New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-24
RELATIONS OF THE RACES.
AN EPTroME OF SOUTH CAROLINA sENfl-
MENT

an EPTroME OF SOUTH CAROLINA sENfl-
MENT.
THE sYArE AT PEACE-No RECENT POLITICAL OUT
RAaKs-DGPRovED FKELNG BETWEEN THE
WHITES AND BLACKs-sTATKMETTs FROM A
PROMINENT CONSERVATIVES, THE CoLoRED LfEu-
TKNANT-GovERSoR, A coLoRED CONGRESSMAN
ANA NORTHERN sErTIER-THE WAR OF RACES
NOT SERIOUSLY FEARED.
IyRox THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRibuSEI
Co1uMB1A. S. c., Sept. 1.-THE presence IN TINS
citv Of representative Republicans from every
comfy in South Carolina as members OF the otaVe
Reuublcau Convention, and of Conservative leaders
from every section in attendance upon the Conven-
ton of Taxpayers, has afforded me rare oppor-
tuuity for ascertaining the true relations of the
white and colored races in State which was the
pr,neipal tbeater of the KH-Klux excitement and
where. as a consequence of the worst misgovernment
In the South an embittered public sentiment might
be naturally expected. After Senator Patterson's
fight to Washington and his story Of rebellion re-
vived had expected. with all due allowance for
the Senator's nervous temperament and strong par
tisan bias TO find South Carolina the scene OF out
RACES il not of war. and the whites and blacks in
famed with temper, if not shooting each other at
sight But week in the State has satisfied me that
whatever conflicting and disorderly elements
NAV be here in restraint, and whatever
political campaign in which every effort will be
made 30 bring out the voters on either side South
Carolina is as peaceful to-day as Maryland or New
Jersey and a great deal more peaceful than either
of several Western States that might be named.
This opinion formed not from the personal observa-
tions of a correspondent running through state
without mixing with the people, nor from the state
ments of politicians persons whose interest 1t Is
to have a good impression go abroad; but, as has
been intimated, from careful and dlgent inquiry OF
men of both and parties of leaders and men OF
the mass of business and farmers, OF capitalists
and aborers. No pains have been spared TO get the
truth. have vet to meet with the man who knows
of any recent political outrage in his county, and
vet 80 talk with one who thinks there s any imme-
diate danger Of conflict of the in this State
while nearly every prominent man. white or col
ored who has anything TO say on The subject re-
CARDS general War Of Races in the South too re-
mote a contingency TO be given serious consideration
at this time. IN order to show the drift OF South
Carolina sentiment this question OF the relations
of the races and the present condition and prospects
of the negro cannot do better than lay before the
reader the subjoned statements of opinion, made
by representatives Of each Of the several classes
prominent in South Carolina politics. They were
made in every case with apparent candor aud IN
response to most searching questions:
STATEMENT OF A PROMINENT CONSERVATIVE
Gen. j b. Krrsaw said: hvein section OF country
where we have never had any conflicts OF race, or
social disturbances and only riot SINCE the war NV
residence Is Eershaw County which Is IN the middle
section OF the state and contains population two parts
eolored white We are in absolute security in
our persons and dOmics and the only complaints we
have against the those incident to the habits
OF OF them preyng upon the property OF their
neghburs in a small way by petty theits but rather
less than in many other localities. The great body OF
a.uIn and no
races mutually respect the rights each OF the other
There have been but two homcides that county OF
any special significance that remember since recon
struetion one OF a very bad white man who was
using his Influence with the negroes IN manner that
endangered the safety OF the community in which he
lived, and tending greatly 70 corrupt the whole
negro population making them asssme
an attitude toward the whites which would have led 10
very serious consequences had it continued. He had
been an Overseer, somewhat noted for cruelty TO
negroes. a very man, and murdered at his own
dwelling in dusk Of the evening seated in the door
of his oabn with his his lap by some three
persons who are said TO have ridden up and shot him
down without word. This was known as the Dill
murder Il was during the military occupation OF the
State and before the ORGANIZATION OF the State Govern
ment The whites of the neghbOrhOod nearly ali we're
arrested and carried to Charleston Imprisoned con-
siderable time some OF them tortured to exor confess
ons and were finally released upon the establishment
Of civil authority for want Of evidence no discovery
being made The deed was very much deploreP oy inc
whites. who had Inu5a at stake ii D.osSs'.Hs good
order but ia sautary effects have been experienced up
10 this day in the preventing or any SINH
lar attempts upon the part OF pad men %
stir ND bad blood between the negroes and whites 1
do not however attribute the harmony which has since
prevailed altogether 10 this crcumstancebu mainly TO
the efforts OF the citizens cultivate ancab'e relations
with the coored people the leading men always setting
themselves steadily against anything calculated 70 ds
turb them. The other circumstance was mere street
brawl between a negro and white man in which the
negro was pretty clearly the aggressor the whe was IN
tured and the negro killed For the time It excited the
negroes very much but although good deal OF violence
was manifested on the spur Of the moment the effect
was transitory and order soon restored. The man
was tried and acquitted. There another case IN
which two negro prisoners were killed by constable
while attempting escape the constable was tired by
military commission sentenced to Imprisonment. aud
finally pardoned All OF these events occurred years
ago and are hardly remembered now There have never
been any secret ORGANIZATIONS FOR political purposes IN
our county, and we mad disturbance at all during
the preva enee Of the Ku Klux excitement
know nothing personally. nor am infOrmed'in any
authoritative way of any existing troubles in South
Carolina that would require the presence OF troops
think there is good deal OF excitement on the Savan-
nah River side Of the State, mainly 10 Edgehed Aiken
and Barnweu Counties along the line OF railway IN the
peighborhood Of grog shops mainly due, as lar as
have information, through the prints and personal
intercourse with the people residing IN that section 10
the evil influence OF bad men, local pouclans ehleuy'
who are only tolerated by the negroes themselves 80
long AZ they can keep them excited against the white
people noticed tois in the last four years that
upou every new evidence OF growing spirit OF coneua-
ton toward the negroes pending any elections IN thls
State there is Of these efforts 70 inhame the
negroes. think ii a part Of the system adopted 10
keep OF adventuTers who have got cOntroi Oh
aira N i