New-York tribune., 1878-11-26

TRIBUNE now IN South Carolina, which ls
printed below, relates an interesting con-
versatiOn with q gentleman in South Caro-
lima about the politics and interests of the
State. A telegram from Washington describes
the persecution to which Republican witnesses
are subjected. Senator COnover has given
reporter for THE TRIBUNE an account of the
frauds in Florida.
OPEN FRAUD IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE osrRAcIsM OF NORTHERN MEN-How THE
DEMOCRATS CARRIED WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY
BALLoT-Box sTUFFING-NEGRoES ARRESTED IN
KINGsTREE FOR PERJURY"
IFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUsE.l
SUMTER, s. c., Nov. 20.-On the evening before
l left Kingtree, met on the street gentleman
with whom had previously conversed about the
country, its crops, labor system. markets, taxes.
etc., and he suggested that We should take short
walk together Passing the little cemetery with its
simple monument erected to the memory of nine
teen Confederate soldiers who gavetherlives for the
Lost Cause" and crossing the bridge over the Black
River, we walked out on the Williamsburg County
road for mile or more. The moon had not risen
and it was quite dark IN the woods in spite of the
stars. Ny friend had previously told me that he
was native of this State, and had lived
in Kingstree or its vicinity for many years.
As farmer, he has been moderately success
full since the war. and, though not an active
politician, he has always voted the Democratic
ticket He believes that it will be better D0th fot
the white people and black that the political power
shall be in the hands of the former, and, in the
course of our conversation assured me that all
classes had been getting along better since General
Hampton became the undisputed Governor or the
State than at any previous time since reconstruc-
ton. There has been closer attention to busl'
ness less stealing and more cordial cooperation OF
the two races" he said. than ever before"
After some general talk, he asked me If intended
TO settle IN South Carolina myself. l replied that
did not, but that the hard times in the North had
made many of our people think of trying their for
| tunes elsewhere and that strong inducements were
held out for them to settle in the Southern States
| II wlsh" said he =" that some good Northern
| people would come here, but could not consclen-
| tiously advise them TO do so"
| "I have seen a more attractive country in the
| South than this is" replied.
"Ob it is not on that account" he said> North
| ern men with capital and industry can make money
here Our light lands are capable of great improve
ment, and can be made to produce good crops. But
don't think Northern people would find residence
| IN Williamsburgh County pleasant unless enough
| of them came to form society by themselves. 10
tell you the TRUTH the people here have no use Tor
| Yankees. and the white man who votes the Radical
| ticket might as we'll put his head in bag"
| II suppose a Yankee family would find resi-
| dence IN Williamsburgh County perfectly safe r.
said.
| ooh. yes but they would find it terribly lone
| some. They might come from the very best family
| in the North, have capital education, rehnemeht'
| and while the people would meet them on an
equal footing in business. socially they would
be completely isolated. Neighbors are not very
| M
avoided socially by what few there ara
would be anything but comfortable. OF course,
| being Southern man and my political sympathies
| having ALWAYS been with the Southern people,
have never experienced any of this ostracism, as it
| ia called. Ny family are well received anywhere;
but can appreciate better probably, than you can,
| how unpleasant it would be to live in the country
without social recognition. would not care to say
| ANYTHING about this in Kngstree because 1t might
affect my relations with some OF the people there,
| but do not believe that it is right to allow good
people TO come here without understanding how
they will be received. If thought of settling IN
strange place should he under the greatest oblga-
tions TO any one who would tell me of its disad-
yantages II your people come here in a colony,
event it is not very large, advise them by all means
| to do so, but not in single families"
"You have few Northern men in this county
have YOU not Are they Republicans and how are
| they getting alongp
| 81 don't think we have had many OF the Dest
| class of Northern people to settle amongst us in
this county, although would prefer TO say very lit
| tie about them. You will have no trouble to learn
| all about them in town. The Democratic candidate
for the Legislature in the last election is Northern
man-from Delaware He is very popular, but he
fought with us on the Confederate side during tho
| war, There is a planter in this county named
| smith, of whom you may have heard. lie came
! from Connecticut reckon. lie is doing well and
his wife is said to be one Of the finest women IN the
world. and yet am told that nobody visits her. 1t
would be the same with any Northern family that
| should come hereD
| I then attempted to turn the conversation to
nolitica subjects remarkng that in the North there
was the greatest freedom of opinion and discussion,
| and that Northern people would not be willing TO
| gve that up wherever they might settle. asked
| him what chance there was for fair play between
| the parties in that county,
| He replied that he was Democrat and Oeheved
that 1t was better for all concerned that the wnte
! people should rule. 1.-The Democrats carrieu 'his
conntv at the last election" he continued, but
am afraid il was not fairly done. Our people say
| that the negroes voted the Democratic ticket
| sacretlv hut don't think enough did so to turn the
county over There is place up the railroad called
Groham's Cross Roads. where there are great
many wild, rough young men living, and on cleo
tion day afternoon crowd of them came down on
the o'clock train and when they reached Kings
| tree there was quite disturbance. They crowded
about the polliug-pace, drove off the United states
Supervisor and really took possession OF the
nlace. I believe that the election managers
admit that the box was cut of their possession for
time, and that they do not know what was done
with it. 1t is said that it was then stuffed Inc
negroes were hand early that day, ana votea IN
| ,he norn;pg and il was understood all day that
| - y, 80, ,,,oo about "a large as usual but