The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-05
A Tale Of Two States
REPORT ON SOUTH CAR
DINA AND LOUISIANA.
Fearful Frauds and Murders MuitipIf-'
ed Wholesale Intimidation and
Suppression Of Free Speech-An
Elaborate Misrepresentation ofsEu-
dence, Winding up with q Threat Of
the Destruction Of the two State Gov
ernmeuts. q. -
{Ne,rs and Courier.)

{NeES ana C0tT1eT.J
WASHINGTON, February H.-The report Of
the Teller committee, made TO the Senate 70.
witnesses in Louisiana und the one hundred
and seven In SOtth Carolina. II states that
the frauds In South Carolina by the use OF tis.
sue ballots hot extended 3 ead 70 e ever S SeSpsy 10 ib inns
and forty murders were COMMITTED IN Lonasi-
ana.
The committee. in drawing conclusions.
say =: There appears to be a widespread deter.
msnation In These States to restrict the free-
dom Of speech as 10 political questions upon
the claim that tho discussion Of the relations
al md doth other kindred subjects, Is calculated to
array the colored people against the whites,
and thus ehdanger the safety Of. the people,.
This determination Is not authorizes by State
political meeting, no. only or their own Per.
ty, but also OF the opposition, are In the habit
Of refusing 70 allow the speakers to discuss
these questions In their various forms. Any
reference to the condition OF the colored peo.
pie before the war, and the causes that led 70
the war. are cOndemEe ed as being OF an tncen-
diary character. All the attacks which have
attempted to be justified on the ground that
they have made threats against the whites.
However false and destitute OF foundation
made the excuse OF the most unheGrd OF
atrocities against these people.
AS the pretended fear OF negro insurrection
Ii IUdOG Tie exCuSc IOT OuLTHRCh Oh TIC COtOE-'
ed people, st may no. be amiss to say that
the Democratic witnesses, when inferno
gated OIL that point, oil agreed that the negro
WINS peaceful and unrcvengeful, and that not:
this ciuss OF people to murder and outrngeihe
whites. there was no instance In American
history within their knowledge when this
had tSoi,, been raa, done s.ea and all admitted t,as Il
the colored people 10 resort to violence against
the whites. No prosecutions have been in-
stitHtsd BY the state !, Of South Garolins
forts were made TO punish the men who have
thus wuntonly outraged It's citizens, and
when the United States Courts have been re-
sorted to for the purpose Of Furnishing the
outrases on the ballot, the complainant has
in very many instances been arrested clearly
in violation Of law BIZ the State authorities
unless he gave ball. Citizens are threatened
that II they attempt to punish offenders In
United States Courts, the witnesses will be
punished In the State Courts, and thus the
inals, but refuses to ALLOW It to be lone IN the
United States Courts: The State government
Is O white government. no colored men are
cd with 1t has had the honesty, courage OF
humanity to attempt to redress the outrages
on these unfortunate men. OF color. Tho
laws Of South Carolina and Louisiana are
undoubtedly sufficient for the protection IT
all their citizens, but there has been o lannents
able failure to enforce them. This course
must In the end be the destruction OF the gov.
ernments OF these States.
The committee say that It was not possible
within the time they had been In session 70
investigate the elections held in all the Cont
gressional districts III Louisiana andS South
Carolina, but sufficient testimony was taken
to show that in several districts in theee
, States not only the election for CongressnleI
but the election for State and county officers
rs well, were neither fair nor free, and TINT.
BY violence and fraud the honest expression
Of the will Of those entitled to vote was pre-
vented. and thousands OF the citizens Of these
States deprived Of the elective franchise. In
Louisiana both violence md fraud were sx.
tensively used. In South Carolina frRnd was
more largely relied upon. In both States
these agencies. so disreputable In themselyGs
and 70 dangerous to the stability Of q Repu64
! lican form Of goyernrient, were used not on5
~ against candidates OF the Republican party
but against Independent Democratic sandit
dates, and candidates by whatever parne
known who were In opposition to the regulat
Democrntic candidates.
The. minority have hot yet prepared theit
report.