The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-10-15
No "Atrocities'' in South Carolina.

No "AtrocitiesN in South Carolina.
In communication to the Attorney General
of the United States, bearing date of Septem-
Der 2, President Grant spoke of atrocities as
existing in South Carolina which showed a
disregard for law, civil rights, and personal
protection, that ought not to be tolerated in
any civilized government.
The State Tax Union, which met in conven-
tion on the 10th of September, appointed a
committee, consisting of one delegate from
each county, to inquire what atrocities have
been committed, and in what section and by
what class of persons. The committee has just
made its report through Col. James H. Rion,
President. 1t says:
That we have failed to ascertain single case
il the State of an injury, outrage or wrong
committed during the present year by white
man upon negro, in the slightest degree at
tributable to the race color or previous condi-
tion of servitude of the negro, or upon any
Republican on account of his political opin-
ions.
There have been too many instances of out
RACES committed upon whites by negroes, be-
cause the sufferers we're white; but these are
not within the scope Of the matter submitted
to US.
There have been instances, Of late, of fla
grant breaches of the peace, but these have
been between negroes; or caused by armed
bands of negroes assembling on Sunday and
whites; or by negroes endeavoring to resist
arrest of those of their color These cases are
also outside of the matter submitted to US.
We deem it, however, not irrelevant to report
that conflict of races has only been avoided
by the uniform forbearance of the whites
which forbearance is especially commendable,
as the whites, under grievous provocation, with
their males, for the greater pa.u, veteran
and disciplined soldiers, and thus having it in
their power to crush at a blow the undiscl-
plined negroes, whose numerical superiority
(only four to three) is of no consideration,
have, from regard for peace and good order,
and a desire to avoid conflict with the Federal
authorities, hitherto borne and forborne.
The tendency to conflict exists entirely on
the side of the negroes, and arises from the
existence of the following condition of affairs
The negro is generally too apt to regard the
administration of Justice, in which any white
man has any instrumentality, as an invasion of
his rights.
The negro is taught to consider that the
whites mot Republicans have not the right to
form volunteer military organizations; and
hence regard the rifle clubs lately formed for
MARTIAL social and defensive purposes, as the
evidence of incipient rebellion. The fact that
almost the entire militia of the State are ne
groes, and that white companies have not been
accepted by the State authorities when ten
dered, may have caused this opinion.
The negro militia are commanded by many
turbulent officers, are armed with fire arms,
and abundantly supplied with ball cartridges,
as if their services in actual conflict might any
day be required.
The negro is taught to believe that the whites
design not only to deprive them of the right
of suffrage, but even to reduce them to their
original condition of slavery.
The negro is taught to regard the United
States troops as only intended to Keep doacn the
all citizens.
The carpet baggers, (by which term we do
not mean those from other States who remove
here but the dishonest political adventurers who
now infest this State,) do everything in their
power by incendiary speeches, ISLANDERS and
otherwise to infame the blacks against the
whites, and also to infame the blacks against
any of their own color who might dare to vote,
as they call it, against their race"
Thus, there is no political freedom in South
Carolina for either race, and little civil
liberty for the whites.
1t is true, and it could not be otherwise, that
there exists feeling of deep indignation on
the part of the whites, but it is not against the
negro, nor against the honest Republicans of
either color, but against those who have organ.
lied a system of election frauds, invent and
publish abroad shameful ISLANDERS for political
purposes, crush us with taxes, steal the money
raised by taxation, teach the negro the infa-
nous doctrines above mentioned, and in gener-
al teach the negro to regard all white men not
of the Republican party as their natural
enemies
In conclusion, we repeat that we have failed
to ascertain single case in the State, of an
present year, by a white man upon negro in
the slightest degree attributable to the race,
color or previous condition of servitude of the
negro or upon any Republican on account of
his political opinions.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JAMES Fl. RION, Chm'n.