Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-04-09

We make some extracts from the sworn
testimony of Governor Scott in the Third
Congressional District contested election
case.
In Ioply to a question by 8. j. Hogc,
Governor Scott says:
l am Governor r. X. Scott, Governor of
tho Statc-was so in July, August, Septem.
Der, October and November, 1868-inaugu-
ratod 9th July, 1868, and have been Govern
or up to tho present time. During that time
she political condition of Ncwbelry, Able
Vile, Anderson and Edgefeld, wns one of
great excitement. Tho laws could not DO
enforced, end were not enforced in these
counties. The obstruction Of law came from
sho fact that political organizations set ct de-
fanoe the officers of the law. Tho organiza-
lions were tho Republican and Democratic
parties. The Democratic organization was
erraycd against the law. ! received the in
formation as Governor that the Democratic
party was organized for the purpose of pre-
venting tho officers Of the law from enforcing
tho law against my of thnir partisans, and
Tor tho purpose of cont, o!ing the elections
20 take place on the Sd November, in the in
essest of that party alone. These political
organizations armed themselves in ordcr to
carry out the objects and purposes Of their
organization, ] vas informed by men
who claimed to belong to Democratic clubs
shat they were providing themselves with
sixteen shooters and Winchester rifles, with
che declared purpose Of first controlling the
election by keeping the negroes away from
Tho polls, and If resistance WAS made they
would shoot the negroes down, aud thereby
prevent tho more timid from attending at all.
Thoy did with my knowledge bring into the
State the Winchester rifles in accordance
with these declarations. There was no cleo.
ton for Congress in Edgofold County, Third
Congressional District. The reason why il
this: The law made it my duty to appoint
three commissioners Of election in each
county; two Of these I first appointed were
white mon and one colored man, Of that
county. Tho white mon objected TO sorvo,
because that particular colorod man was a
membor of the board. I accordingly appoint
cd three other commissioners, one Of whom,
was q Mr.. Root, a member Of the present
House Of Representatives. He replied To
pe that 1t waa impossible for the board tc
eerve because 1t required all Of his time to
save his lifo.. Phat he had been shot al
twice in his own residence, had escaped fron,
his house under cover of darkness, and was
then writing to mo from his place Of conceal
ment in the swamp. It was too hbe than t
appoint any other commissioners Of election
90 the law required a notice Of twenty day.
boforo an election could DO held. The gen
eral condition Of political affairs in tha'
county, az far as the Republican party wal
concerned, as regards their safety, I can onl,
state my opinion, based upon reports Of oiti
gems living in the county. (Mr. Pope oh
jected TO- the opinion based upon such infor
mation.) I think there was scarcely ANAL
received ip tho Executive Department during
the months Of September October and No
xember, 1853, thah I didtaot get one or NOR,
Settcrs, reporting the murder Of citizens o
tho county, md claimed in these letters to b.
murdered in consequence Of their pplitttqqa
opinion, or other outrsges committed OF
ham md hcUpinO 0f ma ia send R ni1itar,