Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-12-11
From the New York Tribune
South Carolina Justice.
r.,.r nom Hon. w, Il. Chandler.

SIR: Will you allow me nearing ID
relation to those prosecuted and prose-
cuted Republicans of South Carolina,
whom the Tribune encouraged to stand
firm while the electoral vote OF the State
should be- counted for Hayes and Wheeler
but fer whom il has no words OF cheer,
nor even demands of justice and q fair
trial az the hs-ds Of Wade Hampton and
his officials, 10 whose honor and tender
merciss they were committed by the pol
lev OF an ADMINISTRATION, TO place which
ia power, they had been urged to risk,
And did risk. their reputation and their
lives. After the United States flag was
hauled down in South Carolina by ar
rangement with the rebel bankrupt, Wade
Hampton, twice q traitor in arms-once
in 1861, conquered, second time in 1877,
defiant and triumphant; Ghere were IN
the State liable to criminal punishment /:
!. Alleged dishonest Republican OH
Gals subject 10 rebel State courts.
=. Undoubtedly negrO-murderers, who
killed their victims solely to prevent
HAYES frop being President, and were
therefore amenable to Federal laws aud
process.
The negrO.murderers were promptly
forgiven The South Carolina rebel Lev
islature memOrialzed President Hayes 10
grant them amnesty. The response was
as follows:
To Governor WADE HAMPTON;
am informed by the Attorney. General thN he
has instructed she DistrictAttorney OF south Car
Olina 20 prepare Tor trial Ouly three indictments
ia the EiientOn case, and . notify the parties IN
al other cases thai they need not prepare for
trial. 10 Is possible thai only one case viii DC
tried. The indictments were found by a grand
Jury composed OF both political parties, when
seem 20 justify the assumption that the prtseca-
tious Sre not partisan. ssSre1 with you thal
general amnesty should xtend % al political of
lenses, except those which are OF The grsye''
character. X b hAl =.
Washington, D. c., May r. lS77.
There we're no political offenders then
under indictment in South Carolina, that
am aware OF, eXcspt for murders OF
Hayes Republicans; and what OF those
can be considered as not of the grayest
character, cannot conceive. unless pos
slbly those where the chivalric Southerner
has reiraiued from mutilating the bodies !.
With such letter as this before the South
ern iuries there was as little possibility OF
any conviction BY Southern jury OF the
heightened butchers OF Hamburg aud
Ellenton, SIS there was OF convicting JET
lerson Davis oil treason after Horace
Greeley had signed his bail bond and
Andrew johnson had employed eminent
counsel not 10 prosecute him, To make
immunity and amnesty more sure. how
ever when the unhsnged South Carolina
traitor returned from his Northern tour,
where he had been introduced as that
great and good man. Wade Hampton, -"
be carried with him as parting donation
OF peace and Cancellation the appointment,
SIS United States District Attorney OF a
renegade Republican and assistant Demo
crat, one NoTthrop who proceeds 10 select
as his assistant bitter Democrat. rela-
tive oil Wade Hampton; and sherouPon
the South Carolina murderers. who ShO ii
have been tried in the dock, became the
masters OF the United States Courts. aud
the amnesty to Wade Hampton was tut
filled.
While complete amnesty, securlty and
political power TO butchers OF Republicans
has thus been obtained, what steps have
been taken by the Administration or any
Northern Republicans 10 secure ; fair Irisl
10 the accused So. Carolina Republicans,
upon whom Wade Hampton and his iniu-
rated bloOd-hounds have turned with saw
age feroclty? A Congressman has been
dragged from Washington and convicted
and incArcerated; two Republican Ollie
lays have been sentenced and imprison, d,
al United States Senator is threatened
with similar tate. Are these things be
ing fairly done are the accused having
fair trials are they being prosecuted
solely irom q love OF justice and accord
ing 10 correct administration OF the
criminal laws. sud not as measures OF
political prosecution, revenge and ieroc-
it, Ii they are, nothing need DC said nor
can be done about il ;but If not, tn Reput-
lcsns OF the North need 10 give tue sub
lect careful investigation. aud 20 lake
manly and courageous action.
Il may De an unpopular Work 10 SAY
nythiug in seeming defense OF carpet
bag Republicans accused OF thievery aud
raScaiitY :" II Is undoubtedly easier Tor
Northern Republicans 10 torn to them
deaf ear, 70 say that they are bad lot,
and 10 let Wade Hampton and his minis
ter OF justice O. convey them speedy
into the penetentiarjes. But such i no.
the dug Of the Republican party nor OF
the Tribune Whatever these men have
done, tney are entitled 20 lair trials. Are
they having them? II not, they should
be secured tor them, or those R publ
cans who are Q joying emOluments and
high honors obtained tor them IN part Oy
the fidelity aud courage Of these men,
now betrayed, surrendered, accused and
in peril. should return their thirty pieces
OF silver and go and hang themselves.
! Undertake 10 sag that the South Car
DINA Republicans. now pursued by tina;
great and good" man, Wade Hampton,
and his Attorney General, Conner. are
not having lair trials. The convictions
are being secured by means OF political
crusade and campaign. carried on by
masses OF iniuriated Democrats, who
swarm the court houses, intimldate the
witnesses and colored jury men, and greet
with applause and cheers the rendition oil
the verdicts OF guilty. The witnesses are
confessed scoundrels, granted immunity
for falsely swearing into prison obnoxious
Republicans and protecting Democratic
thieves. viii you look at the iacts in
one case-L. Cass Carpenter
MIR. Carpenter ran for Congress last
fall; has been prominent iitor, and in
1870 published the Daily Union al Colum-
bis, and edited the Daily Republican at
Charleston. He has been convicted and
imprisoned for forgery in altering. in
1872, an account against The State from
1920 to Sl,720. Here is the amount:
COLUMBIA, :. C., Dec. Is, 1871.
Messrs. WOODBURY. X JONES,