The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-10-21
Free Speech in the South.
From. The Agricultural lMich.l World.


From the agricultural (Mich.) World.
DEAR SIR: Your letter of Septembe
10 arrived at this point in due time, bu
was not answered earlier because was
away from home. In it you say: "Somt
farmers and Patrons in Michigan believe
that the Southern States are ready fol
another rebellion that the right of free
speech is denied to Republicans in the
South, and that great outrages are being
perpetrated there upon men for their
political opinions" and you ask me, arc
these things SO?
Well, to give fiat denial to the three
allegations, wculd not convince those in
the North who assert them merely "for
political capital;" and to attempt to
prove the charges false would be an at.
tempt to convince man against his will.
Therefore it seems a futile task to en-
deavor to correct these malicious accusa-
tions against people, whose immense
annual products should convince the
world, that neither rebellion nor political
disquietude is at present giving them
much concern.
What is meant by being "ready for an
other rebellion," I do not exactly COM
prehend. If another civil war is meant,
the charge is simply ridiculous. l know
I speak the sentiments of the entire
South VIXEN say We have had quite as
much war as these people will want
during your life and mine; what future
generations may do neither you nor can
tell. / will dismiss this part of the sub.
ject with the assertion, that the genuine
national conservatism of the country
rests to-day in the South, and We are
really more anxious for "Solid Union"
than are the people of the North; we are
determined, however, if by our efforts it
can be made "solid' it shall beso Demo
cratically.
But "the right of free speech is denied
to Republicans ;" where and by whom ?
Certainly not in South Carolina, nor by
the Democrats. Wherever they desired
it, the Republicans have had their public
meetings. few seedv scalawags and idle
negroes constituting the assemblage. At
all such meetings gentlemen desiring
peace and harmony between the races
here, and a successful development of
our resources, have requested to be heard
in reply to the Republican speakers.
Wherever consent was given, replies
were made; where denied, no further
demand was made. The negroes are
generally willing for these discussions;
the white aspirants always object.
The non de script adventures, eupho-
niously styled ''carpet baggers," have left
our country, and the ignorant, corrupt,
miserable scalawags, who joined them in
desolating the South from 1868 to 1876
inclusive, have not the power to organize
the negroes, simply because the negroes
know that for the past four years of
Democratic rule they have been unmo-
Tested and have accumulated property,
and are content. For this reason, and
this reason alone, we hear very little
claim made anywhere for Republican
speech"
Republican county, district and State
conventions have been held, and let one
instance of their actions suffice on this
point:
The Congressional Convention of the
Third South Carolina District, which l
now have the honor to represent at Wash
ington, met and nominated as my oppo.
nent one General Stolbrand, of the Un-
ion army in the late war; man who,
during the carpet bag regime, was the
keeper of our penitentiary, and who
since that collapse has lived-God knows
where-a man who does not now live in
the State, that am aware, and certainly
neither pays taxes, owns property, nor
lives in this Congressional District; a
man whose son was appointed West
Point cadet during the forty-fifth Con.
gress by one of our dusky representatives
in Congress, but denied admission by
Republican Secretary Of War, because
his father was q nonresident of South
Carolina; q MAXWELL, what is the use
to 20 farther? Do you think the Third
South Carolina District will ever submit
to such Misrepresentation? Would
Grand Ripids submit to being represented
by man from Chicago? This man
Stolbrand claims to live in Washington,
D. G.
1 assure you upon the fraternity of
Patron, all such trumped up charges as
this denial of free speech to Republicans
in the South, are so utterly false that
they would be laughable but for their
falsisy. But no argument of mine can
change the opinion ofany Northern man,
whose political views and persuations
ore not in accord with mine.
"Great outrages are being perpetrated
upon men for political capitaI;" perhaps
so, but if so I don'tknowit. About three
weeks ago Senator Bayard, of Delaware,
attended our State ratification meeting
in Columbia. Democrats from all over
the State attended the meeting, not only
to evince our universal and unanimous
approval of the National Democratic
ticket, but to hear Mr.. Bayard, man
whom our people delight to honor. In
the throng on that occasion "red shirt"
emblematic of the Republican bloody
shirt that Senator Morton used to love so
to faunt in our faces, was quite conspic-
uous, and was worn by scores of Demo
cratic negroes. That afternoon a Re-
publican mob attacked one or two Of
these Democratic red shirted negroes, be-
cause they rather boastfully asserted their
Democracy. One of the Democratic ne.
groes was beaten most numerically.
Beyond this, if there has been q, "polittii-
cal outrage" committed in South Caroli-
ma since the fall of 1876, when the Dem
ocrats came into power, have not heard
of it.
But why write more? I can convince
one in Michigan. I will therefore close
by extending to you, aud to as many of
the most rampant, anti-Southern Repub-
licans as will accompany you, an invita-
ton to come down amongst US. Come to
my house and stay as long as you please,
look, learn and act for yourselves, and
while you remain here it shall not cost
you dime, and every possible opportu-
nifty will be afforded you and them to
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