The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-05
PROTEST AGAINST LYNCH|NG.
Representative Negroes TAX to the
Governor.
THEY SAY THEY ARE OPPOSED
To Crime Much So as the White Peo-
pie Are-They Site the Authority Of
Tillman.

meeting of the colored representatives
was held protesting against lynching,
and on the following day waited on the
Governor at his Office and presented
him paper, which they were instruct
ed to hand to him. The mass-meeting
grew out of the Laurens lynching.
Governor Ellerbe received the conf
mittee in his private Office and listened
patiently to the reading of the paper.
Then he took occasion to express to
those present his views in regard to
lynch law. The committee consisted
OF the Rev. R. W. Baylor, G. +.
Holmes, H. z. Lindsay and E. 3.
Thompson. Lindsay read the paper to
the Governor. It was as follows:
To His Ercellency, the Governor OF
South Carolina:
As Chief Executive of ou: Govern
ment we realize most forcibly you are
in position to render much relief to q
much abused portion of our citizenship,
and in consequence of the continued
reign of mob violence we are forced to
call upon you to exercise all law within
your power to suppress thla growing
evil. That the colored citizens are
chiefly the victims Of these outrageous
practices cannot be denied. The habit OF
lynching negroes for the usual crime has
led to taking of life by mobs for small
offences, such as petty larceny, fight
ing, shooting, insulting, etc.
We would not have you believe that
we do not discountenance all crime, Tor
there are thousands among ,ls who are
Just as sincere in support OF law and
order as any citizen. We forever con-
denim mobs in q civilized country, with
established courts and laws. We look
upon the matter as did your predeces-
sor, the Hon. B. r. Tillman, who said
in his inaugural address in 1890 that he
did not see the use of mobs when the
the judges are white, the Jurors white,
sheriffs white and jailers waite; there
was no earthly chance for negro who
was guilty to eseape.
We felt much pleased at the effort put
forth by the members Of the Constitu-
tional Convention in passing the anti
lynch law. We thought the effects
would have been to prevent the recur-
renee of such acts, but, to our sad Sur
prise, we have witnessed reckless dis
regard of these laws by mobs. We feel
that you are in position to crown your
administration with lasting impress
sions, and we appeal to you, in the
name of humanity, justice and the sa-
cred laws of our State, and in the name
of the six or seven hundred thousand
colored citizens of our State, to uphold
the law and suppress the lawless acts
of the mobs.
We commend your act in making an
effort to remove the victim, Gray, from
Laurens to the State penitentiary, and
regret very much that your efforts were
not successful, but we hope that you
will make some strong effort to over
take the lynchers and vindicate the law.
We also hope that if the negro, Chris
Harris, is ever taken you will afford
sufficient protection to secure him from
violence. We feel that this appeal is
but legitimate and lawful way Of
bringing to your attention the dis
tressed condition Of negro citizens OF
the State, with the hope that the evils
may be checked and the disastrous con-
sequences of the continuance Of such
practices averted. Trusting that you
will do all in your power to correct
the existing evils, we will ever pray,
etc.
After the paper had been read Gov
ernor Ellerbe told the committee OF the
steps he had taken the latter part Of
las; week to prevent Chris Harris, in
case the man arrested at Bennettsville
proved to be that individual, from get
ting into the hands of the lynchers.
Then he said that he was very much
opposed to lynch law, and, he added,
''as long as am Governor J. am going
to do all that can to suppress it. am
going to do everything possible to put
stop to lynching."
The chairman Of the committee then
thanked the Governor for the hearing
accorded the committee, and added
that he would have the Governor to
understand that they were as much op-
posed to the usual crime for which
lynching was resorted to as any race OF
people upon the face of the earth, but,
said he, we have law, and by that
law the men who are guilty OF
such crimes should die. We, as law
abiding citizens and leaders, have ad-
vised our people not to resort to any
other means than those offered by the
law, and to appeal to the Governors Of
the several States to see thai that those
laws are carried out