The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-08-22
How Honest Settlers are Received In South
Carolina.


The annexed letter, says the Baltimore Sun,
in regard to South Carolina, its people, their
disposition and prospects, is interesting, and
gives refutation to much that has been alleged
against the people of that State in justification
wards them 1t is from gentleman who is a
Republican in politics, and not native of
South Carolina, but of Maryland, who, being
Unionist during the war, has since made his
home in South Carolina:
COLUMBIA, S. c., May 81, 1872.
Wm. L. Southard, Esq.-DEAR SIR: Your
letter of the 18th instant reached me several
days ago, and would have received an earlier
attention, but for pressing official engagements.
I am glad to have an opportunity to give my
views briefly on the several subjects mentioned
in YOUR letter. And first as to the climate here.
1t is mild and salubrious. do not think it
surpassed in these respects anywhere on this
continent. Professor M. LaBorde, in his
Physiology, while speaking of climate and
mineral waters, says: '1t will be gratifying
to the Southern community to know that we
have in the States of South Carolina, North
Carolina and Georgia as fine a climate, per-
haps, as can be found in the world, and mine
eral waters which will compare favorably with
those of the highest celebrity" Diseases gen
orally are of a much milder form than they are
in the more Northern latitudes, and many dis
eases that are very prevalent and very fatal in
the North are almost entirely unknown here.
I am certain that neither consumption, pneu-
monia, pleurisy, nor any of the forms of ca
tarrh, nor rheumatic and neuralgic affections,
are anything like as prevalent or as severe here
as they are in colder climates, and of course
far less fatal.
As to the effect of the climate of this locali-
ty upon Northern people who settle here, can
best answer that question by stating that there
are about fifty Northern families living in Co
lumbia, who have settled here since the close
of the late war, and / am sure am safe in
saving there has not been over a half dozen
deaths in these families since their residence
here. Nay there is less sickness in Northern
families residing here than there is in the fam
lilies of the natives. Whether this is because
Northern people bring with them healthier
systems and more vigorous constitutions than
the old residents possess, thus enabling them
the better to resist disease, or whether there IS
something in the habits of the Northman that
gives him an advantage in this respect over the
Southron "to the manor born," am not pre-
pared to say the fact, however, is none the
less true, whatever may be the explanation OF
it. My experience and observation, therefore,
teach me to conclude that the climate of this
region is fully as friendly to the stranger as it
is to the native.
Now, as to the personal safety of Northern
men who settle here. This is subject embra-
cling such a wide field of circumstances that l
might dilate upon it almost to endless extent
But so much has already been said in this con-
nection in the newspapers, pro and CON-, by pol
iticians, for political effect that the people have
learned to look with suspicion upon everything
that is said upon this subject, and to take the
honest views of unprejudiced minds as mere
political clap-trap, that l forbear to say more
than that have lived here nearly six years,
have mingled as much, perhaps more, with the
people than any other Northern man here;
have met with gentlemen from every part of
the State, many of whom were most earnest in
their support of the Confederate cause having
sacrificed their entire fortunes upon the altar
of their political faith, and have not heard
a single expression, with one or two exceptions,
that might be construed into opposition to
honest respectable Northern men settling here:
I have tried to be an impartial observer, and
from all the data that have been able to col
lect, my logic forces me 10 the conclusion that
an honest man, be he Jew or GENTLE come
from where he may, and whatever be his creed,
who tries to make an honest living in decent
way through any of the multitudinous leglti-
mate avenues of business, is just as safe here
from personal violence as he would be In Mas
sachusetts or New York.
know that there have been many outrages
and acts of violence committed here of late,
but these difficulties are purely political. The
people of the South have not been able to re-
concile themselves to the new order of things
here. They cannot believe That it is right and
Just and most promotive of the public good
that the ignorant, the illiterate and the corrupt
should make and administer the laws, while
the intelligent and educated pay the taxes
bear all the expenses of the State, without
having any voice in the administration OF its
affairs. And is it surprising that they should
feel some unkindness toward those who thus
deprive them of mans dearest privileges !?
Glove your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for
for them that despitefully use you and perse-
cute you," is beautiful enough in theory, but
hard to practice. 'Do unto others as you
would that others should do unto you," is, in
my opinion, much better advice, and, if follow
ed by those who aspire to mould and direct
public sentiment, there would be less cause for
bitterness between factions, less strife between
neighbors, and more contentment and happl..
ness among the masses, because more peaceful
and more prosperous
In view of all the circumstances, the devas-
tation of their country, the destruction of their
homes by the iron heel of the war, the loss of
property, their descent from wealth and ease
to poverty and hardships, defeat in battle,
eclipse of their long-cherished and fondcst
hopes, their own degradation and the elevation
to places of power and preferment of their for,
mcr slaves, whom they were taught to regard
as only fit for "hewers of wood and drawers of
water" the abridgment or deprivation of their
political privileges, 1 think the Southern peo-
pie have behaved with good deal of forbear-
ancc. Though some political outrages have
been committed, what people under the sun,
subjected to the same provocations, would not
have done as much and more? Reverse the
results of the war, and impose upon the people
of the North the same onerous and to them
odious burthcns that the people here have had
to endure; in word, suppose we transfer the
whole set of circumstances under which the