The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-11-01
To the PEOPLE of the United States.

We'll founded apprehension that the civil
cation OF our State Is In danger OF oelng W
terly overthrown, and an ovcrrulings sense D
duiy " ourselves, our posterity, and tho c0un'
try ut large, inlpel us 10 make an autienti'
statement of our actual condition 70 The
American people In the hope that ~ VIII IN
ducc them To extend to US their sympathy
and aid In this distressing eXigency oi our ~
fairs. There Is SO much ut stake that we can
not afford to be silent, or to Withhold any ell
fort that MAY possibly he vi avail.
For ten long weary years the white people
Of South Carolina have endured q condition
of things which any Northern State would
have been tempted TO throw OIL, In two years,
ut the point Of the bayonet. ii 1t could have
been done in no other way. They bore and
iorebore, In the hope that some returning
sense Of justice or happy stroke OF fortune
would bring relief. But no such sense OF JUS
tice stroke came to their relief, and hopesick.
| ened and died away in their hearts. At last
they determined, us by n common impulse,
and u natural and uncontrollable instinct OF
freedom, To make one supreme effort Tor tnelf
redemption; but to make 1t under ana VIII
Those who hold authority here, having
| through party utilization access to The highesi
organs OF political power III the country, ana
to the equally powerful organs OF the partisan
newspaper press, have subjected thls people
~ the vilest misrepresentation, and the most
cruel SANDER Some OF these we desire 10
correct.
1t is not true that the white people of South
Carolina are diSloyal or disarfectcd toward
the United States government. On tne con-
trary, they are loyal and well nilcsted 70,
wards it. They obey 1t ut home, and would
defend it promptly from foreign, aggression;
1t is not true that South Carolina, or any Vi
It's counties, are in u state OF lnsurrectloh or
domestic violence against the government or
State: or that law and process cannot DC uuiy
enforced within her territorial limits; or tllat
there is any lawful cause or OCCASION whateV-
er for the Federal government to Interfere
for the protection OF Inc oate gov
1t is not true that the white people OF the
State are hostile TO the colored peopie or nave
any design or disposition 10 abrldse or IN.
fringe their political or civil rights. On the
contrary, in their conventions, ana Ill the
speeches of their candidates. Tor six years or
more, the most public and solemn pledges
colored people shall be respected and protect
ed. The colored people Shall know that these
pledges will e faithfully Kept. ,
1t il not true that the few rifle clubs IN
the state are combinations Of men against
the law or that they are engaged In 'mur-
derIng some peaceab.e citizens and lntimlda-
ting Others" or that they cannon he con-
troiled or suppressed by the ordinary course
of justlce." The President has been deceived;
These clubs existed with the knowledge ana
recognition OF the Governor. Notone ofthem
ever acted In defiance OF law. or against Inc
government or constituted autn0ritles: an ie
hostility to them Of Governor chamberlain
and his coadjutors Is recent; 1t Is P0ilticii'
and Is designed to affect the coming elecLlon.
II Is not true that In the recent race COL
lisions the white people nave Deeh Tue ~
grossers. Their forbealItnce, as In the Charles-
ton riot, the unproyoked Cainhoy lnassacIe,
and the still more recent assassination OF u
white citizen in Edgefield, had been wonder
ml. The truth is that the leaders OF the col
orcd people, fearing that the day, Of their
poweris drawing to u close, have excited their
Ignorant dupes, have supplied them WIN
arms, have aroused their fears Tor the Jose OF
their liberty, and have thus encouraged them
m conm init deeds of violence.
We may also affirm some things which are
true:
active, earnest and excited canvass 70 over.
throw corrupt rule, and re.establish honcst
state government. This is a legitimate and
lawful object which should command the
sympathy and support Of every lover OIL ms
berlain, nor is 1t instruction or domestic
violence to elect Hampton.
It is true that while the white rifle clubs
are ordered by the Governor n the Presi'
lila Of the State are allowed to remain in or
xunization 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 US obvious as ~ the
comparntively defenseless condition In which
it places the white population; We simply
ask, what would the people OF New York or
Massachu setts think Or do upo u like apPli-
cation OF the bayonet policy to them under
Feliow-countrymen! We have sought to
place before you, briefly and In true colors,
The condition Of South Carolina; the wrongs
of her people, their patient forbearance, and
their newborn hopes. Noticing ago Governor
chamberlain, in u transport OF truthful and
eenuine enthusiasm, proclaimed TO the people
of the country the startling fact hal ,tlle
civilization of the Puritan and the Cavalier.
OF the Roundheud and HuguenotAs in peril"
in south Carolina. He spoke these words
under the inspiration of his better angel, 10:
truer words ne never spoke. And they are
US true now as then. The perllis greater now
than then; for when the worst and most de-
graded elements OF society enter into, or COIL
troll q government, there is too much reason
to upprehend some catastrophe which we
hardly dare to contemplate.
s. Y. TUPPER,
President Charleston Chamber Commerce.
W. NJ. WIGHTMAN,
Bishop Methodist T. Church, South.
W. b. W. HOWE, DID,.