The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-05

a very general and close observation of
the relations between the two races witt |
in my Jurisdiction. am satisfied, tlric
fore, that l but state absolute linaug-
verify when assert that since the pro.
uration of Governor Hamilton in the
portion Of crime to pos been far less
Sixth Judicial Circuit. gland State and |
than in any New land, the most Or
less than even in pc, and that this has
dsrly State in Ethoeut the slightest i'm
been effected the free exercise of any
pairment, privilege which any citizen
right Ger the Constitution Laws of
hoIosnited States.
1GE WALLACE, OF THE 7TH CIRCUIT.
The Hon. w. H. Wallace, Judge of
the Seventh Circuit, writing from Union
C. II. on August 9, says:
Ttake great pleasure in being able to
state that since the installation of Gov:
Hampton there has been most marked
decrease in the number and degree OF
crimes committed in South Carolina.
To any one acquainted with the condi-
tions of this State before and since Gov.
Hampton became the head of its Execu-
tive department, the decrease OF crime
anc. the establishment of friendly rela-
tions and better understanding between
the white and colored people are the
most notable facts in its present condi-
ton.
From 1868 up to the election of Gov.
Hampton, the calendars of the circuit
courts we're crowded with criminal cases,
the trial of which, in many instances,
occupied the whole time allowed for the
continuance of the term, to the exclusion
of the trial of civil cases, and frequently
to their indefinite postponement.
The summer terms of the Court OF
General Sessions have recently closed in
all The counties Of the State. The GRIM
inal business of nearly every court was
dispatched in few days. The number
of criminal cases on the dockets were
surprisingly few. These dockets furnish
conclusive proof that since the installa-
ton of Gov. Hampton the decrease of
crime of all grades in the State has been
sudden and pervading.
This striking aud gratifying fact is ex-
planned by the impartial and vigorous
administration of the law, and by the
better understanding that has been de-
veloped between the two races that COM
pose the citizenship of the State. The
absolute equality of all men before the
law is fully recognized as the basis OF
administration. There is sense of Sc
curly now felt by all classes and condi-
tions of our people to which they have
beer strangers for some years. This
| feeling grows out of the conviction that
the whole power of the State would be
exerted, if necessary, for the protection
of the personal or property rights OF each
or any of her citizens, without regard to
his race, color or social or political affili-
atioas.
JUDGE THOMSON, OF THE 9TH CIRCUIT.
The Hon. Thomas Thomson. Judge of
the Eighth Circuit, writing from Abbe-
Vile on August 1S, says:
The offence of the white man is (gen-
eralIy) violence in some form, exhibited
much more frequently towards persons of
his own race than against the colored
man. l do not remember speaking from
memory case of violence by white
man upon colored person. remember
two--one a case of great aggravation-
by colored men upon whites. Aggres-
sions by whites upon the persons or
property of colored persons are compar-
atively rare. 1t may appear singular,
but the records will verify the statement.
The offence of the colored man is dis
honesty-generally in the form of larce-
nv. Larceny is often associated with
burglary. The thieves plunder white
and colored with no discrimination.
Excepting the offence of larceny and the
like, crimes are more usually committed
by persons of the same race as that OF
the parties injured. Thus, the cases are
not numerous in which distinction OF
race can arise; and, so far as know,
such distinctions have never been made
to tie prejudice of an individual.
Judging from the dockets, crime is
diminishing where I held Court. No
small part of the criminal business had
been upon the dockets for several terms
Peace and order prevailed during the
terms of Court. At Aiken, Barnwell.
Colleton, Beaufort 1.-TWO days. Sumter
Clarendon and Williamsburg during
Court there was not breach of the
peace. was informed this was unusual
at some of these Courts. At Georgetown
there was butting fight between two
colored men on the 4th day of July.