New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-18
Incipient Rebellion.
The Laws of the United States set at De.
hance.-Letter from Collector Donaldson,
OF south Carolina.

EteDettEOU.
{ The Laws of the United state. set M ID
nance.-Letter from Collector DonaIa.o
OF South Carolina.
The Commissioner OF Internal Revenue b.
received the following
L. 5. INTERNAL REvESuE,
CoLLEcroR's OFFICE,
FIRST DIsrRIcr, SoUTH CAROLINA.
:, CHERAw, May s, 1871.
HON. A PLEAsoSroN It is my humble dut
10 report condition of society in this ais trio
wthcn calls for the immediate interposition {
the United States Government to sustain i,
representatives, that they may not be driven I
abandon their work and leave their homes 70
better security of life and property.
| am no aiarmist, nor am easily convinced Q
danger And, although for q year past, 1 hav
been frequently warned of danger to myself an
family. have carefully avoided mentioning O
even acknowledging the existence of any part
| or organization here sntagonistic to myself o
i the Government.
NOW the time has come when my duty to th
Seherai government and to loyal citizens of tn
district demand my immediate action.
My districts composed of eleven counties an,
| know that throughout this district there exist
well-organized society, whose object is to con
troll social aud political action. The organiza
ton Is composed of the soldiers and friends O
the late Confederacy Their modes of actor
| are various In different localities but in ever,
county they are destroying representative men
friends OF the Government, both white sne
| colored. "">
On the 18TH nltimo. in this county. Chester
heid,J Mr.. Robert Melton was called from hi,
bed at midnight and shovdown-his wife also
being toaiiy murdered, and his daughter bady
wounded. These were natives of South Caro-,
Ina, whom have known intimately for wears
Melton was employed by me in collecting taxes
and his only ofiense was loyalty 10 the Govern.
ment of the United States
In Lancaster county a man was taken from
ms bed and hanged, as also another man in
" llllamsonrg county. On FRIDAY the county
commissioners Of Clarendon county wa, mur.
dered. All these cases have occurred within
the last few days, and in no instance have any
efforts been made to bring the guilty parties 10
Justlce In fact. for this class Of offenses. no
justice can be obtained
Ills Excellency. Governor Scott. is unable to
deal with the present state of affairs. The
material at his disposal is sufficient and nae.
less, and unless the General Government inter
Venes this violence will continue.
ms state OF Affairs intimately concerns nv
position as United States officer. Every per-
son holding such Offices is an object of pecuIiar
hatred. Personally. have received several
threatening letters and limitations of danger.
enclose copy OF the last of these, a K. K.
letter, which reached me this day by mail, post
marked "Cheraw.' am therein ordered to
leave the country in fifteen days also en-.
close letter from my special deputy collector,
Joseph Galluchat, of Manning. in which he
finally refuses to proceed with the collection of
taxes IN the counties of kershaw and Lancas.
ter. This gentleman is a native a Democrat
and a member of one of their FIRST families. -
yet he dare not proceed further. Frank Goss
OF Camden has been my deputy for the past
two years in the above counties, and he abso.
lutely refused to attempt the collection of de-
llnquent taxes under warrant. and | was com.
PEELED TO appoint Mr.. Galluchat. who now in
turn refuses to proceed.
MAJOR DE Knight, assistant assessor of these
counties, residing in Sumner, recently had a
letter from the Ku- Klux organization ordering
him to leave the county. After consultation
with me, he thought it best at the time to take
no notice OF the letter; but matters now stand,
we must either receive protection from his Ex-
celiency, the President, or cease our active
work. We represent the Government its
property and records. to a considerable extent.
| are in my care, and | am charged with the
dllligent collection Of it's revenues. But the
lives OF myself and my assistants are in danger
III VIC ulScndrBe our duties. The State OF South
Carolina cannot protect me, nor is it protect.
ing its loyal citizens. | therefore respectfully
urge that an application be made to his Ex-
celency, the President, for such force as
may be necessary to protect our lives and
the Government property. | have the honor
to report that, in view of the alarming MUIR
ders committed in this county and in Clarendon
county, detachments of United States troops
were ordered by telegraph to be stationed here
and at Sumter. The troops reached these
points on the 18th ult., since when we have
had comparative quiet. Their stay, IA at pres
ent ordered, is limited to twenty DAYS and
unless they are ordered to remain permanently,
or their place supplied by others their leaving
will be the signsl for renewal of violence and
outrages.
pray your earnest consideration and imme
date action in this matter and for MANY rea
sons would ask that this letter NAV not be
published.
] have &c,
Il. j. Donaldson, Collector.
The following is a copy of the K2 Klux let
ter above referred to:
HEADQUARTERS 18th DIVISION,
GENERAL ORDERS, No 10, Maya, 1871.
Attention
To x. J. Donaldson Co.:
You are hereby notified that tteen DAYS will
be allowed you to wind up your affairs and
leave this country for good. If you do not
take heed you must abide the consequences.
By order Nj. F. T. Commanding.
3. =. ,, A. A. e.