Year: 1876

The War in south Carolfna.


A HERALD correspondent. whose letter we
print elsewhere, gives the first careful. sue
cinct, and evidently correct account Of the
so-called "war of races" in South Carolina
which has been published, with a complete
list OF the killed and wounded. The Ellen
ton riot, in its different phases, was un-
doubtedly an exciting affair; but it is over,
and we do not see anything in its history to
warrant the charges which Governor Cham
berlain, candidate for reelection, publishes
against the white people of the State There
was disorder on both sides, but it is clear
from our correspondents account that while
the negroes, ignorant, suspicious, under the
leadership of men of their own race, who
prefer mischief to peace, and, wrongly
alarmed, brought on the strife, and through
out acted without authority or warrant Of
law, the whites acted as q sheriff s posse,
had with them the colored Sheriff, who was
wounded by the fire of the negroes, and it is
clear that the white men conducted them
selves with order and self-restraint.


What we chiefly notice in the whole mat
ter is that the Governor of the State appears
to have taken no part in it or notice Of it.
He seems to have turned it over to the fed
eral powers and it remained for United
States troops to step in between the COM
batants and stop the struggle, which was
done at once, the whites disbanding and
going home without minutes hesitation,
as soon as the federal captain appeared and
promised that the negroes should also dis
band and cease hostilities. Now, there is no
hope Of any community where the local au-
thorities are thus abject and inactive. If
Governor Chamberlain had in no other way
shown his unftness for the office to
which he aims to re-elect himself his con-
duct in this Ellenton affair ought to cause
every man, white and black, in the State, to
vote against him. The colored men, in
particular, ought to vote against him, be-
cause they above all others need State
government prompt to put down lawlessness,
whether it arises in their own ranks or
among the whites. All experience since the
war proves that the negroes cannot make q
successful stand against the whites in these
irregular and internecine conflicts. They
have, as at Vicksburg and elsewhere, been
ready enough to begin q fight, but they
always get the worst of it, because they are
badly led, by designing knaves who lead
them into trouble only to desert them in the
moment of action. General Hampton has,
on every stump in the State, promised equal
and complete protection to the blacks. We
advise them to take him at his word and
vote for him solidly. He is man of char
acter, and cannot afford to forfeit his word;
nor does he want to.


The colored men of the South have no
more Jealous friend than Senator Boutwell,
Let them act upon the advice which he this
past summer, on full view Of the situation in
Mississippi, gave to the leading colored men
in that State. He advised them to nominate
for every Office in the State prominent hon
est white men, natives or old residents of
the State and fully identified with it to
trust themselves to these and vote for them
in body. Under this advice the colored
voters of South Carolina should not hesitate
to support General Hampton and the demo-
cratic State and local ticket. II they do this
they cannot fare worse in any event
than they have under Chamberlain, and they
are very sure to fare better. Governor
Chamberlain has not brought peace or pros
perity to the State or to the negroes. His
unfitness for the place he holds, and self
ishly schemes to retain, is manifest. He
sought the democratic nomination, and,
failing to get it, he now tries to plunge the
State into disorder to secure his reelection
as republican. Respectable colored men
can have no interest in making themselves
the tail to Mr.. Chamberlains kite. Their
interest lies in good government, and that
experience has shown them Mr. Chamber
lain lacks either the capacity or the desire
to give them.