The Portland daily press., 1876-07-26

- SaiiSu tGFt
The colored citizens of Charleston, S. G.,
have sent US the subjoined address, adopted at
the indignation meeting held in that city to ex-
press their adherence of the atrocities com
mitted upon their brethren at Hamburg, and
to appeal to the State Government for protec-
ton.
To the better class of Citizens Of South Carroll
ma, to this Great Nation, and to the ciUilized
people Of the Earth.
We, the colored citizens of Charleston, in be-
half OF our fellow-sufferers at the hands of
class of outlaws, and semi-barbarians, who ever
since the war, have practised wrong and out
rage upon the helpless, unotfendng colored
people because of their emancipation by the
war, which the Southern people themselves
waged against the authority of the United
States for the maintenance of African slavery
in this nation. We, the colored people, since
emancipation, have sought to improve upon
all the advantages guaranteed to US by the
new circumstances which surround US. We
have sought to make ourselves worthy of the
blessings flowing to us by freedom and the
privileges of citizens. Recognizing the genus
of this Government to clothe every freeman
with full power and privileges, we have felt
that all the rights of manhood were ours in
common with all other nationaities who make
up this great nation. We feel that the con-
stitution and laws Of this country confer full
and equal rights, privileges, powers and immu-
mites, and that the fact that our race have
been in slavery in this nation does not debar
every one, now under the Emancipation acts
and Reconstruction laws Of Congress, and the
general acknowledgment of general freedom to
all the inhabitants of this nation, from full en-
joyment of all the privileges of citizens We
recognize as guaranteed to every colored man,
woman and child. the enjoyment of the same
security in law and protection of life and prop
erty as are secured to the white race. Thus
we cannot see why there should be any dis
elimination in law or equity between them as
Americans.
Recognizing these facts as above, we fail to
understand why we should be subjected to the
perpetual and unwarranted prosecutions which
are constantly forced upon US. We, in our
new relations to this nation and people, have
sought to improve our condition by indus try
honesty and the education of our children. We
nave contributed our part to the growth and
general prosperity of our State; we have been
peaceable and law-abiding citizens. We have
been the producers Of great productions in this
state. We are contributing daily to the growth
and wealth OF this State by our industry. The
late unwarrantable slaughter of our brethren
at Hamburg by the order of Gen. M. c. Butler
OF Edgeteld County, was an unmitigated and
foul murder, premeditated and predetermined
and sought-for opportunity, by a band of
iawless men IN that county known as Regula-
tors, who are the enemies of the colored race in
that county, composed of eX-Confederate sol
dlers, banded together for the purpose of intin-
ldatng the colored laborefs and voters at cleo
lions, and keeping the negroes in their place."
as they say. This same band of brigands and
murderers have kept the coloredlpeople OF Edge
neld county IN a state of terror ever since the
war. The trouble with the Edgefeld Militia
last year, and the murder of the hundreds of
coiored people in that country, the burning of
colored women and children within the last
year in that county by this same band, and the
shooting OF the six colored men falsely charged
with the murder of two white persons in that
county, are all traceable to this same band of
Regulators, of whom Gen. M. G. Butler is the
acknowledged head and commander All the
dimcultles In that county and the adjoining
counties are lnstigated and led on by these
same men: There is no law or justice in that
county; the officers of the law are threatened
II they attempt to execute Justice upon any of
tnese lawless men, and in all the murders COM
mitteu not man has been tried or convicted
In That county, because this band of Regulators
override all law except that of violence. No
mans life is safe who does not bow to their
wishes; the life of every Republican leader in
that county is now threatened, and Gen. M
y. bntler has already announced in a public
speech in Edgefeld that six of the leading and
influential Republicans in that county shall
t pIther leave the county or be murdered
Ihese men have sworn to carry these
upper counties this election, and this unarm-
ing OF the colored Militia is the precursor of
propose to inaugurate this Fall, in order to car
~ the election. We cannot contemplate this
state Oh affairs without feelings of horror at its
existence. Were we brought face to face with
men OF Aonor, with men who could and would
observe the rules of honorable warfare. we
could feel some satisfaction in knowing that we
mad honorable foemen to contend with: but
wnen midnight RIDERS and ungovernable and
unprlnclpied murderers rush from behind
Dusnes ana by,paths, and shoot unarmed men,
tending women and children, as has been done
IN Edgeneld; and plumber the homes of men
whom they have just slain ang chopped their
nesn into mlnce-meat, and exhibited it to the
py-seanoers, and haunting the children of the
murdered with offers of their parents flesh to
eat, as was done on Sth of July in Hamburg
Dy south Carolinians, there is no language in
Inc English vocabulary sufficiently strong to
cnaracterlze such people and such conduct.
u we nao committed any outrage against these
men, IL we had wronged them in any way,
there was law and power sufficient to punish
any one, and the officers of the law are always
ready to punish the violations when colored
men me are IN the case; it has never failed to pun
i sn IN suGn cases. Our brethren, lately muir
dered at Hamburg, had done no wrong against
the white men of Edgefeld, of Aiken county,
or OF Georgia They were celebrating the ma.
tional birthday. on the Fourth of July, in a
quiet and peaceable manner; they were not OBJ
ssMucting the highway, as alleged by Mr.. But
jer ana Getsen, who were in a buggy going to
Edgefieid. The militia company was drawn
up on a road. not directly in the line of travel
Dy these two white men, but these men, being
OF tne Regulators, sought this opportunity as a
pre!ext to raise a difficulty with the coIored
militia, whom they halted, because thew were
negroes. They attempted to drive through their
inc and were prevented by Doc. Adams,
the captain eff the company, and for this
9nense to two white men, Gen. NJ Q.
Pduef leads 200 OF his Regulators from
miles, on horses, on the following Sat,
urday, while the company in Augusta
are notlhed to be ready by Gen. Nj, C.
butier: Saturday came and the results
are known to the public. Now against
t hnnasn G;atrages we here. in the name of
humanity, IN the name of civilization, in the
name OF outraged law. in the name of good
government, and the peace and welfare of the
nation, enter our unqualified condemnation.
we protest against these men, and their aiders
anu ~ aoettors, and, in the name of the majesty
OF law and order, we demand that Gov. CHAM
Derlain shall at once invoke all the powers of
this state to bring M. G. Butler and his clan to
Justce, and that no means or treasure be
spared to punish these criminals. And we in
woke the consideration of this whole nation
ana the powers of the federal government. to
see to 1t that the great principles of equal
Jusllce before the law and equal protection up-
der this government be maintained throughout
tnis nation, SO that safety to life and property
ana the right to vote as conscience shall die
tate to every citizen, shall be forever secured
to all throughout this broad land.
we tell you that it will not do to 90 too far
IA tnls thlng--remember that there are $4,000
black men in this State who can bear Win
chester rifles, and know how to use them. and
tnat there are 100000 women who can light a |
torch ton n and use the knife, and that there are
i,O1,oUo boys and girls who have not known the |
iasn OF white master, who have tasted free
aom once and forever, and that there is a deem
never, so help their God, to SUBJ
NIT TO be shot down by lawless regulators for
no crimes committed against society and law.
Ihere is point at which forbearapce ceases to
oe virtue; towards, driven to Desperation.
often destroy those who corner them. The ne.
gro IN this country will not always be docile.
ne VIII not always be restrained by his law,
aDldln g character. The rising generation are
as brave and daring as white men; already |
tnat spirit IS taking deep root in the minds OF
thousands who have nothing to lose in the con- |
Jest and who would rejoice in an opportunity
10 sacrlfce their lives for their liberty