Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-04-13

annd. threatening .demonstraton,, Of Ii, Il
militia, who, though armed HAVE not
/ am informed, been Furnished asf8nitl
ball cartridges, On the. other hana; 4.
am satisfied there has never been in thil
/, county any organization corresponding
lin any way to what is termed, the g Ku
klux Klan,", or any, other lnlawfuEa as
sociation. I take it that this condition
LOT things exists in by far the larger
|lportion of the State. Ea like camse,
|ipsoduce' Gke.resuls, and, therefore, ans
demonstration on the part Of the negroes
land especially the armed militia, auhicl
acou1d render or people app,ehensave O
an attack, you'd very pro5cbiy induce
gaaszdtso,ss for defcnssve or preventive
4eperatsdzsS Si5sd possibly lead to sinsildss
disastrous conflicts as ensated at Laurens
and Chester. =
Now you desire my "aiid in arousing
and concentrating the opinion of all
good citizens in favor Of law and or
der
You attribute to nae, in common with
the other gentlemen whom you have
addressed, :" intelligence and good in
tentions." Let 1le remark by the way,
as illustrating one of the many ano-
males of the day, that, notwithstand-
ing the confidence thus expressed, the
most liberal amnesty bill yet reported
by your committee does not propose to
place at the disposal of the State, in
any official capacity, those qualities
which you suppose me to possess. New
ertheless, disfranchised and "unpar-
doned rebels" though we be, claim, in
common with others similarly situated,
to have done more to promote peace
and order in South Carolina, than all
the so-called loyal people within her
borders. am still for peace-a last
ing peace-such as you rightly suppose
can only be preserved in any communi-
ty by wholesome "public opinion. -
My cooperation shall not be wanting
in any feasible plan for harnonizing
society here. But to be perfectly cam
did with you, I must declare my settled
conviction, that while do not appre-
hend any further disturbances, unless
there be fresh irritations, there can nev-
er be that security qOAich aOiU ever pre-
serve the peace Of society, a7atI some of
the e'vors Of the past be corrected, and
some of oatr grievances be removed. All
class legislation be repealed. Taxpay-
ers ought to be secured representation
in the Legislature, adequate to their
protection. Honest, capable and COM
petent men should be placed in Office
Accomplish these things, and this whole
people will rise up and call you bless
ed. Less than this would leave the
same causes at work which have pro-
duced the prevailing gdiscord. and there
could not be that security which con-
stitutes the essential foundation Of So
ciety. The white people of South Car
olina are now enslayed by their former
slaves. Taxation without represen-
tation" was the battle grage accepted
by our Revolutionary sires-unrepre-
sented and politically disfranchised, we
are taxed for wanton and corrupt pur-
poses beyond all precedent and without
even the poor privilege of protest or
appeal. Cannot our rulers understand
that, sooner or later, even our endur-
ance must give way under such mon
strous imposition?
I propose to invite meeting of prom
inent and influential men from each
county, to consider the condition of
things, and to consult for the common
veal. If you, or any of your political
associates, can propose anything that
will tend to satisfy the demands and
necessities of the case-to harmonic
and to ameliorate the condition Of the
people, l doubt not they will consider
your suggestions most carefully and
respectfully. I shall be most happy to
be the medium Of any such communi-
cations as you may desire to make to
them. I trust this proposed measure
NAY meet your approval, as it accords
with your own suggestion. shall in
vite the cooperation of the other gen.
tlemen named.
Approaching the sincere and patrio-
tic purpose which induced your commu-
nication, and thanking you personally
for your good opinions, I am, very res
pectfully, yours,
J. B. KERsHAw.