Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-04-18
Letter from South Carolina.


and the pine might, at this time, be Of
interest to your readers. You are
aware of how the people of this State
have been struggling to rid themselves
ofthe oppressive rule ofthe Carpet Dagger
and the negro. The people of more
fortunate communities may have some
times thought that the people Of South
Carolina were making much to do about
nothing that they exaggerated their
own misfortunes, and overestimated the
advantages possessed by those peoples
who had their own governments in their
own hands; and this too with a fair
show of reason ; for, take it as fact,
that it would be next to impossible, for
one living at a distance to obtain
through the papers correct notion of
the annoyances and hardships to which
the people here have been subjected
To get precise knowledge of the
workings Of the State governments I'M
der radical rule in the South one mus
have actual experience by residen in
those States. l think I noticed when,
during my visits to Va, l have attemp-
ted to convey to the minds ofmy friends
there some correct information as to the
working under the republican rule in S.
c., they had not, nor could they
entertain, any idea ofthe absolute cor
ruption into which every department of
the government was sunk. remember
on one occasion was telling an astute
lawyer in Va, of the known incom-
potency and reported dishonesty of
certain important officers in South
Carolina when with the simplicity of
a child he asked: why don't you put
the courts after Them? The courts were
themselves the creatures of corrupt legis-
latures whose members, in nine cases
out of ten, We're either carpet-baggers
gathered like their great pototype to
the carcas, or negroes fresh from the
cotton fields absolutely ignorant Of the
first principles of government. There
is by the way, one characteristic of the
carpet-bagger which to me has always
been intensely fascinating. l allude to
the sublimity Of his impudence and
arrogance. In these he stands like
Teneriffe, done, unapproachable. We
think we see now the beginning of the
end of the rule Of arrogance and ignor-
ance in the Palmetto State. Y yesterday at
y NJ. at the direction of Mr.. Chamber
land of Mass, the Great Seal and the
archives of the executive office of the
State were surrendered into the hands
Of the Private Secretary Of Wade Hamp-
ton, governor Of South Carolina. You
have heard this, you know all about it !;
but your readers can never know how
the hearts Of the people here in this
State almost ceased to beat under the
intense excitement Of the few days past
-agoHizingly intense because subdued.
An excitement somewhat like that
which enc experiences when standing
beside masked battery of artillery
waiting for the enemy to approach a
certain spot, when with a crash Of
thunder the guns shall hurl their death
dealing missiles upon the foe or was
it like the few moments Of silence
preceding naval engagement when
the men are sprinkling the decks with
sand that they may not slip in the blood
OF comrades? The agony is over now,
and we breathe freer. II ever people
in the history Of the world deserved
praise for quiet and orderly department
during seasons Of excitement and wrong
doing, then the people Of S. c., merit
that appreciation. The people of this
town especially have undergone series
Of excitements recently which manifests
their high moral courage. FIRST the
gubernatorial muddle-then on 9Th
March, the fire-fend came upon us and
swept into thin air, in the course of
four hours, about $4,000 worth Of
property. This you will understand
was no small affair when I tell you that
ou1 population does not exceed 5000,
all told: and last but not least on the
Sd of this month the Lutheran Synod of
S. c., met to take into consideration
the permanent location of Newberrv
College. This school had originally its
seat at Newberry, but owing to some
, defect in the college buildings they
became uninhabitable and the Synod
removed the institution to Walhalla.
This arrangement was only temporary
and notice had been given that at this
meeting of the Synod above referred to il
would receive bids for the permanent
location Of the school. There were no
less than eight applicants. The deliber.
ations Of the Synod continued three
days. No subject ofgreater Importance
as was repeatedly ayerred by its mem.
bers, had ever demanded their atten.
ton. Each Of the eight places asking
for the college had its representative s
who were heard by the Synod. Argu
ments were made which would have
reflected credit upon the speakers il
any arena. 1t is invidious perhaps tt
make distinctions but Newberry besides
having the highest bid s15,S0O, hac
secured in her interests G. J. Pope.
Esq. and Col. G. H. Suber both gentle
men Of eminence in the law. l will BIZ
pardoned, because of his many friends
and admirers in Va. for mentioning
especially the latter named gentleman
His splendid physique and distinguished
bearing command attention on all oc
Icasions. Iwish could repeat for thu
pleasure of your readers one speech
especially Of this gentleman. 1t wa
besides being solid in its argumen
unique and beautiful as a Greek temple