The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-15
RAMPrON,s GOVERNMENT.
a Colored Republican on the Situation
IN S0uth Caroilua.

Senator Robertson, of South Carolina,
in the course Of some remarks in the
United States Senate favorable 10 the
government Of Gen. Hampton, read the
following letter from Joseph D. Boston,
OF Newberry, prominent colored man.
MIR. Robertson stated that he was person.
ally acquainted vith Boston, and knew
him TO be man of good character, who
enjoyed the confidence Of the entire CON-
munity in which he lives, irrespective of
party or race. We commend this letter
to the malcontents who are seeking TO
create trouble between the races:
NEwBERRY, s. c., Jan. n, 1877.
Hon. r. j. Robertson, q. s. Senator:
SIR-Permit me to occupy small por-
tion of your valuable time with som :
suggestions on the state of affairs, past
and present, in the State of South Caroliua.
You know me To be colored man, q
Republican, and, Us a member of the
House Of Representatives of the Logis-
lature of this State for four terms, an
ardent supporter of Republican princi-
Piles and institutions in all political con-
tests in the State. 1t 10 therefore as q
colored man and as Republican that I
make this appeal to you to make use of
your personal and official prominence to
set before the leading men of the nation
the present unhappy situation of the col :.
ored race, and to suggest to them the
course which appears to me TO promise
the solution, and the only solution, of our
difficulties.
The two governments which profess TO
exist in this State negative each other,
and leave us without any certain govern
ment at all. The wealth and intelligence
of the State recognize that Hampton, as
indeed does the majority of the whole
people, just as undoubtedly as that ma
jority voted for it. The great uproar
made about the acts of fraud and intimi-
dation alleged to hsve been perPetrated
by Gen. Hampton and his followers is
without foundation, as far as my lznowl-
edge extends. Not being candidate for
Office at the recent election, watched
both parties with the closest scrutiny, in
order to be able to elect for myself what
course to pursue then and thereafter, and
in order to assist my own race in that
contest and in its consequences. But
saw no fraud, NO intimidation, practiced
by the party of Hampton. Oh the con-
trary, the previous majority of the Re
publican party OF upward of 700 in this
county was reduced to one of SOS by the
honest, liberal and fair arguments of
Democratic speakers, and by the kind
and frank dealing of the native white
citizens. They appealed, not to our
fears, but to our intelligence and our con-
sciences. No colored man was threatened
or cheated as ia. as know, and know
that q fair discussion, fair vote, and a
fair count were the cariinai doctrines of
Hampton's campaign. My former politi-
cal associations made me somewhat slow
to appreciate that state of affairs, but as
did not close nay eyes to the events oc-
curing before me could not help seeing
it. A chsnSsS':s: :.iS Pc 2eppta65iiisal ta65iiisal Sotc in
all the counties of the State equal TO thai
just mentioned rs having taken place in
this county, would alone have secured
Hampton's election. And that there was
un equal change in tie other counties, on
an average, there is scarcely room 10
doubt, for this county was Republican
and Chamberlain stronghold, without
an equal except in the counties immedi-
ately on the coast and Richland and Or
angeburg. The evidence presented be-
fore the Congressional Committee is enti-
tied to no consideration whatever, for i,
consists, for the most part. of the state.
mcnts Of ignorant, preiudiced men,, hired
trained, dlpeti,i and, in ali PROBABILITY
forced by ambitious politicians and Office
seekers. }tS
But, whatever may be said in regard to
the conduct of the campaign and the
election, Is &c :::d:srS:.55!y;; :Eae, according
to the admissions of all races and parties
of men. that the colored people are in
the most wretched situation they have
b.
both rs to their present condition and
hundred has the means-owing to the
price of cotton-to subsist himself for
one month. They have, therefore, to de-
pend upon supplies to be furnished by
owns cabin to shelter his head, or even
@ foot of z. g.ound. Homes, therefore. and
foodahave TO be supplied by the whites to
them, either as laborers or tenants. And
the prospects of this being done, as things
now stand, are moe. gloomy. And this
is not because of anything fike general
prescription of colored men rs Republi-
cans. That threat was only bruf,tnn ful
| men employed by few excited Demo,
Gratis during lhe campaign. There is nc
danger whatever of its being carried out
| except perhaps against very, very small
| number of colOred men whom theil
| neighbors may consider dangerous to the
peace and good order of the community
Snme of the most ardent co!ored Repub
| licans in the county now have, and are
secure of. the very best situations filled
| by men of their qualifications. The
whites are indisposed to hire or rent land
to colored men, partly because they see
no prospect of realizing anything from i
in the present state of the State govern
ment, but chiefly because they are unable
to do 80. They Tive and operate upor
credit Just as we do. Their supplies or,
not sufficient for their own subsistence
much less for the subsistence of anothe
| population more numerous than them
selves. They are unwilling to risk thei
email means upon any venture, in thi
state of public disorder and distraction
and If they III that the impotent SHADOW
| OF authority Known as the Chamberlain
| government were to be set up over us q
the government of this State, they wnuit
refuse to hazard any outlay Of money
annniies nr creGil ana Iney conld not b.
blamed for their refusal. But the white
cannot supply us, if they 'vould, out o
their OVID stores. They mr st have credi
in the towns, and the merchant must hav
credit with dealers out of the State. Thi
credit is not to be had while the dendl,
upas Of the Chamberlain gbeefhmen
blights the land with its ruinous taxa
ton, its wasteful expenditures, its dissen
sion n-sowing among the people, its ute
;.sh:ii.y g iSs:ss!:.e iS:s!.e a. 0a. Eooss5.siio
demand, and its contc;c ptible impotenc
to enforce the laws even 90 far rs to pro