The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-29
TIE DISORDERS IN UNION COUNTY.
The Facts of the Case.

The abuse which the people OF the South
have received from adventureTs who nave
come into our midst and then returned North
to vent their diSappoln;ments through apress
too ready TO give credence to statements
prpludicial 10 onr welfare, occasionally reacts
upon the authors Of the calumny and from
their own associates elicits honest Indignation.
| IT, will be remembered that one Of this pecu
liar class, named G. c. Baker, about the time
t,he late election. made representations con-
ccrring the condition OF affairs In Union Coun-
ty, wliU,, led 10 the most extraordinary threats
of punishment on the part OF Governor Scott,
and produced al amount Of decentralization
among the colored people Of that community,
| from which they seem, not even now, to have
recovered. Baker, it appears was Interested
in certain gold mining operations In Union,
and witlshim, it is alleged by the Union Times,
was associated, directly or indirectly, the Gov
! ernor OF the State. For some purpose best
known to these parties it may have been per-
soncl or political, or both-it was assumed
that Bakers life was in danger from an imag-
NATIVE Ku-Klux; that his business suffered
the most frightlul Interruptions because he
was Radical, and Gnally, that it was necessa-
ry 10 surround the place with legal and SEMI
military protection. Baker, accordingly. in
duced thirty men 10 come from New York and
proceed TO the mines. Some ofthese individuals
were of the toughest possible character, such as
arc only to be found in the lowest dcns
OF the metropolis, and their very personal ap-
pearance was proof to any man iamiliar with
the species that they were sent for to further
some other object than labor in the mines.
Arriving in Columbia, these worthless were
appointed marsllals or corstabcs at the rate
of So per day, supplied with reVolvers and
Winchester rifles, and forwarded TO Union for
| tho purpose OF ''rcgilatlng" that peaccablt
| Community. How briefly they remained, and
how they came through Charleston uttering
curses loud and deep against Baker and the
Governor, are matters with which the readers
OF THG EEw6 are familiar. Baker likewise
proceeded to New York and Washington, and
there retailed his horrors. 1t now appears
from a statement In the Union Times that he
was In correspondence with Joe Crews before
or during. the Lailrens riot and i. is believed
that these WORTHLESS combined to stimulate the
excitement and p1oduce the bad blood which
originated from that event 'iIt has also leaked
out" says the same piper, "that Baker sc one
tine meditated the murder of four respectable
citizens Of Union, and said If they were ont of
the way, l could do as pleased"
Now for the exposure and denous'nent.
The writer of the following letter, Mr.. Oliver
Cornell, is The superintendent of the miners,
and, by his industry and upright conduct, has
won the confidence and eespcct OF the entire
neighborhood. The gentleman who endorses
the s,atement-Mr. Utlcy-ls the brother-in-
law of Baker, and It is not for q moment 10 be
supposed that, under the circumstances, he
would ,end his name 10 q falschood, and ind-
cate that even more than IS already revealed
ia still held in reserve. The .acts need no
comment:
UNION GOLD MINES, S. c..
December lS, 1870.
Editor Union Times: DEAR SIR have
been requested by several prominent and res
pecabe ctizens OF this township to publish,
through the medium of your paper, plain and
candid statement Of the origin and progress OF
the disturbances that have prevailed at and
near this mine within the past few months.
Their origin requires but little explanation; by
this time 1t Is patent 10 tli that they emahaleu
from tile fertile brain Of that Infamous charac-
ter known as Colonel c. c. Baker. 1t Is not
my desire nor intention to make OF him
scapegoat, but upon him rests the entire
blame of the trouble and annoyance which has
Justly exasperated this community and brought
about state Of feeling lamentablc to behold.
The first ebullitiOn was Il hue and cry
Ia m VI
claimed 20 possess) were banded t0Setl-
cr with the arowed intention Of burning the
mill and destroying the property ana lnachl-
merry belonging to the company. Winchester
rifles were procured, with ammunition, ana q
general popping lat mnrk) ensued. In my
humble opinion there is no person orpersons
in this vicinity who would dare feel Inclined
TO pprpc.rale such an outrage We're there
such, law-ubding citizens exist In This COM
muuity who would strive to their utmost 10
prevent the Gonsummalion IT such an object.
Baker represented that lie Was 1!rcd upon
while passing from tho niue TO the plantation
Of Captain West. do not think, IN fact, feel
assured he was not. unless by his own hand.
Tic exhibited in Columbia n scar, Stating it,to
be the effect OF u wound received III the hand
of some desperate Ku-Kluy. The iacr is this:
standing in the door Of our cabin, lie fired
Winchester rife. the copper cartridge rccniled
from the weGpun inflictinG' the wound. IL
bci slight, quickly healed, and no more was
thought Of ii. until his relation IN Columbia.
The men lie brou2ht with him from New
York city were by him grossly deceived, and
after their arrival at the mine treated with
criminal neglect. Had he made his appear
ance among Them prior TO thei' departure he
w0ulG have been shot down kea dog so just
~ we're they incensed at his treatment. Many
of Them left situations oftrust and profit ut The
North. deceived by his representations
Promises were made Which lie failed 10 fulfill
expectations We're heldout which were notand
cGnld not be realized. The whole thing was
farce ofa serious character. There WAS not,
nor is there now, any more necessity for q
guard around the mine than ior one at the base
Of :hc Rocky Monn ains-no more danger OF
the destruction OF one Than The removal of the
other, In all his business, social and domestic
relations. Baker has proven himself liar, a
thief and sc0nndrel. know OF 20 punishment
the law coud inflict adequate TO his deserts.
IN the language OF the Bard Of Nature:
"Woud whip were in the hand Of every
honest man, to lash the lieing rascal naked
through the street." OLIVER CORNELL.
| cordially endorse the above, and more, if
necessary. ALVIN II. UTLEy.