The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-03-13
VOLUME XXXvI---NO. SO.

investigations and exposures would
disturb the labor conditions to such an
extent as to create trouble III this
State. We do not believe that is true,
but If it were. we would not hesitate to
declare the evils we find and to demand
that they BIO abolished. The duty of
TINS body is plain; we must stop the
violations of law that now exist and il
others Degin on the part of the labOrers
themselves then we will unite with the
law abiding citizens of the county in
! punish!::s a;;;, terminating these evils.
The result of our urinvestigati0n shows
that the system of working laborcrs
under guard and coniining them in
| stOckades does not exist in this county
further than wc have reported Prob
ably not as many rs twenty men, either
as principal or agent. either directly or
abuse. Cn the other hand the number
| of labor g and licnOrs who have vio-
! .rtcd the law will double that number |
many times. We therefore reiterntc |
that tho influence of this grand jury
and we do not hesitate to say of tho |
court also. will not be extended to ena-
bio any man TO avoid n just contract,
the labor CONTRACTS of tho county are
legal and just. If violations of just
| contracts begin ns q result OF tho in
vestigatiOn wo have made, we suggest
that warrants be sworn out and prompt
punishment given. We have not un-
tlertnken tn sss:.::e the responsibility
OF prosecuting the labOrers who have
violated their contracts because the
position and influence Of the landlord
makes them fully able to do that with
out assistance from us. This special
report has been brought about because
of the oppression and abuse of men
who were too poor, too friendlcss, too
Ignorant and often too degraded to act
for themselves, but who are ncverthc-
less entitled to the full protection of
the law and who because of their weak
: ness have peculiar claim to our pro-
lection.
All of which is respectfully sub
m!ttcd. II. A. SULLIVAN.
Foreman,
JUDGE GENET's REMARKS.
MIR. Foreman and gentlemen OF tho
Jury-Ynur prcsentment affords me
profound satisfaction. You have done
your duty not only ably and fearless
ly, hnt fairly. am struck with the
statement. that you have rcfraincd
frNm Hn, reading nnG the n5e;wsspapers. some Of
stories, am, hat you have rcfraincd
from seeing u hearing amy comments
that would prejudice you in your in
vcstigation. 1t will surprise you,
therefore, to know how much excite
ment there has been oil over the State
and tho country. Sensational news
that tho investigation was ordered and
was being conducted. They convey
ed the idea that tho newspapers had
discovered the scandal through their
own efforts. Let me read you nn
editorial comment in the Philadelphia
North American of Feb. 2G;
South Carolina. The North American
presents facts to-day which render
doubt ns to the truth IF this statement
Impossible.
''For some time past in.imations Of
the condition of things have been np
pearing in tho press. Tho North Amer
can sent q. special correspondent to
investigation cannot but amaze tho
country.
''Free negroes sign contracts which
reduce them to the status OF chnttels.
They are confined in stockades like
cOnvicts- Their masters, according
t. the bond, have tho right to whip
them. pursue them if they escape and
imprison them were retaken. One
master can sell them to another. Fam
lilies arc separated. Fleeing wretchcs
have been shot down. in all essential
WAYS these negroes, who have COM
mlttcu no crime, are treated rs slaves
wero before tho war.
"Of course tho contracts which tho
colored victims of this labor system
sign are legally wAr! HESS. but the vic
tins do not know that, and SD long as
tho unlawful papers servo their pur-
pose the white slave holders care moth
ing for legality. Happily some local
efforts are being made to bring the
power of tho State courts to bear upOn
the men who keep tho blacks in bond
age.
"But there should not be too long
waiting on the State courts. The 18th
amendment to the Federal Constitution
is being viOlated-viOlated flngrant.
ly and insOlently. 1t is the duty of
tho United States authorities to inter
vene. The North American invites the
attention of the department of justice
at Washington to tho facts. We einvitc
also the attention of the President and
congress. 1t is intolerable that tho
reintrOducti0n of slavery into an Amer
lean State should be permitted in de-
ference to business needs and in con
tempt or the emancipation prOclama-
tiOn and the constitution"
Your work and the work of the court
Is not referred to in this article. 1t
does say that sHapplly some Iocnl
efforts are being made," bnt tho reader
would infer that these efforts arc due
to the newspaper. Little il found in
these accounts beyond what was taken
from the records of the court, and that
little, is false. These newspapers
would rather be sensational than just.
In ordering this investigation this
court WAS only doing its plain duty
quietly, unOstrntatiously, but earncst-
~. 1t is peculiarly the work of this
court, and tho court will do its duty
and does not propose to be intcrf.rcn