University of South Carolina Libraries
BT CLINKSCALE8 & LANGSTON. ANDERSON, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1901. VOLUME XXXVI-NO. 38. There can be but one best in anything. There can never be two. i This Store is the best Store fot {von to trade with because it's a Spot Cash Store? and it's the place for yon to trade if j you wish to save money. We know this is the best Store to buy yeui* ?ms, yin MD ninnies From, and you will know so, too, if yon will but come in and compare our goods and prices with other Stores. Our cus tomers know it and say so. Other Stores cen sell good Clothes and do sell them, but they have to ask more than we do for the same goods because they sell on credit. Credit Stores sell as low as they can. If we sold on credit our prices wouldn't beat theirs. We can and will save you money on your Clothing, Hats and Furnishings, but you have to pay us Cash. Let us sell you your next suit of Clothes. THE SPOT CASH CLOTHIERS. WHITE FRONT. PRESIDENT M'KIHLEY S NEW TEAM ! 1 HARNESSED to a New Style Driving Phaeton, completea a handsome hun-out. You can have just as elegant a rig by procuriug at FRET WELL'S any one of his - Novel arkd. Stylish. "Vehicles, Particularly adaptable for pleasure riding. What ho might say in this space could only suggest their many good qualities-best way to judge them is to see them. Call at my Repository and , see for yourself. JOS. J. FEET WELL. If you want to have the best Garden you ever had in your life, try our New Seed this year. DRUG CO SOME _BARGAINS ! ( H ME A FEW PU?OS. ot tba v*ry highest grad? and latest style?, TO GO AT COST FOR A FEW DAYS. IThia Is no opportuutly of ? life-time. i?lSp?7Vo7.ift6\^P.w,v^ ball. Win* Hf KW MORIE SEWING M> ?ni..H for 9210. Vibrator Standard M^clilno only $28.00. OKUANg ?HEAP. M. I*. W 11,1.18, South Main Street, Anderson, 8. <.. THE L?BOaJONTR?CTS. The Report of the Grand Jury's Investiga tion and Judge Benet's Remarks. . Last Thursday the Court of General Sessions was convened for n shoit while to hear the report of tho Grand Jury in reference to the illegal labor \ contracts which it had been investiflra ; tin v. Much interest was manifested in i tho matter, and when the Grand Jury filed into the Court room at 12:80 o'clock there was scarcely standing room on the floor, and the gallery was packed with negroes. The presentment is as follows:. Anderson, 8. C., Mardi 7, 1001. The special committee appointed by the grand jury to investigate the mat ters to which our attention was di rected by His Honor Judge Benet at tho February term of the court re spectfully report : That we havo modo as close an ex amination as our limited time would permit. In the cam of Magistrate J. J. Gil mer we find that for somo time pf?st hi hail been in the habit of issuing war rants and causing* arrests and fro quently committing accused personi to jail without over entering tlu ease upon his docket. This is es peoially true where tho cases hav< been compromised after arrests wer? made. We find that from Septo m. be: 16, 1899, to January 12, 1901, he madt payment to the county treasurer of i number of fines and items of cost col lev ted by him, but that during tim time he oollected through the sheriff* office alone the following items of cos which properly belonged to the count? and failed to pay them over to th county treasurer as required bv law : Sopt. 30,1899, State v. John Dickson.$1.2 Oct.2 " Hta\e v. Mark Chancellor ... 8 Nov. 22, " State y. Yancy You. 4 Doc. 9 " State v. Jack Evans. A Dec. 13, " State v. Thomas Simpson. 8 Dec. 22, " State v. Martha Ajjcr. b Dec. 27, " State v. Jas. & Gi W. Warnock e Jan. 3, 1900, State v. Henry Wright. ? Jan. 5, *' State v. KlIPS Terrell. * Jan. 12, ,l State v. Fred Williams. ? March 29, " State v. Thotcas White et. al.. 8 April 21. State v. Alfred Guyton. 8 March 31, " State v. George Ware. ? June 23, " SUte \\ Thomas White_ ( Juno 19, " State v. Thomas Hanny ct. al., i July 3 " State v. Alonzo Johnson. f July 6, " State v, W. JJ. Crow. t July 0, " State v. George Hutchinson.. f July C, " Stat o T. Pot and Tuck James ? Sept. 3, M State v. Christina lt. Whittier ? Sept. ?, " State v. Enoch Starks. f Sept. 8, " State v. Elias Cunningham... t Seiit. 8, '. State v. Henry Williams... . i Sept. 8, " State v. James Mitchell. ? Sept. Ifr, " State v. Emily Cu lice. t Oot. 8, " State v. Jack Cu ffeo. I Oct. 13, " State v. George Hutchinson.. I Oct. 13, " State v. Thomas Townsend... 1 Nov. 15, " State v. A. T. Hannah.1.2 Nov.19, " Stato v. Wm. Cheek et. al...... 1.5 Nov. 28, " Btate v. Al. Martin. 1.! Nov. 27, '* State v. A. C. Cotbran. I Dec.C. '. State v. William Galloway.... I Dec. 10, " State v. Joi.Jb Henry Freeman I Jan. 12, 1001, Btate v. R. W. Hayes. t Dee. 17, 1900, State v. Charles Latimer. 1.: Dec. 18, " State v. J. P. Bridges. I Jan. 1001, State v. E. F. Van adore . I Jan. 1. " State v. F. W. Robinson. I Dec. 27,1000, Stato v. Marcus & Andrew Allen I .. State v. W. P. McClellan. U Total.834J The following items of cost were als collected by Magistrate Gilmer on tl dates mentioned and not turned over i the County Treasurer as provided 1 law. 8ept. 1G, 1899. Btate v. M. Corbin. Oct. ll " State v. Rd Gordon. Oct.30 .? Stater. W.D.Etheridge... . Nov. ll, " State v. Piuk Rogers. Deo, 14, " State v. W. H. Johnsen. Nov. 28, 11 State v. Baylis Freeman...... Dec. 0. " Stato v. Will Agnew. {Dec. 8. . .? State v. Wyley Skelton. ! Feb. 7, 1900, State v. Sam Wright. FebM4, State v. G. M, T?cker. ! Feb. 23, '* Stato v. T. H. Carter.. March 19, " State v. Anderron Pool. March 22, " Star? v. John Hawkins . March 29, " State v. Emma Stinton ...... April 9. .. Stato Thomas Parks. April 29, " Stato v. Robert Wansley. April29, Stato v. D.M. Watson. May 4, Stato v. lt. A. Allen. May8, M State v. A J. Kaufman. May 23, 4i State v. Eddie Prather. May 14, " State v. Harvey Evans. May 10. " . Stato v. John McDonald. May 21, ' 8tato v. Sam Berber. Aug. 15, '? State v. Elias Terrell. Oct. 10, " State v. Bennie Hill et. al. Nov. 7, M Stato v. Frank jenkins. Jan. 4. VJ01, State v. William Mc M nil in_ Aug. 20, *. State v. Oliver Cbamblce. Total.,.~ We find that on Feb. 19, 1901, aft this investigation was begun tno sa J. J. Gilmor paid to the county tres ur or tho sum of 958.20' to cover the amounts. While we have not bei permitted for lack of timo to make full investigation of ail tho irregula ities in this office wo are convino that he has been guilty of the grosse irregularities and we would suggc that a complete investigation of li books and accounts should be hi and that he should be presented f misappropriation of tao funds so ot looted by him. Regarding tho arre of the negro Will Hull, which \ wore directed hy tho court to invest gate, we find that a warrant was issn by Magistrate Gilmor for tho arre of this negro upon an affidavit of . T. Newell charging him with violati of labor' contract and that W. Newell, a brother , of the. proseen t< was deputized by the magistrate serve enid warrant, that thu constat BO deputized requested tho deon cheriff. J. A. Dilfingbnm, to go alo with bim and assist in making ss arrest and representing that said Hi would probably create trouble wh arrested and rhat the assistance of t deput y sheriff would be needed. T arrest was modo on Friday night a the negro was brought to Anderson the samo night. The deputy shel suggested that the prisoner be tal: to jail, bot the negro said that would prefer to go on with \\. ?? ??U that air. Newell inform the deputy that the mngistrato had i st met cd him - that he could carry t prisoner on homo .with him. Subt Silently the magistrate was inform y the prosecutor that the case h been compromised and that the neg had agreed to e.tay with him and wo out ht? contract. The rest of the fm were bi ought ont in onen court. \ exonerate thc deputy "sheriff from himno iu the matter. The piiucipal work of this comm tco hus been the investigation of t stockades of the county mid the abm of laborers nuder tyrannous contrai that has grown out of tho fanni out.of. convicts and the working; free laborers with them. Wo ha taken the testimony of more than til fiers jos, including that of the land ords, their overseers and guards, to gether with a large number of labor ers and a few other citizens. In these investigations wo have been treated with every courtesy and generally wo have found no disposition to obstruct our work upor. the part of those whose farras and stockades wo visited. A most careful inquiry failed to reveal that any general abuse of tho laboring class exists in this county, so that our work soon narrowed down to thoso places where convicts were employed and to tvre ether pinces where stock ades existed and free laborers were employed. We visited the farms of J. Belton Watson. A. T. Newell, P. B. Allen, J. R. Miller, Elias McGee, W. Q. Hammond and J. S. Fowler. We were unable to lind any abuses at the farm of J. E. Watr.cn. liv has a stockade and works free laborers, but wo found no ovidenco that tho free laborers were put in tho stockades or worked in line with the convicts or subjected to any illegal restraint or abuse. The sume thing was true at the tann of P. B. Allen. Wo found that he had taken two contracts in which the laborers agreed to work un der guard and be locked up at night, but his own evidence and that of all the laborers so far as wo could ascer tain wa? that these provisions had never been enforced. A. T. New ell works State convicts and has a stockade, but he has worked no free I laborers along with the convicts until recently, when he has taken two con tracts of, that sort. Ono of these was tho case of tho unfortunato negro, Will Hull, who was killed by W. S. Nowell a few weeks ago, ana whoso case is referred to abovo. J. R. Mil ler ' formerly worked convicts, but they were taken away by tho State aud he now employs only "free" labor, if indeed we may use tho word free to describe those laborers who have signed his contracts and subject ed themselves to the conditions exist ing on bis farm. Ho lins n stockade which was originally built for his Statj convicts, and his contrncts provide that the "free" laborers will work under gunrd aud will allow themselves locked up at night. Our first investigations nt this piuco were met by a statement from the ne groes that they were satisfied with their treatment, but their manner indicated coercion and subsequently we made further investigation which convinced us that J. R. Miller sud his overseer, J. A. Emerson, had been guilty tit' whip ping negroes, locking them up nt night, of working them under guard and put ting shackles upon them. Among those unfortunates were John Harrison, Will Wright, Warren Sloan and Lige Jones. We found several of Mr. Mil ler's contracts left blank us tn limo of servico aud amount to bo paid though tho contracts were duly signed and witnessed. In tho enso of Warren Sloan bo seems to have been arrested by J. R. Miller and another mau whoso name wo could not ascertain near Central, in Piokcus county. There is testimony that uo warrant was ex hibited if any existed, but ho was handcuffed and taken to Miller's stools - ade and kent there until this investi gation began. Sinco our first visit to this stockade bo was turned loose aud allowed to go home. In our judgment tho said J. R. Miller and J. A. Em erson should be presented by the grand jury for the offences above men tioned and we so recommend. In many respects the most remark able caso coming under our notice was that of Elias McGee, who has never employed State convicts, but who built a stockade and prepared tc treat his laborers as convicts. Iiis contrncts rprovidc that tho laborer shall bo worked auder guard and look ed up at night, and there was abun dant evidsnco to show that ho bad looked up in the stockade, worked un der guard and whippod his laborers. Among those who suffered a part 01 all of theso abuses aro Wesley Nor man, Handy Earle, Yance Smith, George Tillev, John Cliukscnles, Clar ence Gailliard, Evans Webb, Doun Alexander, Morris Jordan. Some ol these negroes had been arrested am signed contracts after being put nndei arrest. John Glinkscales was accused bv Elias McGee of stealing corn, wai brought to Anderson handcuffed, am after be bad signed a contract, but without any trial waa turned over t( W. Q. Hammond, who carriod him ti tho Latter's stockade. Wo think tilt grand jury sh ou ld mako -present men against Elias McGee and we so recom mend. W.. Q. Hammond runs a largo farn in tins county and employs a consider able number both of State convict and "free" laborers. His contract! provide that the "free" laboren shall bo wot cd under guard aud lock cd np at night and they suffer this il legal imprisonment nud more, for tin evidence shows that a number O? thesi unfortunates have boon worked nude: guard ana gnu, have boon looked ni at night aud on, Snndays, and bavi been shackled and whipped. Anion; those who suffered theso things at tin hands of Mr. Hammond and his over seers, William Bailey, James Martii and-Dav, aro the following: Ish am Abercrombie. Pink Rotrers, Jame Clinton, John Howey, Tom Parks Charley Johnson and John Clink scales. Soveral of theso woro iu jai at tho timo of our examination. Tho; had been indicted bait fall for gani bling, had ooen taken out of jail oi bond by Mr. Hammond and kopt a his farm without trial nntil this in vestigation .began, when ho snrren dered them back to tho sheriff. Th negro, Tom Parke, wnoso caso wa called to tho attention of the gram {cry bv the presiding judgo, was re eased almost immediately thoreafter Ho was taken forcibly and wi thou trial nnder one of tho harsh contract above referred to and confined ii the stockade, worked with tho oon viots and suffered tho ether abase above ininti ono?? nntil tnis investiga tion waa begun. Wo learn that per haps a score of other laborors heh nuder similar contracts have left thi farm during tho pas*; fow wooka. On of them, Pink Rogers, states that li waa gi von a whipping of fiity lash o by William Bailey at the stockade. Wo th?nk that tho facts disclose) domahd that W. Q. Hammond, Jame Martin, Willi tn Bailov aud- Da: shonld bo presented by tho grand jar for tho violation of tho law mention ed and wo so recommend. J. S. Fowler, who first used tb contract providing for "tree" laborer to be treated as convicts, worked nu i ?ier guard, 1/ deed np, etc., employs i considerable number of convicts an! also of the so-callod "Ireo" laborers Ho IMH two stockades, oue of which is nuder the supervision of James Gook and which was formerly mauagoet hy Willis McGee, the other is under tho charge of Levi Thomas. At these farms tho convicts and "freo" lahor ers have been worked together nuder a Bunni who carried a ?un, thoy have been lockod up at niant and some of thom whipped. Thoro was no evi dence of auv of thom having hoon stockaded. Some of thom had boon accused of trivial offences and were pul under contract to work out debt? or to repay inonev advanced for them. Jamos Evins, Baylis Artor Alonzo Lark, Frank Bowdan, John Boll, Rob ert Brown, Foster Butler, Dau Hill, Willis Harpor. Joe Wnitfleld, Jim Rioo, John Gilliam, Turner Walker, Andrew Dobbs, Dock Frooley, and Drayton Wheeler are some of the ne groes who havo been confined iu Mr. Fowler's stockade?. Willis McGee, James Cook, Levi Thomas, Georao Thomas and Mike Rob; i% should havo presentment made c^ainst thom by the grand jury for whipping differ ent ones of these negroes. Willis Mc Geo was especially cruel. It was tes tified that ho had given the negro, Baylis Artor. 100 lashes on one occa sion and that ho whipped Robert Brown moBt severely aud cruollv and on oue occasion shot five times at Dray ton Wheeler, ono of tho bullets passing ih iou gb wheeler's hat. Tho testi mony goes to show that George Thom as shot at Dock Freeley aud that lie was also readv at tho whippings. An drew Dobbs was found to bo suffering from rheumatism which ho says was brought on by hoing compelled to stand almost waist deep in mud and water in cold weather ditching. He was arrested by A. M. Hailey, who has been acting asa sort of constable for J. S. Fowler, but was never tried J. A. Rice is a negro of rather weal) mind who was captured somewhere in Georgia by hi his McGee ami charged with having escaped from J S. Fowler's stockade in this county Upou being brought hero it wai found that he was not tho mun h< was suspected of being, but neverthe less after being kept for several dayi in the stockade he entered into one of these labor contracts and has hem in tho stoekneVJfor scvernl mouths thoncrh unwillingly there. A uumbei of "free" laborers have left Mr Fowler's farm sinco these investiga tious were first begun, but some un willing ones wore still in tho Stocka?!? when wo visited them. Wo found no evidenco to conuco Mr. Fowler in any way with th? whipping of these laborers, but li ! was a party to these contracts whiol I provided for thc illegal imprinouinou and workiug under guard of tho labor ors and is responsible tor those pr?) visions hoing enforced and that pre seutincnt should bu made against hin therefor. . Wo submit herewith tho momorandi of testimony which wo havo tnkei which will show to tho court and sc licitor more fully tho facts which w havo reported nud will enable thor to get the names of tho witnesses t provo such facts. It is propor tim wo should add that much of the abus has already boen corroded as a rcsul of this investigation and that some c tho partios have boon to us with tho a? surauco that thoy would iinmediatol correct tho evils existing on thoi farms to whioh we have cnlicd attei Hon. R. A. Sullivan, J. B. Loverott, J. T. Milford, J. S. McFall, E. Baskin Hall. Owing to the widespread influent nnd offeot that follows auv public dil enssion of tho question of farm labe in this State, aud tho results the may follow a presentment as we pr? poso, it is proper that wo should j ? closing this report enter into a bri? uisoussion of tho influences that ha^ I brought about tho evils reported au j make suggestions as to the remedie I therefor. We havo heard rumors thi j this investigation has already create a widespread interest and that tl I conditions have been discussed wit some feeling, but wo have as far i possible avoided . reading any thu ; published or said in this respect i order that we might pursue our ii vesticm tious without any in due ncc ? bias from any quarter. Tho qucstie of farm labor in this Stato is a vei difficult one and the present laws reg? hiting ?tune uro insufficient. Thom groes whom wo found confined in tl stockades were composed largely of class of shiftless debtors who aro sui ject to jnelictinent for petty often anei who could not bo successful worked under ordinary contract They nro men who have no proper anel men who evade their debts unie compelled to pay them. Against the the process ot the civil courts is wort less, that of the criminal court und existing laws is inad?quate. Hom thing should be done by the legislatu to grudo the punishment ?d' this chi according to tho offense. But tl worst trouble has not been in tl defect of the provision of the law much as in its enforcement. It h como to bo a settled policy in tl county that indictments for viol?ti< ol' contracts anel for' disposing ?d' pro erty under lieu, should be couiproini o?l amt nut tried. Wo are convine that this is wrong in principle ai dangerous in practice. Whatever i justice maybe elene an individual disposing of property on which he li a lien, or by the violation ?d' a contrn by ono of his employes, anel ?whatov forco might be given to tho effect penal statutes to induce payment debts 01 fulfillment of contracts, til never has been tho true intent a purpose of penal statute's. They ti enacted tu prevent public wrongs, a when a prosecution has once been i st it nted nod tho power of the crimit court invoked tho question e>f pnvn recompense should elisuppear auel t public interest alone should bo cu unfired. While this may result, in t casionul hardship?, it is tho only sn p?dicy. Abases will otherwiseg.'ow until the criminal courts are elegrad into machines lor pi i < ito gain U eiften for extortion uno oppression, our judgment it would he a crime compromise any case after indienne lound with a view of private gain. Nor can wo condemn too severe that other fruitful sonrere, in facti origin of tho abuses he-rein reporte the) leasing out of convicts to work private faims. Evil* already detail are t m eloquent to necessitate a el cassi HI to provo this. Such a syst? should not b'- tol?rai* fl after it-s rosa hive been exposed as in this coull We have hcurd it iutiinuteel that e e^ investigations nuil exposures would disturb the labor corni it ion H to snell au extent as to create trouble in this State. We do uot believe that is true, but if it were, we would not hesitate to declare the evils we lind and to demand that they bo abolished. Tho duty of this body is plain; we must stop the violation) of law thal now exist and if others begin on thc part of the laborers themselves then wo will unite with the law abiding citizens of the county in punishing and terminating these evils. The result of our investigation shows that tho system of working laborers under guard and contining them in stockades does not exist in this county further than wo have reported. Prob ably not as many ns twenty men, either as principal or agent, either directly or indirectly, have been engaged in this abu >o. On tho other hand the number of labor sand Honors who have vio lated the law will double that number many times. We therefore reiterate that tho intluenco of this grand .jury, and wo do not hesitate to say of tho court also, will not bb extended to ena ble any manto avoid a j nat contract, and that wo have found "hat most of the ln'.ior contracts of tho county are legal and just. It violations of just contracts begiu asa result of the in vestigation wo have made, we suggest that wnrrantshe sworn out and prompt punishment given. We have not un dertaken to assume thc responsibility of prosecuting the laborers who have i violated their contracts because the position and influence of tho landlord makes them fully able to do that with out assistance from us. This special report has been brought about because of tho oppression and abuse of men who were too poor, too friendless, ton ignorant and often too degraded to act for themselves, but who are neverthe less entitled to the full protection ol tho law and who because of their weak ness have a peculiar claim to our pro t cet ion. AH of which in respectfully sub milted. R. A. Si-l.t.IVAN. Foreman, .11'DOR l?KSKT'S KKMAltKS. Mr. Foreman and gentlemen ol'th Jury-Your presentment alfords in profound satisfaction. You have don your duty not only ably and fearless ly, but fairly. I atti struck with th statement that you have refraine from reading thc newspapers, sollie <i which have published sensation? stories, and hat you have refraine from seeiiuj ?v hearing any comment that would prejudice you in your in vestigation. lt will surprise yoi therefore, to know how much exciti nient there has been all over the Stat and tho country. Sensational ncwi papers at thu North have forgot te that tho investigation was ordered an was being conducted. They colive} ed the idea that the newspapers ha discovered tho scandal through "the: own efforts. Let me read you a editorial comment in tho Fhiladelphi North American of Feb. 20; .'Slavery luis been reinstituted i South Carolina. The. North America presents facts to-day which rend? doubt ns to thc truth uf this Btntcmei impossible. "For some time past intimations < the condition of thiugs have been a] pouring in tho press. Tho North Ame cnn sent a special correspondent I South Carolina, and the result of h investigation cannot but amaze tl country. "Free negroes sign contracts whit reduce them to the status of chattel They are cooiiucd in stockades lil convicts. Their uinaters, accordit t > the bond, have tho right to wh them, pursue the? if they escape ai imprison them were retaken. Ol master can sell them to another. Far Hies aro separated. Fleeing wretch have been shut down, in all esscnti ways theso negroes, who have cor mitted no crime, arc treated as slav wero before tho war. "Of course tho contra?is which tl colored victims of this labor systc sign aro legally wort bless, but the vi tims do not. know that, and so long the unlawful papers servo their pu pose the white slave holders caro not mg for legality. Happily some loc efforts ure being made to bring t power of tho State courts to bear upi the men who keep thc blacks in bou age. "Hut there should not bo too loi waiting on tho State courts. Thc 151 amendment to the Federal Constituti is being violated-violated llugrai ly and insolently, lt is rho duty tho United States authorities to ititi veno. Tho North American invites t attention of the department ofjusti nt Washington to tho facts. Wc invi also tho attention pf tho Presidenta congress. It is intolerable that t reintroduction of shivery imo an Ann lean State should bu permitted in t! terence to 'business needs' and in co tempt of the emancipation proclan: timi and the constitution." Your work and the work of the cot is not referred to in this article, does say that "Happilv sonic bx elfo rt a aro being made," lint tho rem would infer that theso efforts ure d to tho newspaper. Little is found these accounts beyond what was tah from tho records of the court, and tl little is talse. These newspapi would rather bo sensational than ju In ordering this investigation ll court, was only doing its plain di I quietly, unostentatiously, bu? earnei I f>. It is peculiarly the work of t Court, mid the court will do its di and docs not prnpn.se to ho intel lei with by political busy-bodies in or < of congress. When tho charge v made three weeks ago the court li no ?lea of doing more than show! you grand jurors your duty and it li no doubt you would perform it. hud no thought nor expectation tl tho charge of tho court would bo bea beyond tho four walls of this coi room. Through the journalistic ent prise of your local paper, The Da Mail, actuated by the purest and m praiseworthy motives, the charge v published. It was done not after t manner of what is culled in newspa] slang "yellow journalism," but simi that the good people of Anderson cot ty might see the iniquitous syst would bu thoroughly looked into a put and end to; fur the encourugonn of tho law abiding and a terror to e doers; that it might be seen and koo of all the people of this county, wh and black, that the strong arm of i law would be stretched out. to prof the humblest negro against oppress and wrong. Othe.r newspapers throughout t State acted in the same way, not sensation mongers, but osgood citi/.i and champions of a righteous can l'h?re wen; no (laming headlines : sim tiing scat ehcads. Hut the pu bl i lion ?us accompanied with stn words ot Condemnation of ?he inhun treatment of thc negro, and w equally strong w ords of commendation <>t tho charge of the court. It was to he expected that newspapers in other States would take notice of a matter of so much public interest, nor had we any desire to hide this ugly thing from , tho eyes of our sister States. This thing, though down in a corner of only ono county in this State, and done by a very few men was just such a thing ns should not have been concealed nor condoned. Newspapers were only do ing their duty in giving it tho utmost publicity and in condemning it in scathing terms. It gives me pleasure io say that with a few exceptions the great journals in nil parts of the coun try did their duty in this regard. Their denunciation of tho enslaving contract system was very vigorous, but not moro no than it deserves and not more so than it received in the charge de livered to you by this court. But some newspapers, and notably one, went far beyond the proper limits of journalistic criticism. I refer especially to tho North American, a Philadelphia news paper. lt seems that Usent a staff re porter to this county. Wo have no desire to discourage tho scuding of special correspondents from Philadel phia td Anderson county for tho pur ?osc of Unding out tho exact truth, jet them como and welcome, but when <i they go back let them tell tho truth, the whole truth and nothing hut the truth. Let them treat a serious sub ject like this with all fairness and can dor. Facts when distorted and ex aggerated are moro mischevious than falsehoods. Better a lie direct thau a superstructure of sensational state ments partly founded on facts. 1 do not say that the special corres rtondent of tho North American dc iberately wrote what was not true, but I do say that his account of this miserable stockado busiuess was great ly exaggerated, far too higlaly colored, essentially misleading and grossly un just to tho people of this State and this county. It is calculated to startle and astonish, and no doubt it startled and astonished the good people of Phila delphia. And yet I believe if the good people of Anderson county and you too, gentlemen of thc grand jury, were you and thev to read tho North Ameri can of the 25th and 20th of February would bo more startled. It may bc journalism; it is not jus tice. But it makes very interesting reading, and it seems to have pro foundly impressed tho minds nf mem bers nf congress who forthwith began to talk of tlie lUth amendment and the reinstitution of slavery in South Caro lina, tho necessity ot interference by congress and the federal courts. It is foolish to talk of tho necessity of interference by congress and tho federal courts. They ignore the fact that the court, mid tho grand jury brought thc matter to pubic attention and were busy investigating it. Wo are able to deal with this matter with out any outside help. Wo do not wish t<i wash our dirty linen in tho federal laundry. There is no politics in this matter, no party issue, not even a race issue, excepting indirectly. It is purely and simply tho righting of a grievous wrong, the protection of tho weak against thc strong, tho punishment of tho lawbreaker and the enforcement of tho laws of South Carolina without noy regard to federal questiou, 18th amendment, or congressional inter ference. Wo protest against tho very . ea of outside interference. Our couvtsaro competent to main tain peace and good order and due ob servance of law within the borders of thc State. Your presentment is tho bust answer to those misguided indivi duals. Our philanthropic Northern friends have a great zeal for the negro's causo, but not according to knowledge. And their interference with such matters, though sometimes well meant, is never productive of good. lt is untrue, ns this paper statos, that tho testimony of negroes is not believed in our courts. No longer ago than yesterday in this very court room in the cas? of Mr. Daniel vs. Monroe Bros., in which thc plaint ill* was a negro aud thu defen dants white men, and all the witnesses on ono side wcro negroes and nil the witnesses on the other sido were white men, tho jury gave tho verdict to the negro. At the recent term of court in Greenville a young negro man was tr'ed for assault and battery with in tel.* to kill. Ile had no witnesses but himself and there were four white men testifying against him and yet ho was acquitted. In the court nt Greenwood recently nu old negro man and his wife, types of tho most ordinary corn field negroes, instituted a suit in claim anti delivery proceedings involving about $800 against a respectable mer cantile linn. The witnesses on one side were nil negroes, on the other all whites and the jury gave tho verdict to the negroes. There aro numerous other instances similar to the above in the courts throughout tho State. Tho Philadelphia North American says that one of tho largest planters engaged in this business informed its correspondent that "tho conit* havo been familiar with this slave system for years and took no notice of it." This is untrue. There is absolutely no foundation for tho statement. There is nota judge on tho bench in this State who would not have ordered an investigation of the facts had thoy been disclosed to him as they were to mc. I ?lid not '.now when I delivered my former charge to you that tho Gov ernor had received a letter from thia county in reference to this which he had referred to the solicitor and tho governor himself undertook to dis charge his duty as soon as ho was in formed of it. For my own part I had never heard even a rumor and was as tonished beyond measure by tho dis closures iu the Newell caso. I understand that tho impression has gone out among the negro, * laboring under a misapprehension of what was said in my former charge that, nit con tracts ?cs uuii and void. This is a great mistake and it will bo well for tho negroes to understand that lawful contracts for labor are just as binding as ever and all tho power of tho courts will be used to enforce them and pun ish the violators just, ns the power of tho court will bo used to protect them from illegal contracts. Let them labor honestly and perform their part of tho ; contract, ami give tx fair day's labor for a fair day's wages. I 1 thank you, gentlemen, most sin cerely for tho excellent work you have done. South Carolina thanks you. Anderson county especially will thank you fer having relieved her of rills shameful burden and freed her good linnie from the stigma that a few mis guided citizens placed timm it. Your county his cause to ho proud of her groud jury. You cerotiuly have amply justified the Cnn Udell cu I reposed III v<?u w??o'? I ordered you to make this investigation.