Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-04-13
General KersliaW's Reply to sena-
tor Robertson,
CAMDEN, S. O.; March 25, 1871.

. :. .I---,i ,'N,.-. -
CAMDEN, S. o.; March 25, 1871
Hon. T. j. Robertson, United States
|. Senator: '-.'i''ii =, -. -. 'L'.;t
IL DEAR s1R-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your favor
of the 18th instant and, after giving
it that consideration which its grave
importance demands, proceed to answer
lit. This 1 am. compelled to do without
that conference with those gentlemen
with whom. you have associated me, in
the address Of your letter, which I
would gladly have had, fit had been
practicable. - .
I need not assure you of my earnest
adesire to secure peace and order, and a
|iust. and faithful administration Of laws
Ia this ruined and desolatedi State The
/ have. made of time and Ia
bor, sentiment and feeling, and even of
the regard Of valued friends to promote
those ends, are well known to you.
Nor, need LIDO more to vindicate4 the
earnest heart yearnings Of our good
people for peace ana security, than to-
point to their unanimous support Of a.
party which sought, last year, a balm!
tor;the healing Of the hideous diseases
bf society, in a; concession of legal eff
sacy and obligation to the amendments
pf the constitution and the so-called
reconstruction acts, asking nothing in
return but an honest and just admins
ration of affairs.
These concessions and all overtures
for peace were scornfulIy rejected by
;he colored people and their leaders.
Under the high-sounding and preten-
tious title of National Guards" the
negroes were armed and equipped with
the 1deadliest and costliest weapons and
munitions of war, at the expense of the
people. They were excited, incensed
and infuriated by the speeches of false
and unscrupulous demagogues, who
played upon their blind passions and
prejudices, as skillful harper upon the
passive and obedient chords of his in
strument, until they were ready for
carnival ofblood at the bidding Of their
leaders. The commissioners, managers
and boards of election were so selected,
and the election laws so cunningly de-
vised, as to secure the result of the bal
LOT irrespective of the will of the peo-
ple. Thus by fraud, by force and by
cunning artifce, negro domination was
secured, and the whites were practical
ly disfranchised. The Legislature thus
constituted, and many Of the public
officials, openly, VIGOROUSLY and shame
lessly Numbered thepeople of the State,
recklessly squandered the public money,
it to their own uses, and
selling their votes and their influence
fo: the passage Of laws to open the
treasury to corrupt spectators. By
these means the expenditures Of the
State Government have been increased
to more than FIVE times the amount re-
quired before the war, while the means
of the people have correspondingly
diminished. The taxes for two years,
aggregating more than four millions OF
dollars, are exacted in this year, pc
riod of greater financial distress than
this people has encountered since 1865.
Swarms of high salaried offices have
been created before unknown to us,
and, for the most, part, filled with in.
competent negroes or malignant and
corrupt white men, who seek to perpet-
uate their power by fomenting discord
between the races. Under these cor
rupting influences, thenegroes, in many
places, have become violent, threaten
ing and dangerous. Murder, arson and
pillage have stalked through the land
almost unrebuked of justice, while eve
y defensive act of the white victims
taas been magnifed into national
crime. All these are facts known. to
you. That in consequence there should
be a disturbed condition of affairs iii
come localities, deplorable though it
be, is not. to be wondered at. Let US
Father be thankful thatit has been con-
fined to the Counties of Laurens, Union,
Bpartanburg, York and Chester. We
will consider these disturbances for
moment.
In Laurens and Chester there were
collisions between the armed militia, or
nationalguards (negroes,) andt the whites.
in open daylight, the circumstances of
which are well known to you. In the
other counties disguised parties have,
from time to time, within the last three
months, administered Lynch law in
certain cases. While these occurrences
are greatly to be deplored, and some of
them merit and have received almost
universal condemnation, the collisions
inlLaurens and Chester, by far the most
serious of them all, are regarded by the
best men who know the facts, as neces-
sary and 5usty;able acts Of segaefence
on the paSt of the whites. 1t IS vcay
generally 5eliercd that their prompt ac-
tion prevented tile general aoar Of races.
aOhich Thoughtful men haze regarded
for some gears past. "a
/, While these things have occurred in
the counties mentioned, which are all
now quieted by the. disarming of the
militia, in other counties, profoundpeace
has prevailed. Here, for instance, we
have enjoyed an unbroken reign of
quiet and order. There was, at the last
Court of Sessions, not one act of vio-
lence demanding investigation, cir
cumstance which elected the congratu-
lations Of the presiding Judge.