Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-18

| ANossu uuu IcOOUOltNtlOu O6LW6en the 6eC~
tions Is rondered impossible. It would be
difficult to conceive moro bitter. and at tho
samo time more false and slanderous attack
on our people, than this editorial contains.
The facts and circumstances connected with
the murder are In the man correctly stated,
but the other statements made In the letter
contain only enough Of truth to give them
plauslbility. 1t is not true that Bryce was
hounded down by tho Democratic party and
pressed to the wall until he gavo up his
property In Walhalla and retired to the
mountains. On tho contrary, Bryce sold his
house: and lot in Walhala at private salo to
pay his debts. and We feel sure that no man
has boon treated more leniently by bis oredi.
tors than Bryce. as thore were Judgments open
against him from ten to fifteen years old,
under which his property could have been
sold at any time. Still, he vas indulgod by
his creditors, and inally Of his own accord,
sold bis property.
| While 1t is truo he was tried and convicted
yet ho remained in prison only short time
and 6naliy the verdict 10 tho caso was s.
aside by Democratic Supreme Court on the
ground that the not was not larceny in law.
The editor 10 his ounments goes farther
than his correspondent, cutting right aud left
and making the grossest charges against our
people, showing anything but spirit of
Justice and truth, much less Of reconciliation.
Both charge this murder to tho Democratic
party and sock to make of it political capital.
In roply, we do not believe thore is Repub-
Iicnp in thiq nfv hn in I,i iuh bo1;
the killing of Bryce had any connection with
politics. In the most exciting periods Of our
political history Bryce has oanvassod this
county, (four-ffths of it's population being
white Democrats,) and addressed with US
and other speakers public meetings without
fear or molestntion. lie then travelled over
tho County by night or day 10 perfect security,
organizing aud holding his meetings when
and where he pleased. and we do not remem.
Der to have ever hoard n Democrat intimate
threat against his life.
How prepostcrous to claim that his death
was political murder Mt a time when broken
in fortune, with no political feeling in the
county, he had for several years Withdrawn
from Office and political strife and was rarely
seen away from homel Ills last trouble was
with his politicnl friends, who arrested him
for violation of tho liquor laws. and his
release was the result of the general amnesty
extended by President Hayes for past
offences.
Besides these facts. wo assert. without fear
OF contradiction, that thcro ia no more tole
rart people than in this county. Publishing
paper for ton years, we have never in.
,l,,lo Il 4
of his political views. Nor haye our people
been otherwise, fur somo years baok when on
effort was made, for reasons not considered
laudab!c by cur people, to have Bryce ro-
moved as postmaster at Walhalla, tho best
Democrats of our town signed q petition ad.
verso to his removal and he was retained.
The idea that II man is Il Republican hero at
| the risk Of his lifo. is both fulse and absurd.
Our people rarely know now or inquire about
tho political views Of mcn. A brother Of the
deceased lives in our town, owns consdera-
BILE property. keeps market and though
known Republican, he is patronizcd by tho
Democrats Of this town and neighborhood
with, ut regard to his politics. No man can
deny this fact, for it is susceptible of daily
proof. Nor can any man say that the life of
q Republican is less secure here than that of
Democrat, FOR politics is rarely mentioned.
Nor can any man claim truthfuly that the
Democrats Of this county have not used
oVery cxertion to secure tho arrest Of the
parties charged with killing Bryce or in doo
velopng tho testimony. We know tho
Register does not want to believe this, and
will not believe it. so we invite him to send
down q correspondent to our next Court to
be held on the first Monday in October, and
SEQ the ability and energy with which our
Democratic Solicitor will discharge his duties,
and the fairness with which q Democratic
Judge in South Carolina will hold tho scales
Of justice. lie need nave no fears, for VIC
will assure him return homo safe from
Democratic bullets, notwithstanding his base
slandcrs Of our people.
In conclusion, we will say that tho only
eye witness to the murder of Bryce was
jesse f. Cox, Republican and brother-in-
law of the deceased lio stated on his oxami~
nation at the inquest az follows: II don't
know that know who they wero," meaning
the two parties who did tho killing. The
question was not pressed by tho Coroner for
satisfactory reasons, and since tho inquest
Mr.. Cox has stated to different parties, as we
are reliably informed, that no thinks lie
| recognized the parties. and il 30, they are
| men who have never been considered Domo-
orats. This mot will doubtless be brought
out Mt our Court, as we'll as the reason why the
names of tho parties were not mado known
at tho inquest. Lot tho Iowa State Register
| ~ -. : :.