The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-11-16
AFFAIRS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
No Necessity for the Ku Klux Procla-
mation.--The Real Facts in the Case.
A Perfect Reign of Terror.

A Perfect Reign of Terror.
From the New York Herald's Newbury, North
Carolina, Correspondent.
The proclamation suspeuding the writ
! Of habeas corpus in nine counties Of this
State has been grave, though trust not
fatal blundcr. Since my arrival in South
Carolina | have been engaged euergetically
in coming to just conclusion Of the real
condition Of affairs, and am compelled to
report that nothing has occurred which
justi6es the grave step taken by the Pres.
ident. In this county, Newberry, the
people seem more stupefed than indignant,
and yet it is easy to see that behind their
stupefaction there is feeling Of exaspera-
tion which may exhibit itself if the arbi.
trary measures Instituted in Union, Spart.
anburg and other counties arc carried out
in this. That there have been troubles in
this section Of the State is unqucstiouably
true, but am inclined to believe
that they have been more Of a social than
Of o political character. Upon the incom-
petenoy and dishonesty oftho State officials
must be charged many oftho alleged out.
RACES perpetrated by the KuKlux. 1t isa
fact that in this country there have been
more white men murded BY negroes since
the war ended than negroes by white men
aud yet only in the cases Of Lemul Lane
and Samuel Duuwoody has ever partial
punishment been inflicted upon the murd-
ers. l am assured by some Of tho most
prominent citizens here that whore a negro
criminal belonged to the Union League it
was almost impossible to convict, 40 al.
though this is denied by Radicals, the
evidence Of tho acquittal Of the most motor.
ious negro scoundrels in the South by pre-.
judiced negro juries stands on the records
Of the courts for the examination Of all.
It is easy to see what made the KuKlux
possible, when tits known that murders,
outrages upon women, barn and house
burning have been Of common occurrence,
while but few Of the perpetrators have been
punished; and yet it is admitted by the
Republican officials here that there is no
opposition to the enforcement Of the laws.
| asked the military commandant Of this
place ifany case had come to his knowledge
Of the United States Marshal being resisted
and he replied in the negative. further
inquired iftherc was any organization, SO.
cret or otherwise, in the country inimical
to the government, and be admitted that
be knew Of none. The. Rudicals Auditor
who told me that there had been q great
many disturbances, confessed that he could
not give me the particulars any single one
which has occurred since November last, aud
he also admitted that there was no opposi-
tion to the enforcement Of the laws Of the
State. | have conversed with persons Of
all parties, whites and Blacks and | cannot
discover any evidence that the slightest ro.
sistance has ever been made to the State or
federal officials. This is the truth the
solemn, honest truth. Agreat deal is said
by the Radicals about what the whites
would like to do, butof actual overt acts
they cannot give particulars. Every re.
countre berween negro and white man
growing out Of personal quarrels is magui-
fed into Ku-Klu1 case. Thus far but
one arrest for Ku.Kluyism has been made
in the country and that was made before
the proclamation Of the President on the
er parte statement ofa negro. The acous-
ed surrendered without resisting the Mar
shal and protests bis innocence. In the
upper counties Of Spartauburg, Chester,
Union and York perfect reign Of terror
exists. Bands Of soldiers traverse the
country after dark, taking persons from
their beds at midnight, and hurryiug them
to Jail without explaining the cause Of their
arrest. Nearly three hundred men have
been already arrested 10 this way. The
military authorities, acting, it is said, uu-
der the instructions Of Alderman. who is at
Yorkville, refuse to permit relatives or law
yers to see the prisoners Among the ar.
rested are some Of the most prominent CIT
izens of the counties named, some Of them
old men, incapable Of acting the partalleg.
cd against them. Hundreds Of families are
moving into Georgia and North Carolina.
Business houses have been closed, planta.
tions abandoned, and general gloom pre-
walls everywhere. TO add to the desper-
alton of the whites the Radicals have be-
gun promulgating falsehoods. The reports
Of collisions between the Ku.Klux and the
United States are positively 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 &C.
counts agree in representing the feeling
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 swear
ing that be saw them with the Ku.Klu1,
and thus innocent men are likelyto be, if
| lLau hnuo MT alrnadu haan innannratnd