 describe the reign
of terror that is existing among us,
Bands of United States soldiers are
riding the country, arresting citizens
by the wholesale, tearing them from
their homes in the nighttime terrliS-
ing women aud children hurrying the
prisoners of to Jail, aud craming them
into dungeons aud filthy cells. These
arrests are made without warrant
Men are ignorant of the offences for
which they are thrown in Jail. No ex-
PLANTATION is given the prisoner as to
tho cause Of his arrest, no hearing is
allowed him. The innocent and the
guilty fare alike. The fury of the
Radicals is leyeled against the best OF
our citizens Old, young, gray-haired
men incapable Of committing outrages,
mere boys innocent Of crime, are ar
rested indiscriminately. In a time OF
profound peace, when farmers are en-.
gagged in gathering in their corn aud
cotton, we are declared TO be IN astate
of war. We are suffering for crimes
that have never been committed. We
are punished for otienses Of which we
warred upon by the United States gov
ernment, on account OF rebellion
which-God save the mark-has exls-
tenee only in the imaginations Of Pres
ident Grant and the vile politicians
who have poisoned his ears with false
and malicious reports. There Is no
rebellion there is no hostility TO the
United States government; there Is no
resistance 10 lawful authority, either
State or federal the reports OF eolli'
sions between armed bands of hu
Klux aud Federal troops. are utterly
false, base, aud slanderous fabrications,
uttered for purpose. The cruelty,
the inhumen barbarity Of this most un-
righteous war upon us, is enough TO
bring the blush of shame TO the check
of q Nero, and soften the heart Of a
Tiberius. Our women and children
are the greatest sufferers by this mon-
strous act Of wanton oppression they
are pale with alright. They are dis
tracted with grief and anguish; those
loved ones upon whom they lean for
support, are torn from them, and they
are left defenseless and at the Iaercy
of brutal. lawless negroes. And all
this suffering is entailed upon our peo-
pie, that few wicked politicians may
continue in power and fatten from the
spoils of office. Grants proclamation,
alleging that the upper districts OF
South Carolina are in state OF rebel
lion, is the most stupendous he that ey-
er promulgated to the wcrld-the most
infamous document that ever bore an
official seal. In its utter falsehood. ITS
cool audacity, its daring assumption,
its sublime mendacity and its damna-
bic iniquity, it is without precedent or
parallel in history. There Is no docu-
ment on record comparable to il. The
cruel tyranny Of the measure Is only
equalled by the arbitrary despotism
which has been practiced upon a Po-
land or a Hungary, Greece or an
Iceland. And the worst Of it is there
is no help for US. When the Presi-
dent Of a free country, in a time Of
profound peace, deliberately turns his
dogs Of war" loose upon au unofiend-
ing, defenseless people, and the cold
eve of the world bears in it no sympa'
thy for us, there is no help for US un-
der the sun, and little hope. Pardon
me for trespassing upon your time, aud
believe me 10 be, with the highest SEN
timent of esteem and regard. your obe-
dient servent.