Year: 1878




time this matter of furnishing light to the
people of Washington shall be opened to
competition. This is our view and position.
| AFFAIRS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
| Neither the Government nor the people
outside of the Southern States know much
of the ruling policy of the whites there to-
ward the colored people who were left in
their midst at the close of the war. There
does not appear TO be any respect for the
Constitution of the United States, and es-
pecally for the guarantees it extends to the
black citizen of equal rights before the law.
The Democrats of the South appear TO be a
law unto themselves, which, so far as IL re-
lates to the Republican, white or black, is q
higher law than the Constitution or the
statutes of Congress Indeed, there is but
very little recognized law in that sec
tion Of country except that which
can be made to oppress and crush the freed
man into the very earth. Neither do the
outrages that have been and are now being
perpetrated find their way into the news
papers, lest they shall become matters of
public notoriety, examination, and COM
ment. Neither the public journals nor the
courts Of some Of the Southern States take
any cognizance Of outragcs and murders If
the victim is black or white Republican.
1t is the purpose Of the Democracy to wipe
out every vestige of Republicanism, il it
has to he washed out with human blood
The process is little slow, but very sure,
and the work is silently performed, so far
as the press and the judiciary are con-
cerned. This statement may be denied,
but it is nevertheless true and susceptible
Of proof, if the witnesses dared TO tell the
truth aud expose the real condition of
things.


We are in receipt Of a letter which has
been handed us by the party to when it is
written, which tells the tale in a very hum
bic and truthful manner, and which we
publish below, for the reason that 1t is q
symptom of the social and political dis
ease that now prevails in South Carolina.
1t is from colored girl to her brother in
this city:


YoRRsvILLE S. c., May "a, 1873.


My DEAR BROTHER: ! wrote you sometime
ago, but have not got any answer. We are
living in the State of South Carolina The
Democrats are very contrary and turbulent.
They have gone so far as to have people pun
| ished under the prctcncc of saucncss. The
intcndant of this place had young colored
man hung up by the thumbs for sauciness as
he termed it. There was an excursion from
this place to Chester, recently, at which a
young white boy threw u stone that struck q
colOrcd woman Oh the breast with such force
that she is since reported as dead The sheriff
.I | nf hn pula innuiry int IN tl.|
matter to ascertain il the woman was saucy to
! the boy. This was the extent of the inquiry,
and the oficnse goes unpunished.


This is the condition of things
into which we are drifting. No law, no pro-
tc ctiOn for the poor helpless freedmen and
their wives and children. Your eyes are not
open or you would see into the matter about
which we here have been asking you. You
must see the Minister Of England aud sec If
that government will not help us to emgrate
to Canada. We are in perilous position. If
you were here you would see and know for
yourself. You must not be fooled about this
matter. They (the Democrats) are holding
caucusses every night. Even the females are
forming clubs against us. You must watch
this smoke of terrible darkness, and you may
yet feel 1t In Washington.


They (the white Democrats) are drilling at
night and seem to be making preparations for
war. There are none for us to speak to in this
place, neither colored nor white The poor
whites are very mean now aud there are many
Democratic "nigs" Us they are termed among
the whites. {. is very low spirited.


Here is a mere glimpse behind the scenes
in South Carolina, but it shows that oppres-
sion is the ruling principle of action toward
the colored race in that State 1t is simple,
but truthful. 1t tells what no South Caro-
lima journal will reveal to the world-that
the whites are armed, are constantly drill
ing and preparing for war. What occasion
is there for war preparations in South Caro-
lima? Against whom do they propose to
wage war when they are fully prepared? ?
Not among themselves But be assured
this forms a part of the revolution which
POTTER and his Democratic allies
are incubating at the National Cap
ital to Oust the President and subvert the
Government to their own sordid purposes.
The States of South Carolina, Mississippi,
and Alabama, though ostensibly part of
this Union, are rs exclusive and secretiye in
their internal movements as they were dur
ing the rebellion The people are sworn to
secrecy and the press is muzzlcd either by
fear or disloyalty, and the President is un-
consciously, to all human appearance, re-
posing listessly upon volcano that is LA
BILE to disturb him by its upheavings at any
day. lie may or he may not learn some
thing to his advantage if he will write to
that great and good man, WADE HAMp-
ton" for information regarding the plot
tings of the Democrats of his State against
the validity Of the Presidential title. The
South, except nominally, does not appear TO
be any more part and parcel of this Union
now than it was in 1863. II would be well
for the Administration to do little inyesti-
eating about these days. 1t may ascertain
something that will interest it.


The Plotters Committee.


| TO he Eilpr NJ the Nlioanl R,nULhcdn.


| SIE: II always well TO call things by their
right names. | SIC that the papers huve good
deal 10 suy Uhuu, the Potter Committee. Would it
lp with ilu ii u,.s. nT tI,l,r,.