The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-31
YOUMANS' TESTIMONY.
4 Cm.rise but Comprehensive Review Of
tho Political Situation In the Palmetto
State.


From tie Washington Pvsl, OctoLer Is.
Judge l.. +. Younans, Attorney Gen
eral of South Carolina. arrived in the
city yesterday morning, ard during the
day called ut the White Iionse The OBJ.
ject of his visit was TO rcfutc the SANDERS
that the smalls Lee gang of copper
col0red conspirators have entertained the
administration with. lie had an inter
view Mr.. Hayes, and the condition of
affairs in South Carolina was thoroughly
discussed. Gen. Youmans declared that
the stories of "outrages" in his State
were entirely without foundation, and
had been started and circulated by de-
signing persons for political effect Ev-
cry personal difficulty growing out Of the
political canvass or aris pg from other
causes, is magnfied into political out
rage by persons who are or hope to be
personally benefited by this policy. The
Democrats are conducting vigorous
canvass, General Youmans said, and are
endeayorng by reason and argument to
convince the colored people that their in
tcrcsts are necessarily the same as those
Of the white citizens, and that they
should join with the latter in electing
good and competent men to Office. All
through the State Democratic speakers
have invited their opponents to meet
them i'll joint discussion, and have asked
the Republican speakers to divide time
with them at their meetings. The mass
of the colored people have been anxious
to hear both sides of the questions at
issue, and all of the respectable leaders
of that party have accepted the PROPOSE
tion for joint discussions; but small
clique of designing Radicals, consisting
of Smalls, Swails, Lee, Rainey and few
Others who feared the effect Of fair and
open discussion, objected to Democrats
addressing colored meetings, and have
| sought to prevent it. In the palmy days
of carpet-bagism these men figured
among the most INSCRIPTIONS knaves
who robbed the State, and some Of them
have been branded 10y the courts as COM
mon telons. They are now seeking to
play the same game which told with such
effect in former years they raise the cry
of oppression and outrage upon the col
"red people, and spread lies broadcast
through the country to make political
capital. Gen. Youmans said some of
these men had rendered themselves per-
sonally obnoxious in certain localities,
and that in two or three plac - difficulties
had occurred. but they were not more
frequent or OF any greater magnitude in
South Carolina than occur during q
heated political campaign in any North
ern State. He called Mr.. Hayes attcn-
tion to the fact that while Speaker Ran
dali was addressing political meeting
In Philadelphia the night before, some
person in the audience threw q stone at
would have proved fatal had it struck
him. If that had occurred with o. Re
publican speaker in South Carolina, Gen.
Youmans pointedly remarked, it would
have furnished material for The most dia-
boical political outrage that had been
perpetrated during the campaign. The
most trivial personal difficulties in South
Carolina are enlarged, exaggerated and
embcllishcd and sent abroad rs evidence
OF Democratic oppression. He contcndcd
| that South Carolina is rs peaceabe rs
any State in the Union, and that the laws
are as rlgid.y enforced there as any
where. Governor Hampton has executed
the laws impartially ever since his in
"ngnra!ion, and he will continue to do
so. The courts OF the State are ii opera
ton, and with complete power and juris-
diction, and all offenses against the laws
will be punished regardless of the politi-
cal status Of the offenders.
General Youmans detailed the circum-
stances connected with the difficulties in
Sumter and Williamsburg counties, and
showed that personal and not political
feeling had been the chief cause of the
trouble. He proved conclusively that all
the stories of outragcs have originated
with few designing men who are can
didates for Office and hope to hold the
colored vote by creating ill-feeling De-
tween the whites and blacks.
Gen. Youmans is one Of the first men
of South Carolina. He is intelligent.
high-toned and honorable, and because
of his many good qualities he was elected
to his present position. His simple state
ment is enough to overthrow the sworn
evidence of a thousand such as Smalls,
Lee, Swails and their gang.