Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-11-02

SouTu CAEoLrSA.-Thc following let
ter, says the Baltimore Daily .Sun of Mon
day last. vas received by Hon. Reverdy
johnson, to whom it was addressed. He
has placed it in our hands, at the request
Of the writer, and tells US that he knows
that he is gentleman Of high character,
and that his statements may be confident
ly relied upon. Although Mr.. johnson
is authorized to give the name of the wri-
ter, he deems it proper to Withhold it from
the fear that it might subject him to the
tyranny which now prevails in many por-
tons of his State. After referring to
some matters Of personal business, and
stating that he is deeply interested in the
proceedings now going on in his State, he
writes as follows:
Rock Hill, York District, S. G.
October 10Th, 1871.
Hon. Rererdy johnson. Baltimore, M.
Dear Sir: One of NV broth
crs has been arrested and thrown into the
common Jail by the United States soldiers
without charge or accusation, without
form or warrant of law, without the shad-
ow Of right or justice. Before the sus-
pension Of the writ of habcas corpus pro-
found quiet prevailed in this section of
country; men were pursuing their bust
ness avocations in the most peaceful man
ner. and a season of prosperity was begin
ming TO dawn upon us; but now words
are almost inadequate to describe the reign
of terror that is existing among us
Bands Of United States soldiers are riding
the country, arrestiag citizens by the whole
sale, tearing them from their homes in the
night time, terrifying women and chill
dren, hurrying the prisoners of to jail
and examining them in dungeons and
filthy cells. These arrests are made with
out warrant. Men are ignorant of the
offenses for which they are thrown in Jail.
No explanation is given the prisoner as
TO the cause Of the arrest; no hearing is
allowed him. The innocent and the gull
ty fare alike. The fury Of the radicals
is levelled against the best of our citizens.
Old and young, gray haired men incapa-
bic of committing outrages, mere boys in
nocent Of crime, are arrested indiscrimi-
nately. In = time of profound peace,
when farmers are engaged in gathering
10 their corn and cotton, we are declared
to be in a state of war. We are suffering
for crimes that have never been commit
ted. We are punished for offences of
which We are not guilty. We are warred
upon by the United States government
on account Of a rebellion which-God save
the mark-has existence only in the i'm
agina,ions Of President Grant and the vile
politicians who have poisoned his ears
with false and malicious reports. There
Is no rebellion there is no hostility 10 the
United States government; there is no
resistance to lawful authority. either State
or federal; the reports Of collisions be-
tween armed bands of Ku-Klux and fed
eral troops are utterly false, base and
slanderous fahrications, uttered for q pur-
pose.
The cruelty. the ;nhuman harbarisv If
this most Ghrighteous war upon us i.
enough to bring the blush Of shame to
the cheek Of . Nero. and soften the hear,
OF Tiberius. Our women and children
are the greatest sufferers By this uoussrous
act Of w.nton oppression: they are pale
With alright; they are distracted with
grief and angsisA those loved ones mon
whom they leas for support are torn from
them. and they are lefs defcnseless and
at the mercy At brutal, lawlcss negroes.