The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-31
YOUMANS' TESTIMONY.
4 Concise but Comprehensive Review Of
the Political Situation in the Palmetto
State.
From The Uasnington Post, October 25.

From tie Washington Post, October 25.
Judge L. F. Youmans, Attorney Gen
eral of South Carolina, arrived in the
city yesterday morning, and during the
day called at the White Honse. The OBJ
ject of his visit was to refutc the ISLANDERS
that the smalls.Lee gang of copper
colored conspirators have entertained the
administration with. He 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 arising from other
causes, is magnifed into political out
rage by persons who are or hope to be
personally benefited by this policy. The
Democrats are conducting a vigorous
canvass, General Youmans said, and are
endeavoring by reason and argument to
convince the colored people that their in
terests 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 in 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.
ton 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 unscrupulous knaves
who robbed the State, and some Of them
have been branded by the courts as COM
mon felons. 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
ored 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 places difficulties
had occurred. but they were not more
frequent or Of any greater magnitude in
South Carolina than occur during a
heated political campaign in any North
ern State. He called Mr.. Hayes atten-
ton to the fact that while Speaker Ran
dali was addressing political meeting
in Philadelphia the night before, some
person in the audience threw stone ut
him, which barely missed his head, and
would have proved fatal had it struck
him. If that had occurred with q Re-
publican speaker in South Carolina, Gen.
Youmans pointedly remarked, it would
have furnished material for the most dia-
bolical political outrage that had been
perpetrated during the campaign. The
most trivial personal difficulties in South
Carolina are enlarged, exaggerated and
embellished and sent abroad as evidence
of Democratic oppression. He contended
that South Carolina is as peaceable as
any State in the Union, and that the laws
are rs rigidly enforced there as any.
where. Governor Hampton has executed
the laws impartially ever since his in
auguration, and he will continue to do
so. The courts of the State are in opera
ton, and with complete power and juris-
diction, and all offenses against the laws
will be punished regardless of the polill-
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 be-
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 thousand such as Smalls,
Lee, Swails and their gang.