The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-11-03
CHARLESTON, Oct. 25, 1876.

CHARLESTON, Oct. 25, 1876.
The president of the Chamber of Com
merce has united with:the Methodist, Cath
olic and Episcopal bishops, and the leading
Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist and Jewish
ministers, and the presidents of all the ma
tional and other banks in Charleston, in the
following address on the condition of South
Carolina
To tie People Of tie United States Well
founded apprehensions that the civilization
of our State is in danger of being utterly
overthrown, and an overruling sense of
duty to ourselves and posterity, and the
country at large impel us to make an au-
thentic statement of our actual condition
to the American people in the hope that it
will induce them to extend to us their
sympathy and aid in this distressing exi-
gency of our affairs. There is SO much at
stake that we cannot afford to be silent or
to withhold any effort that may possibly be
of avail. For ten long, weary years the
white people of South Carolina have en-
dured a 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 foreSore i'm
the hope that some returning sense of JUS
tice or happy stroke of fortune would bring
relief but no such sense of justice or happy
stroke came 70 their relief, and hope sick
ened and dieG away in their hearts. At
last they determined, as if by common
impulse and a natural and uncomfortable
inspiration of freedom. to make one su-
preme effort for their redemption, but to
make it under and within the law. Those
who hold authority here having, through
party affiliatiou, all access to the highest
organs of political power in the country and
to their equally powerful organs OF the par
tisan newspaper press, have subjected this
people to the vilest Misrepresentation and
the most cruel ISLANDERS. Some of these we
desire to correct.
BRANDING FEW LIES.
1t is not true that the white people of
South Carolina are disloyal or disaffected
towards the United States government
On the contrary, they are loyal and well
affected towards it. They obey it at home
and would defend it promptly from foreign
aggression. 1t is not true that South Car
olina or any ofits counties are in a state of
insurrection and domestic violence against
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 the
protection of the State government against
the violence of her citizens. 1t is not true
that the white people of the State are
hostile to the colored people or have any
design or disposition to abridge or infringe
their political OF civil rights. On the con-
trary, in their conventions and in the
speeches of their candidates, fer six years
or more, the most public and solemn pledges
have been given that all the rights of the
colOred people shall be respected. The
colOred people should know that these
pledges will be faithfully kept. 1t is not
A..
the State are acting as men against the law,
or that they are engaged in numbering
some peaceable citizens and intimidating
others, or that they cannot be controlled OF
suppressed by the ordinary course of fjustice.
The President 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 OF
against government Oh. constituted author
| tiles. The hostility to them of Governor
Chamberlain and his coadjutors is recent.
1t is political, and is designed to affect the
coming election. 1t is not true that in the
recent race collisions the white people have
been the aggTessors. Their forbearance, as
in the Charleston riot, the unprovoked
Cainhoy massacre and the still more recent
assassination ofa white citizen in Edgefieid,
| has been wonderful.
THE REAL FACTS.
The truth is that the leaders of the col.
ored people, fearing that the day of theil
power is drawing to a close, have excited
their ignorant dupes, have supplied them
with arms, have aroused their fears for the
| loss of their liberty, and have thus encour-
| aged them to commit deeds of violence
We may also affirm some things that are
true. 1t is true that there is in the State a
most earnest and excited canvass to over
| throw corrupt rule and re establish honest
State government. This is legitimate
and 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 rifle clubs are
ordered by the Governor and the President
to disband and disperse, the colored militia
of the State are allowed to remain in or
ganization and in possession of their arms,
and to attend political meetings in military
order, with rifles and other arms. The
object of this discrimination is as obvious
as is the comparatively defenseless condi-
tion in which it places the white population.
We simply ask what would the people OF
New York or Massachusetts, think or do
upon a like application Of the bayonet pol
icy to them under such circumstances.
CIVILIZATION REALLY IN DANGER.
Fsllo,o Countrymen: We have sought to
| place before you, briefly and i'm true colors,
the condition of South Carolina the wrongs
of he1 people, their patient forbearance and
their newborn hopes. Not long ago Gov
ernor Chamberlain, in a transport of truth
| ful and genuine enthusiasm, proclaimed to
the people of the country the startling fact
| that the civilization of the Puritan and the
cavalier, of the Roundhead and Huguenot,
| is in peril in South Carolina. He spoke
| these words under the inspiration of his
better angel, for truer words he never spoke
and they are as true now as then; the peril is
| greater now than then, for when the wors,
and most degraded elements of society en-
ter into control of a government, is there
not much reason to apprehend some catas
| trophe which we hardly dare to contem
plate?
S. Y. TUPPER, President Charleston Cham
| Commerce.
VIM. WIeHrMAN, Bishop NJ. E. Church
! South