Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-12-08


flames the expiring passions of their follow
ers 10 the rebellion, doubtless fearing that
the new political system might, if unchecked,
induce the white masses to break? the thral-
dom that had so long bound them under the
ancient rulers of the State.
They denounced thes State Government,
elected by d majority Of forty three Thousand
of the voters Of tho people, as "tyrannical
asurpation," and ga negro, soligarohy," de-
signed to crush out white men and they
s,igmatizcd its loyal supporters as ''thieves and
robbers" and passed general sentence of
outlawry upon every Republican, without re-
gard to character. Tho seed thus scattered
broadcast from the rostrum, the pulpit and
the press, soon produced terrible harvest.
That Republicans we're tho victims of fre-
qucnt murders, both open and secret, could
not be accounted for on any known theory of
condolences. 1t soon became evident that
there was 'method" in this "madness," and
that large mass of the whites, obeying the
"bloody instruction" of their political lead
ers, were engaged in a concerted effort to
suppress Republicanism in the State, by mur-
derug Republicans, white and colored, SOLE
ly because of their political opinions. en-
deavorcd to check this system of violence
and terrorism by an energetic use of the State
disposal. lu this measurably succeeded for a
time, although the alleged criminals were in
varably bailed, or escaped punishment
through jurors in accord with them in polti.
cal sentiment.
Just previous to the general State election
of October last, there was comparative lull
in these outragcs. The opposition party, in
that election, was again defeated by an i'm
mcnse majority. That defeat aroused the
fcrcest hate in the breasts of their leading
men against every loyal man in the State,
and, through their efforts, the most perfect
cohesion was given to the disloyal elements
in the upper counties, where there was an
approach to numerical equality between the
two parties.
In November following the election,
prominent citizen of the State, an active and
recognized leader of the opposition party,
used the following language, in an address
delivered in this city to the Confederate Sur
vivors association
Defeated on the battle field, defrauded ut
the ballot. box, we have but one remedy The
dagger, that was made illustrious in the
hands of Brutus, must, in the daylight and
IN the dark, cut it's way to the hearts of the
miscreants who now misrule our native State"
| That this language was used on the ocoa-
sion by the person referred to l have the
testimony of gentlemen of the highest re-
spectability who heard it. Scarcely less In
ccndiary was the tone of the opposition news.
papers throughout the State, as tho following
extracts from their editorials of that period
clearly demonstrate, and fasten upon them
much of the responsibility for the baleful
| consequences that ensued:
"Remember that we are the white people.
and that they are the negro; that they have
chosen their ground and arrayed themselves
| against us with determination and hate
which are unmistakable, and that our policy
is to let them alone and take care of oursei.
yes. But VIC must have organization, not
politically, be it remembered, and the views
below are worth consideration. Let us have
thorough understanding and union of the
! ! whole white people of the State, not forget
ting, either, the worthy exceptions among the
negroes. who have identified themselves with
US, or any others who may soc fit to cast their
liucs in with us. '-Ncwbery Herald, Nou.
3, 1870
"Ihc time for temporizing, argument aud
Cancellation, is passed we shall have no more
of it. A straight and severe line must be
drawn between the races The colored peo.
pie have chosen their ground with the advice
of the ringleaders, and they must follow it
out without aid or sympathy from their white
friends The white people have the power
and the brains and the determination to hold
their own and protect themselves, and they
will do so The negros have followed their
devices one time too many, and now lot them
look to others for help, assistance and sympa-
thy."-Darlington Democrat, Nov 3, 1870.
owe understand, therefore, and accept the
solid black vote cast against the nominees of
the Reform party as declaration of war by
the negro race against the white race, by ig-
horace against intelligence, by poverty against
actual or potential wealth. This issue we
have striven to avoid, but the negroes win
have nothing else. They will not allow us
to work with them; we must if necessary,
work against them. Coloiliation, argument,
persuasion-all have been worse tAan useless.
The white people stand alone And they
must organize themselves and arm themsei.
ves not as "a white mans party but because
the past and present prove that deoenoy, pu-
rity and political freedom, as we'll as the pre-
servation of society, are identical with the in.
terests Of the white people of the Stase."--.
Charleston Daily News, Nov. 7, 1870.
! l shall not multiply these evidences from
the opposition press, but cannot refraip from
uttering reflection that their candid admis-
sions foroibly suggest.
In view Of this condition Of affairs, the
State capital was thronged by refugee Repab-
loans, and in the months of January and