Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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t m ■ SDWyrrgHrs, ■; ^ 'gMF: « ♦ T . T ' SSj^P THE OARLINGfOH HEWS, FUBU8HUIVIBTTHUESDATMOEWIIIO HENRY [TThOMPSON. PBOP&IBTOK. - TKUISr>$i P«r Awi«« la Adtaace. Oa« Bqaaf*. *nt Insertion f 1.00 0^0 second insertioa*.•••»•««.*•. .00 {very nbMqent insertion M Contrnet advertisements inserted upon the meet rentfoanble terms. Mnrrince Netloes end Obltneries, not xeeedlng six lines, inserted free. Mr- - ■ r - DARLINGfOIN >« 1 ••FOE U8 PRINCIPLE IS PRINCIPLE—RIOHT 18 RIGHT—YESTERDAY, TO-DAY. TO MORROW, FOREVER. VOL. XV. NO 18. DARUNQTON, S. C, THURSDAY. MAY 2. 1889. Time’s Revenge. When I we* ten end she Sfleen. Ah, me I how fair I thoight her. 8he treated with disdainful mien The homage ihat I brought her, And in a patronising waj Would of mj shy advances say t ••It’s really quite absurd, jou see; He’s very much too young for me.” I’a twenty now, she t renty.ftve— Well, well, how old ehi’s growing. I faney that my suit might thrive If pressed ageiu ; but owing To great discrepancy in ago, Her marked atientione don't engage My young effectbns, for, you see. She’s really quite too old lor me. Negro Convicts in Soath Carolina (Prof. W. J. Alexander, in The Nation.) In an editorial of ihe dtb Inst., entitled “Negro Convicts in Soatk Carolina,” yon bring one of tbe se verest in'Hot ments against that un fortunate State that I remember ever to have read. Had tbia arti cle appeared in one of those strong ly partisan nespapers utterly blind ed ny sectional piejudice, it woald have received very little attention. But the Nation baa been so uni formly just toward the South, and preserves so judicial a tone on all subjects, that the charge which you yon make iu tbe editorial referred to is donbly damaging If facta are as yon describe them, then in deed oars is “a state of things hard ly oreditabla in « civilised eomma- nity.” Bat you are well aware that Sooth Carolina to a emitted com munity, such knowledge ought to have pot you on your guard against the mistakes into which you have ialien. As I feel sure that you meant no injustice, and that you desire to get at the truth, permit me to call your attention to the facta in the case. “It is sufficiently startling,” you remark, “to be told :kat of the 884 convicts io the South Carolina pen itentiary 843 arc colored, and it savors a bit ot slavery to find that ol the 70 negroes who were subjects of executive clemency during tbe year, 25 were serving life sentences and 13 others terms of imprison ment of ten or more years.” It should not be a startling fact, that, in every community, the grea^ majority ofciiininalscome from the ranks of the poor and ignorant and thriftless. This is as true of New York as it is of South Carolina. Let it never he forgot’eu that tor eleven years (1865-1876) the ue*- groes in South Carolina had a thor ough education iu crime. During that period bad white men—the great majority of them emissaries from the North— encouraged the negroes in every form ot incendiar ism and theft. They were taught that it was not wrong to steal from their foimi r masters—thst it was, in reality, not stealing, but taking what properly belonged to them. For the iguoraroe ami the low mor al tone ol the negra, doubtless sla very is largely responsible ; an 1 we of the South are wi li g to bear our share ot responsibility for this state of things: hut it is certain that tbe complete demoralisation of the ne gro during the carpet bag reign was due to the pernicious teaching of these adventurers from the North. You can now understand why it was absolutely necessary for the Democ rats, immediately on coming into power, to pass severe laws against burglary and arson. These were the crimes that were ruining the State. They struck at the very foundation of the social fabric. In dustry was paralyzed when its fruits might at auy time be oou sumed by tbe flames or be borne away by the burglar. It was nec essary, too, that Iheae laws should be enforced not only against adnlts, but against youths of both sexes, sent out on tbe mission of destruc tion just because it was presumed that tbe punishment inflicted on them would be slight. This discipline, severe but indis pensable, bad its desired effect. After 1876 dime gradually dimin', ished iu the State. By 1883 there was such a moral improvement in the negro race that in that year tbe law was considerably relaxed, and the punishments were made much lighter. It is this relaxation that yon refer when you say: “The njethods by which the ad ministration of tbe law is kept im~ partial to all, white and black alike, is ingenious. The statute punish ing burglary, lot instance, pre- sciibea punishment for life as a penalty, but with an important proviso that if the jury recommend tbe prisoner to mercy, tbe punish ment shall be reduced to imprison ment for not leas than five years. This allows juries to recommend white offenders to mercy, while the negroes snffer the full penalty of fhe law.* On the contrary, I am assured by the present Governor of tbe Stare that tbe statute was passed for tbe special benefit of the negroes. The "•Ten years (1876-1883) of diacip ■mo under tae severer laws had so Twine d tbe crimes of bnrglarv ami arson, that it was felt that ihcre juigbt safely be a relaxation of (be law and n mitigation of the punish ment. ; .'Unite which you sug gest as .nude to shield white offend era, must, like most other statutes, be studied historically to be under stood ; aud when so studied, it will be found to bear no such interpre tation os you pot upon it. Another general remark needs to be made. Yon mention cases of persons sentenced to long terms of imprisonment when the articles stolen by the bnrglar were few and of small worth. But this is not a fair presentation of tbe case. If a burglar breaks into a house with tbe view of stealing valuable prop erty, and perhaps ot committing inuider, if necessary, to his purpose —if such a bnrglar escapes with not a dollar’s worth of property, be is jnst as gnilty as if he had taken all he intended to take. In a'state of things in which the laws must be severe aud rigidly enforced, it will no doubt sometimes happen that the punishment will be too severe; but in all the c sex men tioned, I venture to say it will be found that it waa tbe character of the crime, not tbe amount of prop erty stolen, that determined the na ture aud amodnt of tbe punishment inflicted. I cannot take up all tbe cases you have adduced; you would hardly allow me the space for this. It will be better to give sucb a full state ment of two or three of them as will show their real character. Tbe ease of Priace Williams is an interesting one. Yonr statement of it is as follows. “Prince Williams, while a slave, had a wife, although no alave mar riage was recognized by the law, and this wife seems to have disap peared, psrkapt told into ofavery. At any rate, Prince married again in 1878, and, after living with bis wife for ten years, was prose ented for bigamy, slave marriages having been validated by tbe legislature. Immediately on bis conviction the prosecuting attorney bad (he gr ce to recommend bis pardon, stating that tbe main object of the prose- cation was to vind cate tbe law on account of the satn iry effect ui>oii the people of that race.” The expression, “perhsipa sold Into slavery,” which I have itali cised, insignificant as it may ap pear, really gives a false turn to the whole statement. It implies that a negro whose wife bad been sold into slavery before or during (he war, aud wbo, alter waiting in vain lor majy years lor the reappearance ol his wife, marries again, is prosecu eented and convicted as a oriiniua ; aud ibis, too, alihoUi>h Ids fornn-r marriage was not a legal mania^e. If the lavs ol South Carolina per mitted a prosecution aud convic tion uuder such circumstances, they would indeed betray* “a state ol things hardly credible in a civilized community.*' Here is the state ment of the case made by au attoi- uey acquainted with all the facts, in response to the Uovemot’s re quest lor information: “Prince Williams, an old co'on d man, was convicted at the Febru ary term of our court of bigamy, it appeared from the evidence - hat Ptince married Louisa daring slav ery aud lived with up to 1873, when Prince was told that bis slave mar riage was not legal, whereupon he asked his wife, Louisa, to marry him according to law, and validate what he supposed to be an illegal marriage Louisa refused, ami said that she did not wish to bind her- herself to Prince. A separation took place, and Prince took anoths er wife iu 1878. Wife number one lived within a few hundred yards ot Prince and wife number two for the past ten years, and not until re cently thought of charging him with bigamy; aud I am satisfied that tbe prosecution was brought to revenge herself of an injury iu another matter before tbe Trial Justice Court. Everybody who heard the case thought Prince should be discharged, the evidence showing that he had acted in ig norance of the law, and bad done everytning iu bis piower to live with wife uumberoue before be left and took wife number two. The judge, solicitor, and jurorx join mein ask ing a pardon tor Prince, and 1 trust tbe same may be granted by yonr Excellency. Judge Aldrich direct ed tbe sheriff not to send Prince to tbe penitentiary until you could be heard from. Yonr early attention will be very acceptable to Prince and your friend, M. P. Howell ” I may add that the law validat iug slavery marriages was passed in 1872, and that it applied only to cases iu which tbe parties were liv ing together at that date A cer tain class of persons, to get a mar riage lee, persuaded tbe more ig norant negroes that their marriages were illegal, and hence Prince’s trouble and Louisa’s rebellion. Here is the Solicitor’s account of tbe ease of Dick Hlterbe, endorsed on the petition for executive clem ency : “This party belonged to the ‘Spring Hill Gang of Robbers’ wbo iulVsu d that country several years ago. One was. killed while resist- mg arrest and after having killed one of the posse. Some escaped. Jake Jennings and Dick Elkrbe were caught Dick Klierbe plead ed guilty; at that time the judge bad no discretion, Dot had to sen tence him for life. Jake Jenuiogs was convicted, and, I think, sen tenced to five years in the peniten tiary. It may be well enough to commote Dick’s sentence to an equality with that ot Jake, but 1 know of no mitigating circum stances. Jake’s sentence was re duced to five years because of the recommendation to mercy by tbe jury, etc.” You will observe the operation in this case of the statute referred to above. Jake Jennings, the ne gro, does not “suffer tbe fall pen alty of the law,” bat it recommend ed to mercy, and Dick Ellerbe, though confessing bis crime, also obtains mercy. It is, no doubt, a touching fact that this negro has eight helpless children, whose mother and grandmother have died while the father waa io prison. Bat what has this to do with tbe justice of his punishment f W ill any one say that a man wbo belongs to a “gang ot robbers that have infest ed a community for several years,” and who kill one of a posse sent to arrest them, should go unpunished becanse he has a houseful of help less children f Tbe next case on tbe docket is that of Eli Moore. You say: “He was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment for manslaughter. Eight of the jurors who tried the case ask for his pardon on the ground 'that there is reason to be lieve that Moore did not do tbe shooting, ami that it was done by a white man wbo IMt tbe State im mediately after the snooting and did not return nutil after tbe trial.’ It apparently did not seem worth while to trouble this white man by asceitaiug the tru h ot tbe mat ter, which was adjusted by a com mutation of Moor’s sentence from ten years to five.” The reader would naturally infer from tbe above statement that Eh Moore would not be guilty at all should it be proved that the white man did the shooting. But even were this proved, Eli Moore would still ho guilty and deserve the pun ishment he is receiving. He and others, including, probably, this white man, constituted a gang that murdered a man named Mitchell GodlMd. Which one of tbe party actually fired the shut that killed God bold, will probab y never be known Only two of the party were caught—Haines Graham auu Eli Moore. The evidence at tbe time ot the trial waa that Moore did the shooting, aud so bis punishment was made greater than that of Gra ham. Will auy one deny that these men should have been punished f auy one affirm their punishnieiit was too great f Aud does the petl tiou, signed by w hite men, that Moore’s punishment should be mu igated, since there is a probability tbat he did not do the actual shoot ing, look as if “tbe State is quite willing to dispense with the lurm- aiity of the actual commission of a ciime by a negro in older to secure bis services as a convict T” But why was the suspected white man never arrested f I have not tbe iu tormatiou requisite to answer this question ; but it is no uuc. mmou tniug for a man to be strongly sus pected of .. crime, aud yet for the evidence to be too sligut io war rant bis arrest. At any rate, jou may be sure that a white mau that joins a baud ot negroes to commit minder, will hardly be regarded with auy special affection by the whites. It is neot osary to say a word about these petitions iu general, aud about the Governor’s State ment. The petitions always pre sent the most favorable side of tbe case. They assume as known all the unfavorable features, aud urge only those matters favorable to the prisoner; aud they are so apt to strain facts iu the prisoner’s lavor that the Governor feels obliged to write to men ot high character in posses.-ion of tbe facts, iu order to be well informed before acting on the petition. But the Governor cannot embody ail these facts in his Statement. The purpose of tbe Statement is to inform tbe public as to whom he has pardoned, and, in the bnefeet possible way, of tbe giound of his action. He naturally meniious only the mitigating oir cumstances. The impressiou, there fore, is apt to be made that these persons were unjustly punished in the first instance. But if one will only take the trouble to investi gate, be will find that there is quite another side to the picture than tha presented iu petitions. The I apers containing tne facts iu the cases of all who have applied for pardon or commutation are care fully preserved by the Governor, and he will take pleasure iu sup- plying such papers to all respon sible persons who seriously desire to inquire into the facts. The sdminietration of justice in South Carolina is not perfect. But we clsim tbat our laws are impertisl and our judgts incorruptible. Ac long as human nature is weak, and juries are made of man many of whom ate ignorant and prejndicod, and some corruptibls (and this is tr ns of juries everywhere in this country,) the innocent will some times be panislu <!, and the guilty will sometimm go uupuni.-hc I. The good ix-opio of South Carolina de ploreihe evils that exist among them far more deeply than it ix possible f<>r any one at a distance to do. But we have not yet reat-b ed th -t condition of things describ ed in your article. With all our faults, we are still a civilised corns mnnitj. H. HEXMG. SOUTH WEST CORNER OF PEARLR - - - STREET AND THE PUBLIC SQUARE, has recently purchased Mr. J. Ro senberg’s entire stock of CHOICE LK)I1QR.S, and Is prepared to furnish Ins ciis- tomers with all tbe i\A.2sro^r SUMMER ©RINKS; FURNISHED IN NEAT AND COMFORTABLE PRIYATE APARTMENTS. A full line of Staple and Fancy GROCERIES also carried iu stock all tbe year round. April 18, ’89. npi« Do not buy an Engine, Boiler, Saw-mill, Corn-mill, Cotton Gin, or Cotton Preax, until you write to me for prices. I AM GENERAL AGENT in ibi* State for the well-known fii m ol TALBOTT# SONS, Richmond Va., and otter to you the best inacliineiy for the money that is sold iu this market Agents fob HALL, EAGLE, and LU.WMUS GINS at popular prices. W’rite to me be fore you buy V. (’. UADHAM, Columbia, S. C. or Talbott k Sons, Richmond, Va. Mav 17, ’88- CALL FOK THES. Notice is hereby given that the Taxes fur thecuiietit year are call ed for, payable to the Clerk at his office, Irom April 18th to May 20, 1889, inclusive. All persons tailing to pay uiihiu that time will be sub jected to tbe usual penalty. By older of Council. J. C. WILLCOX, Mayor. 8 S. Burch, Cleik. April 18, ’89. Misses McCullough k Garvey Beg to announce tbat they have rented tbe MIXaLITTEIVy IDElPAZEVriwfcElSrT of Edwards k Norment’s store aud have opened au entirely new line of Newest Styles Hats, Bonnets, Ribbons, Flow ers ana Feathers. HATS TRIMMED TO ORDER and SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. OUR GOODS ARE NEW AND STYLISH—OUR PRICES H,EASOJSrABJL.E, We solicit an early call aud will always be pleased to show our goods. Respectfully, MISSES McCULLOUGll k GARVEY, of Baltimore. April 18, 1889. J Begs to remind the public that he is better prepared than ever before to meet tbe demands of tbe present season, which promises to be the most active that Darlington lias seen for years. His stock, which embraces every line, almost, one can think of, taken as a whole, is probably the largest ev; r carried by any single firm in Darl ngton ; has been carefully selected with a view to meeting the wants of the multitude who favor him with their patronage. Here are a few of the many 33 A. n Or A. I 3NT S ! HIS STOKE 1 FILLED WITH 36 inch Wool Cashmure at 25 cents per yard, worth 36 ct 36 inch Henrietta Cloth at 50 cents per yard, worth 65 eentt A full line ol Black Cashmeres from 15 cents to $1 per yard A full line of Braided Sets and Velvets at various prices and shades to match the large line of DRESS GOODS. .A. FTJL3J 3-.X2TE OF GENTS’, L4DIE’S, AND CHILDREN’ SHOES. 12000 yards Plaids, bought below tbe market, and will be sold accordingly. 500 suits Men’s, Boys’ and Children’s ready-made clothing, at Sweeping Bargains. Hats and Lhirts in proportion. 200 Barrels Flour bought direct from the Mills before ad vance in the market, and being sold at less than tegular price. All heavy Groceries bought in Car Load quantities, aud all ia bulk at prices that compare favorably with Charleston. Uur Hardware Department, in charge of Mr. ”J. H. Early, has in stock the largest, as well as the best, assortment of Stoves and Stove Furniture ever exhabited in Eastern South Carolina. Having bought by Car Load ent'rely, we are pre pared to make figures that defy competition. In Sewing Machines we handle the White, American, House hold and Haitford. all strickly first-class; also machine need les, oils and attachments tor all machines. We carry a large line of Engines and Mill supplies, such as Belting, Packing, Lacing, and all kinds of Steam Fittings in iron and brass; Lubricating and Cylinder Oils, Tallow, etc. Machine Bolta in every size. Agricultural machinery, such as Cotton Gins. Feeders and Condensers, Presses, Mowers, Horse Rakes, Grain Drills, etc. Pumps for driven wells, a specialty. We are agents for several first class Steam Engines and Mills and would be pleased to give bottom figures to those desiring to purchase a ginning or saw mill outfit. September 13, 1888. WHOLE NO 746. •i® Our job departAtnl i* supplied with e»«r facility uccessary to enabl* ua Io compel* both as to price and quality of work, with erer those »f the cities, and we guarantee sails faction is story particularersharge nothing for our work. We nre always prepared to lii order? at short notice for Blanks, Bil Heads, Letter Heads. Cards, (land Bills Posters, Circulars, Pamphlets, Ac. Alt job work mast be paid for ■•mi F. E. IfcTORIMTIEIfcTT, FIRE 13NT JSTT 33. ct YM O IS A-GEJSTT. REPRESENTS TEN OF TH». LARGEST AND OLDEST COMPA- NIES IN THE WORLD. Insures »|| clsxxrs of propsrfx, iiicHifliiip Gin Houses, in snv i»art of * tbe County. Office over DARLINGTON NEWS building. Devemmlter 6, 1888. BOOTS AND SHOES, HATS a. *1 CAPS, A FULL LINE OF EACH JVew Roods, L.OWEST PRICES H -A. IR. ID "W -A. R, E *4fT C&JST! Groce ies A Specialty A.T Enterprise Grocery. A. S WHITE, Manager. September 13, ’89 L\W Gill >s OSO. W DAUOAN. H Kit SY T. THOttmoN DAR0AN & THOMPSON. Attorney, at Law, p-Noitbra-t side of the Public Bquare | Darlington, S. V. J. J WARD. K O. WOOD* WARD & WOODS. Attorneys A Counsolors at Law, DAHLIXGTUN, S. V. Wil praciiue iu all Fule and Federul Courts.) Speci.il xtlentit n paid to all mat ters pertain.ng to tbe buying, sell ing. renting nr Ic ixing of teal extate. Any partt having buxiiiexs in tlnx lint* would tio well to call on tbe firm, who lixve control ot some of the most desirable property in tlvr Town and County. J. K. ttCTTLKS. C. >. JtKTTI.lt* Nettles & Nettles, Attorneys fc Counselors at Law, Itnriiuglon f. H., M. C. Will practice in all tiio State anil Federal Courts. Prompt iterxonal attention given to collection of claims. Sep. 2, ’86 ly. T. H SMUL Attorney at I c.w, DARLINGTON, C. H., S C. Will practice in Citcuit Courts am! Supreme Court of Soutb Carolina. Prompt attention given to all bu siness, anti special attention given to collect ions. X. W. XOTD, os*, w. kbowk BOYD & BROWN- Attorneys and Counselors at Law Office in rear of Dar ingtou Nation al Bank. DARLINGTON ft ff.. S V. PliOMPY PERSONAL ATTENTION TO ALL BU81NC88. Feb. 3, ’S7_ly. W F. darganT ~ Attorney at Law, Darlington, * * * S’. C- Office up stairs, over the Post office March 28. *89 ly. CHEAP STATIONERY. Lead pencils, Slate pencils, Falcon p. iis, Pen holders, Ink, Mucilage, Letter paper, Envelopes, 5 cents ca< h 5 ets e cli. 5 c's each. 1 cent each. 5 cts a bottle. 5 cts <b bott le. 5 cts a quire. 5 cts a pack. Photograph Albums, 15 cts each. Testami-uts, 5 eta each. All of tbe above articles are of tbe very best quality, and can be bad at The Book Store, Darlington News Building. March 28, ’89. * flm Music Inst. i. B. KILLOUGH has roored I* the Mnreo Building, ou Darfran Siraei. and haa in Mock Plano* and Organ*, Sha.t Mu«ic and musical Merchandi-*. He i* prepared lo duplicate any offer made, be ing hacked up by rom« of the best muaie bouse, iu tbe country. He is now pre pared lo inne and repair Pianos and Or gana. Joarpli Leiaeh is hit workman and baa screed Ida tints in a manufactory of Piano* and Organs. Call nr write in J. U. Kiitough. Urawrr l>, Fiortnce, 8. C. He wilt not Le undersoi l. Jan 31, '89. C. P. JDjFRGAN, Attorney at Law and Trial Justice. Practise a in the United Stairs Court and in th* Uh and 6th eirccit*. Prompt atten tion to at business eelrustetl to him. Office in Eseliaxg* Street, xext th* Dae- mtoi Nsws Offies. GofAftia** i o Yviisit correct ->ANO<. PRESERVE THE SIGHT « SOLO ONLY BY * i J. H. MASON. Optician, Public Sqnare, Darlington, S. O' All Soils GunitnL ACO. K.TOALE. HCNH v ouvcm Geo. E. Toale 4 Go, MANUFACTURERS —AND— W HOLESALE DEALERS IN Doors, Sash, Blinds, Builders’ Hardware, AND Bsunl Sting MitiriiL OFFICE AND i 10 ami 12 Hayne CHARLESTON, Write fer Estimate*, May 31,1888. 0 a*?; '.vf -k' ■ f'L - - •» J1