Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-11-09

The following letter, written by la
dy of Soath Carolina, and dated Rock
Hill, October %, is published 10 the
New York paper:
I wrote to you on ly few days ago,
my dear friend, and told you something
@ t the state of things, but within the
last two days the storm has burst, and
ihe reign Of terror emphatically begun.
Under that vile proc lalnatlon of Grants,
and an act for intim dating voters, the
old scene between the Wings and Tories
of the old revolution is being enacted.
Every Radical VINO has a private grudge
against another among cur Democratic
and Confederate people have gotten up
HE vilest conspiracy against the people
Of this district, and to crafty their re-
yenge, deuounce them as enemies TO the
Government-upon what charges they
know MOTTO the Yankee commander.
Colonel Merrill, who is feud inearnate.
and be is arrestng citizens right and
left, crowdipg the jails TO such an extent
that if kept there much longer Jail fever
will spare them trial before a packed
jury of Radicals and Jude sent to con-
Wet. Ia order to compass their ends.
spies are everywhere, and the most casual
words which drop from the hunted VIC
Tins lips are reported and brought il
evidence against them of reasonable in
enti9ns, and anything and everything
talse to compass their diabolical ds.
All this is in a time of profound quiet.
Not a disturbance has occurred in any
way for months, and people have been
quietly going about their business. The
Nadlcal representative from this istric t
in Congress is at the bottom Of the whole
thing, and to reveage some private quar-
rel with the community he has outraged
and been exposed for. There are four or
FIVE other districts in the State enduring
the same fiery trial, ami people fee the
tyranny aud is SO unindurable tina with
in the last few weeks six hundred persons
have left their homes and all they bad in
the world TO find some place where there
was at least a semblance Of law and JUS
tice. ] have the promise Of a fu Ill and
| written account of III the Radical pro.
| ceedings in the case Of these prisoners
| (arrested on Saturday las), and will send
it to you as soon as | ge5 it. aud hope
you will find some paper in the MOI III
honest and just enough to publish it. 1t
NAV be month or more before the end
comes. 1t really seems as though the
Radicals were bent upon goading the peo-
pie OF this State to madness. The petty
schemes of tyranny and revenge they ex-
ercise remind one of the tales We have
read of Austrian prisoners and the doings
o { the dcspotic kingdoms of the Ole
World. And this is free, repub lican
america! God hep the name! The
friends of liberty may indeed weep at thu
atrocities committed in their name. Ne
groes and the lowest white men are
bribed to bring evidence against thos'
they wish TO convict, and the prisoners
are kept entirel ignoran o. what they arr
accused uu til brought TO trial, which
gives them no chance to disprove the
charges brought against them. Les
th is should get into the hands of thos
demons [ shall in future give you an ii,
tial 2hcy are putting women in jail
other districts, l hear. | don't think the,
will make much by that move. Genera
! Grant has rent his order on to crnsh ant
terribly the people to vote the Radios
ticket and keep Grant in power. Tb
North may look on with apathy, but res
assured when we are crushed out thei
turn will come, aud New York will b
the first to feel the iron heel of the des
Dot and b is abdomin al faction