Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-03-05
The Libel of the Governor of South
Carolina upon the People of South
Carolina.
TESTIMONY TAKEN IN THE CONGRESS,
IoNAL CONTESTED ELECTION CASE.

IN reply to question by >. L.
Hoge, Governor Scott says: I am
Gov. r.. K. Scott, Governor of the
State-was so in July, August, Sep.
tember, October and November, 1868.
Inauguratcd 9th July, 1868, and have
been Governor up to the present time.
During that time the political condi-
ton Of Newberry, Abbcvillc, Ander-
son and Eigefeld was one of great
excitement. The laws could not be
enforced and were not enforced in
these counties. The obstruction Of
law came Fl ON the fact that political
organizations set at defiance the off
GERS Of the law. The organizations
were tho Republican and the Hc,no-
cratic parties. The Democratic or
ganization was arraycd against the
law. 1 received the information as
Governor that the Democratic party
was organized for the purpose Of pre-
venting the officers Of the law from
enforcing the law againstany Of their
partizans, and for the purpose Of con-
trolling the elections to take place on
the Sd November, in the interest Of
that party alone. These political Or
CARNATIONS armed themselves in order
to carry out the objects and purposes
oftheir organization. I was informed
by men who claimed to belong to
Democratic Clubs that they were pro-
viuing themselves with sixteen shoot
crs and Winchester rifles, with the
declared purpose Of first controlling
the election by keeping tic negroes
away from the polls, and if resistance
was made they would shoot the
negroes down, and thereby prevent
the more timid from attending q. all.
They did with my knowledge bring
into the State the Winchester mllcs
in accordance with these declarations.
Inquired of James 6. Gibbes, Of this
city, whether the statements were
true that they were i,npo ting these
rifles. He admitted the truth of the
statement; and, believe, stated that
he was the Agent for the sale and dis
tribution Of them. I think he did !;
I am not positive as to that. lie
however disclaimed that they were
imported for the purpose of making
war; but stated that they were rur-
chased for the white citizens, to be !
used in case Of negro riot or insur-I
rection. Mr.. Gibbes was, I believe,
of the Democratic party, but do not
know that he held any Official posi-
ton.
Odd Mr.. Gibbes and any ncm-
Der of the Democratic party have any !
reason to fear an instruction or re-
beliion among the negroes?
At is difficult question to!
answer. What might appear cause
of fear to one might not to another
"the wicked fear when no man pur-
sue'h." From my knowledge Of the
colorcd people there is, I think, less
fear of them as race than any other
people in the world Of rebelline
against the laws, or setting at defiance
the constitutional authority under
which they live. j. P. Reed was the
Democratic candidate for Congress oc|
the Third District.
Q.-Was itnot determined by these
political organizations, and made pub.
1ic through the newspapers to turn
off all colored employees who refused
to vote the Democratic ticket? and
was not the fact cause Of general
complaint?
A.-The newspapers certainly ad-
vocated the policy. I cannot call to
mind any specific instance without
referring to the papers have on file
butthe policy was so generally and
publicly talked of that every man in
this State understood it. It was SO
IN the Third District. Large mum.
bers who had been turned off applied
to me for redress. This policy pre-.
vailed up to the time the result Of the
October elections were known. It
was also 50 in the Fourth Congress.
lonal District. There was no election
tor Congress in. Edgefeld County,
Third Congressional District. The
reason why, is this: the law made It
my duty to appoint three Comniss.
toners of Election in each county 4
two Of these I first appointed were
white men and one a colored man &C
that county. The white men Obj.
jected to serve becaus, that particular
coiored man was d member of the
Board. I accordingly appointed
three other commissioners, one of
whom Svas a Mr rtl3o,a -. q