The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-04
The Tribune's Southern Reports.

The travelling correspondent of the New
York Tribune, whose letter from Banyllls
we lately copied, writes an interesting let
ter from Columbia, s. c., whose statement
seem to be fair. Upon such facts as hi
brings before the public any Government
we suppose, but ours would take some
steps for public relief. This correspond
.eDt's prejudices are against the southern
whites, we doubt not yet so palpabe are
the evils which beset the inhabitants o.
South Carolina that he is compelled to adj
nit them, and to acknowledge that the
struggle is between white and black, and
for supremacy. If the blacks triumph.
plainly the whites cannot dwell in South
Carolina, and the Union will be to that en-
tent impaired in dignity by the establish
ment OF black State, whose contribution
to the resources and power of the nation
will be too contemplate for enumeration.
The writer, in his Columbia letter, says
that s'South Carolina may be regarded rs
thetypical southern State" And he gives
the following picture Of this type Of the
South
..The slaves of Yesterday are the masters
Of to-day, and the old, naughty, ruling
class is reduced to condition of political
thraldom. In order to comprehend the
cause of the present disturbed condition of
the State it is necessary TO consider the ele-
ments of its population and their changed
relations to each other. In total Of 729, 900
inhabitants there are about 425. 900 negroes,
who, as a class, are ignorant, supersti-
carni hor hnrianS hut Eff1o al
ted In intelligence above their kindred in
Africa. ! speak Of the great mass of the
negroes-Of the plantation : field hands,
They are extremely INDECENT, and will
make no eXertion beyond what is
necessary to obtain food enough to satisfy
their hunger. They rarely commit great
crimes, but are given 10 petty thieving to
Il great extent. Toward the white man
they are still dcferential, and assume an
air Of AFFECT submission but they. are dis
trustiul of the white men, by whom they
know they are hated. Upon these people
not only political rights have been confer
red, but they have absolute political SUI
premacy. They are the governing class IN
South Carolina, and q class more totally
unit TO govern does not exist upon tne
face of the earth. There are not 6oaeh
highly-educated negroes in the Whole
State, and the whole number thar Can leaa
and write is comparatively small.
The writer says that at first the whites,
who own the property, could not believe
that reconstruction was more than farce !;
but when they found it to be reality
when they saw the negroes making laws,
"leyying taxes, holding office, and acting
L" as jurymen-they passed into condition
"of bitterness and rage, Of which violence
"and murder was the natural conse-
"quenee."
evidence and murder the natural conse-
ouence 2" Aud this is the work of the
Government. And Senator SHERMAN, of
Ohio, asked Senator BLAIR, of Missouri,
the other day, in view Of this condition of
society, "What was the remedy?" Is
there another Government On earth which
could not, or would not, find remedy for
such a case?
The writer enters into details about the
efforts of the whites at Cancellation, and
the formation OF ticket of good and ref-
able men to save the State from the domin-
ion of corrupt strangers and ignorant and
incapable negroes. This effort the blacks
seemed at first to favor; but wound up
Their conference by casting their votes
unanimously for the Radicals. Ninety-one
out Of one hundred and tifty-fve members
Of the two Houses of the Legislature were
negroes.
The conduct Of the blacks disappointed
and enraged the whites. The acts OF the
Legislature increased the aggrayation O.
the public mind, and the writer declares
that the kuklux organization was estab,
lished over the entire State, and that it has
exerted It's power In the way OF Visiting its
wrath upon the blacks with great activity.
We do not believe the entire Representa-
tions Of this correspondents letter. but
even he is compelled to confess that the
kuklux measures are provoked by the ex-
traordinary outrages to which the whites
were subjected.
At the last election there were number