Year: 1876

Advice TO south Caroli.a Colored Men.


Governor Chamberlain, of South Carolina.
instead of attending to his duties has been
visiting the North, and, on his return to
quarters, he gives out that he has heard OF
the murder of from thirty to one hundred
negroes in the State during his absence
''From thirty to one hundred is vague
phrase. Its use confesses shameful amount
of ignorance in the Governor of the State,
whose sworn duty is to maintain the peace
of the State, to protect the lives OF the citl-
zens, and to see that lawlessness is punished
The people of South Carolina are asked to
vote for Governor Chamberlain-to re-elect
him to his place. But why should they?
At time of great excitement he leaves the
State, abandons his post of duty and returns
only to send out vague report of the kill
ing of some of its citizens. Evidently he is
not fit man for Governor; he is not even
safe man.


General Wade Hampton is his opponent,
the nominee of the democratic party. What
does General Hampton say about the peace
of the State? He is making an active
and thorough canvass, and everywhere,
from every platform and stump, he pledges
his word that if he is elected Gov
ernor he will "observe, protect and defend
the rights of the colored man." he solemnly
promises to ''render to the whole people
of the State equal and impartial justice"
nd 20 aI ~ 10 ,,ea haa


'If there is whito man in this assembly
who, because he is democrat or because he
is white man, believes that when l am
elected Governor, if should be, 1 will stand
between him and the law, or grant to him
any privileges or immunities that shall not
be granted to the colored man, he is mis-
taken, and tell him now, if that is his rea-
son for voting for me, not to vote at ALL"


These are the honest, sensible words Of
General Hampton. What has Governor
Chamberlain said or done to match them
What did he do on the heels of the Ham
burg massacre? He ran to Washington to
appeal for help. What does he do in the
middle of the canvass? Promise equal and
exact justice to oil citizens? Guarantee that
he will ''observe, defend and protect the
rights of the colored man?" Not at all. He
leaves the State for visit to New England.


Why should the colored men of South
Carolina vote for Mr.. Chamberlain? What
has he done? What does he propose to do
for them? If they are sensible men they
will vote for General Hampton. He
at least makes them definite promise.
He makes it for himself and for the
gentlemen who are on the ticket with him.
Not only that, but he warns every man who
does not agree with him that all the people,
colored as we'll as white, shall be equally
secure in life, liberty and property, that he
had better not vote for him. If we were
asked by South Carolina colored man how
he should vote, we should tell him, ''Vote
for General Hampton; hold him and his to
the responsibility they are willing to assume.
They are men of character, men Of proper
ty, old citizens of the State; 60 and shake
hands with them; tell them you will trust
them. Vote for Hayes for President if you
like. 1t is natural that you should prefer
o republican President, particularly if
you are So1HS W tIy OeuOcratlC
State government. But vote for General
Hampton and the democratic State ticket
Chamberlain has not protected you, and, de-
pend upon it, if Hayes is chosen President,
he is not going to listen to Chamberlain or
any other Southern Governor who runs up
to Washington to tell his tale, when he
ought to be on the spot to see justice done
between you and your white neighbor. Mr.
Hayes does not believe in federal interfer-
ence in the South"


That is the advice we should give to South
Carolina and also to Louisiana colored men.
If they only took time calmly to consider
the matter they would see that while the
Southern republican politician lives upon
"outrages," and prospers the more the more
colored men are wronged or slain, the
Southern democrat must perforce maintain
peace and order for if he does not the whole
North boots at him and demands that the
federal power shall upset him. Arkansas
was full of crime and disorder until the
democratic Governor Garland came into
power. 1t has been peaceful ever since, and
no complaints come from there, under his
wise rule, of wrong to republicans or colored
men.


The Planetary Debut.


It is announced with some authority that