The Morning herald., 1876-10-27
APROTEsT AGAINsrTYRANNY.
The Ministry and prominent Officers
Of the Htate DenOunce the Presence
Af M6DitAev

The Ministry ana prominent Omcer
Of the Htats DenOunce the PreseHc'
} or Military.
| CHARLESTON, S. c., Oct. 25.- The Pres
ident OF the Chamber OF Commerce ha
united with the Methodist, Catholic anC
Episcopal Bishops, and the leading Presby
terian, Lutheran, Baptist and Jewish min
listers, and the Presidents of all the banks II
Charleston, in the following address on tn
condition of South Carolina:
To the People of the United States:1Wel
founded apprehensions that the civilization
OF our State is in danger of being utterl.
'verthrown, and an overruling sense o
duty to ourselves and posterity, and thu
country at large, impel us to make al
authentic statement of our actual condi-
ton to the American people, in the hopt
thatit will indu"e them to extend to vi
their sympathy and.a In this distressing
extgency Of our sfairs. There is so much
At stake that We cannot atf1 to be silent
20 withhold any effort that may possibly be
Of avail. For ten long weary years The
white people of South Carolina have
endured condition of things which
any Northern State would. have been
tempted to throw off in two years, at the
point of the bayonet, If It could have been
done In no other way. They bore and fore
| bore in the hope that some returning sense
Of justice or happy stroke of fortune would
bring relief; but no such sense Of justice OF
| nappy stroke came to their reliet, and hope
sickened and died sway in the!r hearts. At
last they determined, as by a common i'm
pulse and q natural and uncomfortable in-
spiration of freedom, to make one supreme
fort tor their redemption, but to make Il
under and within the law. Those who hold
authority here having, through party affili-
| alton, access to the highest organs OF poit-
| ical power in the country, and to the equally
powerful organs of the partisan newspaper
press, have subjected this people to the vii
est misrepresentation and the most cruel
| slanders. Some of these we desire to cor
rect.
1t Is not true that the white people OF
South Carolina are disloyal or disafected
towards the United States Government. On
The contrary, they arc loyal and well affec,
| ted towards it. They obey It at home, and
would defend it promptly from foreign ar-
gression. 1t Is not true, that South Caro-
lima or any of It's counties are in state OF
insurrectiOn and domestec violence agains
the Government of the State, or that law
or process cannot BE- duly enforced within
her territorial limits, and that there is any
lawful cause or occasion whatever for the
Federal Government to interfere for he pro.
lection OF the State government against the
| violence OF her citizens. II is not true that
the white people of the S'ale are hostile to
the coored people or have any design or
disposition TO abridge or infringe their po.
litical or civil rights.
On hp contrary in thajr MI
in the speeches Of their candidates, for six
years or more, the most public and solemn
pledges have been given that all the right S
of the colored people shall be respected
The colored people should know that these
pledges will be faithfully kept. 1t is not
true, moreover, that the "Rhe Clubs" 10
the State are acting as men against the law,
or that they are engaged 10 numbering some
peaceable citizens, intimidating others, or
that they cannot be controlled or suppressed
by the ordinary course Of justice. The Pres
| idenL has been deceived. These clubs were
| raised with the knowledge and recognition
OF the Governor. Not one of them ever
| acted in defiance of law, or against Govern
ment or constituted authorities. The he's.
tility to them OF Governor Chamberlain aud
his coadjutors is recent. 1t is political, and
is designed TO effect the coming election
1t is not true that the recent race COLI
| siors that the white people have been the
aggressOrs. Their torDcarance, as in the
Chsrleso on riot. the unprovoked Cainhoy
! massacre and the still more recent assassi-
nation Of a white citizen in Edyetield, has
been wonderful. The truth is, that the
leaders of the colored people, fearing that
| / he day OF their power is drawing to close,
have excited their ignorant dupes, have sup
Piled them with arms, have aroused their
tears tor the loss Of their liberty, and have
thus encouraged them 10 commit deeds of
violence. We may also affirm some things
that are true. 1t is true that there is in the
State most earnest and excited canvass to
overthrow corrupt rule and re establish hon.
est State government. This is a legitimate
aid lawful object, which should command
the sympathy and support of every lover OF
his country. 1t is not treason to defeat
Chamberlain, nor is it insurrection or do
mestic violence to elect Hampton.
1t is true that while the white rife clubs
| are ordered by the Governor and the Presi.
dent to disband and disperse, the colored
militia Of the State are allowed to remain
in organization and possession of their arms
and to attend political meetings in military
Oruer, with rifles and other arms. The ides
of this discrimination is as obvious as is the
comparatively defeDceless condition In which
1t places the white population. We simply
ask what would the people of New York 81
Massachusetts think or do upon
like application of the bayonet policy tt
them, under such circumstances
Fellow countrymen We have sought tc
place before you briefly, and in true colors
the condition of South Carolina; the wron.
Of her people; their patient forbearance sut
their new born hopes. Not long ago Gov,r
nor Chamberl in, in transport of truth.
fulness and gebuiue enthusiasm, proclaimed
to the people Of the country the startlin.
fact that the civilization of the Puritan au(
be cavili-r OF the Ronudheai and Hugup
not, is in peril in South Carolina. He spok,
these words under the inspiration of hi
bel ter angel, for truer words he never spok,
and they are as true now as then: the peri