Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-03
THE WARM SOUTH CAROLINA.
The First Victim of the Grant War
CeId.BIOOG0d Murder by United
States Troops.
Correspondence Of the New York WorldJ

correspondence of the New York World.l
SPARTANBURG, April is.
A description of Spartanburg, the head
quarters Ofniltary operations in the South,
may not be uninteresting TO your readers.
The town is situated in the upper part
Of South Carolina, within twenty-five
miles of the North C-rOlina line. 1t is
one hundred miles from Columbia, the
State capital, with which it IS connected by
railroad. 1t is also on the line of the Rich
population is abont $500, in equal proper
tionS Of whites and blacks. Before the
war the place was prosperous, and is fast
regaininS its former prosperity. 1t IS the
seat of two colleges, has two newspapers, a
national bank, five churches for the whites
aud two for the blacks. The town is sup
ported by the trade of the surrounding
country. The landowners of the county
are generally Well-to-dO, for, i'll addition
to the regular cotton crop, they make their
own provisions, an advantage seldom found
in the South.
This once quiet, happy country town is
new the scene Of one OF the most disgrace
full prosecutions that ever blackened the
pages of history. What is meant by that
crowd Of excited people iii front Of the no
tel? Let us so up and see. The cOntu-
sion increases as we approach. We hear
the striking of steel. 1t is nothing but the
rattle OF a rife-barrel against stirrIp.
Through the mixed thrOng of whites and
blacks we catch Il glimpse of blue army
cloth, and we see the Sleam Of a bayOnet.
But this is lot all. What is meant by
those tired, duSt-covered horses? We learn
the truth 1T glace. Another raid;
another securing of the woods; another
tbrC,Cl, I1U,iat o1,I ha1l ,DtI hon, NO
after the tired, hungry, exhausted vic
tim, and there he stands, youth,
some IS or 10 years old, in rags and
tatters, shoeleSs, and almost hatless, with a
! cOuntenance expressing nothing but vacuty
no fear, no trembling, no entreaties-
with the air Of i man who, though accused,
krows his innocence, or if guilty, indife-
I 1t to his fate. He is the one who, they
say, intlmidated the negroes aud prevent
ed them from voting. He is the one they
have been after so long--tive weary nights
night after night. For him is this army OF
! occupation, this post commandment, this
| troop Of cavalry horses. For him is the
treasury taXed-taXed to catch him, taxed
to try him, taxed to punish him-and he
! is caught; happy country, he is caught
! But it does not always end thus. Listen
! Minor Paris was the Oldest fisherman al
/ Cherokee Ford, place that supplied tIIe
! country around with shad. He was poo1
and industrious, with happy children and q
wife. One day last week he was on the
! river in his boat attending his traps. AL
! at once he looks up, and what does he see
! the shore covered with troops. He gives
! one pull aud is out in the middle of the
! stream. Then there was a bright flash q
| sharp rattle OF rifles, and no longer are his
| children happy, for they are orphan nc
! longer has he a wife, for she is a widow.
/ The soldiers say they gave the word to him
TO halt and he did not but how does this
! alter the matter? He was no fugitive
/ from Justice be was at his daily work rs
| much so as had he been in his cOrn-field
lie was not even accused tf a capital
offence. Has South Carolina sinned ? Ii
so, has she not also drank the cup to its
| BIZ ar dregs Plundered at home by fan
! Wo!Se than enemies, Warred on by the
| government, must she also be made II G
! political cauldrOn into which Grant must
! pour his vile compounds, this bitter drugs
TO make himself king by such lamentations
/ and reasonable COnspiraceS? Look at this
! once happy country, From Spartanburg
out in the direction Of Cherokee, the scene
/ of the killing OF Paris, not single grown
( man is found, unless it be some thieving
negro or those whose age made it impOssi.
! bic for them to get away. Here is fact
which can lie vOuChed for, which shows the
terror and uneasineSS Ct the people: A
/ farmer was found the other day ploughine
/ i'll his field with saddle on his plOu9l
horse, and his fence laid down in severa
! places. When questioned rs to his doing
/ SO, he replied, - he did not know how
soon the soldiers might be upon him, ant
| he thought it best to be prepared"