Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-04
WITHOUT A PARALLEL.
The FrightfuI Condition Of Affairs In
south Carolina.

SOuNh NtEoIhehs
Columbia, S. c., correspondence of the Cincin-
matt Commercial.
hardly have patience to state the trans
actions of the black and white scoundrels
who are robbing the oppressed people of
South Carolina without occasionally leay-
ing the bare recital of facts and indulging
in a style of comment inspired by the mag
nitude and meanneSs of the rascality which
see on all sides. l know that the reader
desires facts and not comment, but if he
knew the condition of things here hewOuld
pardon me for an occasional indulgence in
savage reflections. The condition of this
State is without parallel in the history of
America. 1t is governed by thieves, pick
! pockets and penitentiary convicts from top
10 bottom. To find an honest man in the
whole governmental concern is the excep-
tiOn, not the rule. Honest men there are
| in government positions, but they can not
stem the tide of corruption that sets in
against them. The moment a man begins
to show decided symptoms of honesty, to
stand out as light in an ocean Of dark
ness, that moment he is suspiciOned of dis
| loyalty, and loses his standing in the
| party.
But it is not alone the thieying opera
LUIS AllLA ulotAob a l4dll III CNuAN III bAlI
| condition of affairs here. He finds men in
| public positions who cannot read or write,
nor even sign their names, and who have
| but little more conception of their duties
| than a horse would have if sOlemnly in
Quoted into Office. Here we find black, ig-
| norant, stupid, dull plantation hands hold
,'qg the offices of Senator and legislator, as
we,H as Justice, County Commissioner,
Sberi,T Tax Collector, and in fact the whole
list of Nunty officers. With such officers
how can government matters be managed
decently or honestly? They are not, and
the whole government here is the most stu
nandous farce that the sun now shines
i,non That il is permitted to exist is a
crueltv. a shame and a disgrace. The
whole thing ought TO be abolished, the
state riyen a military government for
awhile, and then '-reOrganiZed" or recon
strIcted upon a basis of an educational OF
rronartv qualification for electors. You
NAV saw this would he unconstitutional.
| ParbaDs so. But until some such thing is
| done there will be no hope for Soutl
| Carolina. With each succeeding year She
| will sink lower and lower into the abyss OF
| ruin and despair. The majority OF her No
ting DopuIation are incapable OF Self-gOYern
/ menf. AS lDIl- ~ SUN . NAAS A1-NNf $500
| can be no reform here. If there is ever any
| reform or improvement it must begin at the
/ polls. The balance of power must be takeT
1 from portion of the more densely ignOr-
! ant. Until some measure of reliefis adopt
ed, the star on our flag representing South
| Carolina may as well have a black patch
over its face, or else be entirely punched
Ont. The problem here can not be lodged
fooeyer by the American people. 1t viii
have to be met some time. and the longer
put off the more difficult Of solution it viii
become. Either the Government here, or
ganized and administered by thieves who
are kept in position by the most densely ig
norant class OF men who ever saw a ballO
must be disowned and overthrown by
the American people, or supported. Tn,
issue forces itself upon us and can not b,
forever lodged.