The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-25
Ghe 1ailp Arg,ts,
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REFUGEES rRom SOUTH CARO-
LIMA.
aGeveraor Hampton Inviting them vs
come Home and Behave Themselves.
From the { haFl sston News and Courier

1 4~~@AN@ ~N1@AAS ssA&%A 9C4GsG themselves
From the eharl :ston News and Courier
We are authorized to say that all citi
Gems of South Carolina accused of offences
under the Ku Knix law who have left thu
State on account of prosecutions agaius
them pending in the United States court;
may now return with safety to their homes
where they can reside without fear of fur
Their molestation upon the single condition
that they be peaceful and law-abidine
citizens. Governor Hampton himself gives
the assurance that there is no longer any
risk of further prosecution on account oil
former offences.
Scattered about in different parts of the
United States aud in Canada there are a
number of Carolinians who were charged
with being implicated in crimes alleged to
have been committed by the ku KlHx In
l87O-7L There was no hope of fair
trial. Hired witnesses stood ready to fun
nish any sort of evidence that prosecuting
officers required. Lit was only natural that
those most conscious of their limos
cent should fee, when the choice Was be-
tween fight and the Albany Penitentiary,
These refugees have waited with sickening
hearts for any change ia the position of
affairs that would enable them to go back
to their abandoned homesteads. The time
has come. Through Governor Hampton,
once again, despair will be changed into
hope and sorrow will become joy. Am
nesty for the ku klux offenders is NOT,
however, the only good work in which
Wade Hampton is engaged.
An earnest effort is making by Govern
or Hampton to secure "a general amnesty
for the illicit distilers in South Carolina.
Word has been sent by him to York Coun-
ty that If the distillersthere will come in
and bind themselves to stop their unlaw-
full work, and if the citizens generally will
engage to discountenance the illicit manu-
facture and sale of whisky, he will exert
his personal influence to the utmost to
have the prosecutions against such offend
ers stayed or dismissed. About twenty
FIVE illicit distillers have already availed
themselves of the Governors offer, and If
it be found that it works well, the plan
pursued in York will be extended to other
counties.
The statement herein made concerning
the KuKlux offenders now in Texas aud
elsewhere. and concerning the illicit distil-
lers, are made by US by authority lad can
be relied on implicitly.
BY the involuntary absence of the Ku-
Klux refugees and the hunting down of
the distiliers in the mountains, infinite loss
and trouble have been caused to South
carolina without advantage to the United
States Government. 1t is the aim OF Gov
ernor Hampton to change all this. The
most difficult part of the understanding is
accomplished. and its completion will not
long be delayed, Surely such practicable
ilei as this is more valuable to the people
than the qualification OF spleen and spite.
The desire of Governor Hampton is to
blot cut the stain of the times that are far
behind us-the period of agitation, profit
gacy and contempt of law-and to give the
whole State fresh start, relieved from
the moral depression and physical burden
OF mlsgovernment and its environments.
This he can do if the people cooperate
with him in rebuilding the social aud in
dustrlal fabric on the foundation of obe>
dience to law, respect for authority, and
equal rights and opportunities for all class
es of citizens.