Year: 1876

and Episcopal bishops and leading ffes-
byterian, Lutheran, Baptist and Jewish
ministers, and the presidents of all the
national and other banks in Charleston,
in the following address on the condition
of South Carolins:


To the People Of the United States:


Well-tounded spprehensions that the
of our state is in danger OF


being utterly overthrown, and an over


ruhng sense OF duty to ourselves and


posterity, and the country at large i'm
pei us to make an authentic statement of
our actual condition to the American
people, in the hope that it will induce
them to extend to us their sympathy and
aid in this distressing exigency OF our
a fairs. There Is so much at stake that
we cannot afford to be silent or to with
hold any effort that may possibly be OF
avail. For ten long, weary years the
white people of South Carolina have en-
dured u condition of things which any
northern state would have been
tempted to throw of in two years
ut the, point of the bayonet
if it could have been done in no
other way. They bore and forebore in
the hope that some returning sense OF
Justice or happy stroke of fortune would
bring relief, but no such sense OF justice
or happy stroke came to their relief, and
hope slckened and died away in their
hearts. At last they determined, by
common impulse and natural and un-
instinct of freedom, to make
one supreme effort tor their redemption,
but to make it under and within law.
Those who hold authority here having,
through party afiiliatlon, access to the
highest organs of political power in the
country, and to equally powerful organs
of the partisan newspaper press, have
subjected this people TO vilest misrepre-
sensations and most cruel SIAN
ders. Some of these we desire
to correct. Is it not true that
the white people of South Carolina are
dislayal or disa1ected toward the United
States government. On the contrary
thev are loyal and we'll affected to-
ward it. They obey 1t at home, and
would defend it promptly from foreign
aggression. 1t Is not true that South
Carolina or any of its counties are in
a state of insurrection or domestic vio-
lence against the government of the state,
or that law or process cannot be duly
enforced within her territorial limits, or
that there is any lawful cause or occa-
sion whatever for the federal govern
ment to interfere Tor the protection OF
the state government against the violence
of her citizens. 1t is not true that the
white people of the state are hostile to
the colored people, or have any design
or disposition to abridge or infringe
their political or civil rights. On
the contrary in their conventions,
and in speeches Of their candidates
for six yeaIs or more the most public
and solemn pledges have been given
that all rights of the colored people shall
be respected and protected. The colored
people should know that these pledges


will be faithfully kept. 1t is not true
that the few rife clubs in the state are
combinations of men against the law; or
that they are engaged in numbering some
peaceful citizens and intimidsting others;
or that they cannot be controlled or sup
pressed by the ordinary course of justice.
The President has been deceived. These
clubs existed with the knowledge and
recognition of the governor. Not one Of
them ever acted in defiance Of law or
against the government or constituted
authorities. The hostility to them OF
Governor Chamberlain and his cosdJu-
tors is recent; it is political, and is de-
signed to affect the coming election.


1t is not true that IN the recent race
collisions the white people have been the
aggressors. Their forbearsnce, as in the
Charleston riot, the unprovoked Cain
hov massacre, and still more recent AS
sasslnstion of a white citizen IN Edge
field, has been wonderful. The truth is,
that the leaders of the colored people,
feeling that the day of their power is
drawing to close, have excited their ig-
norant dupes, have supplied them with
arms. have aroused their fear. for the loss
of their liberty, and have thus encour
aged them TO commit deeds OF violence.


We may also affirm some thugs which
are true. 1t is true that there Is in the
a most active, earEest and excited
canvass to overthrow corrupt rule, and
re e.estsblsh honest state govern
ment. This is legitimate and lawful
object, which should command the sym
pathy and support Of every lover OF bis
country. 1t is not treason TO defeat
Chamberlain. nor is il insurrectlon or
domestic violence TO elect Hampton. Il
il true that while white rife clubs are
ordered by the Governor and President
to disband and disperse, the colored
militia of the state are allowed to remain
in organization and in possession of their
arms, and sttend.political meetings in
military order with rifles and other arms.
The object of this discrimination is as
obvious as is the comparatively defense
less condition in which it places the white
population. We simply ask, what would
the people Of New York or Massachusetts
think or do upon like application Of the
bayonet policy 10 them under such cir



Fellow-countrymen, we have sought
to place before you briefly and in true
colors the con nditiou OF South Csrolins,t the


wrongs Of her people, their patient for


bearapce and their new born hopes. Not


long ago Governor Chamberlain, IN q
transport Of truthfulness snd genuine en-
thusis:m, proclaimed to the peop OF the
country the startling fact that the civili-


zstion of the Puritan and the cavalier, Of


the round head and Huguenot, is in peril


in South Carolina. He spoke these words


under the inspiration of his better an gel


for truer words be never spoke, and they


are as true now as then. The peril 10


greater now than then, for when the


worst and most degraded elements oil So