Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-29
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BUTCHER T..


The dispatches which have been pub
ished Of the recent call upon the Presi
dent for troops to protect the loyal people
of South Carolina, give but little idea o
the terrible state of things which OCCASION
ed the demand for troops. Enraged a
their defeat in the late election, the rebels
took arms which had been prepared, and
slaughtered the most prominent OF those
opposed to them, and threaten to plunge
the State into civil war. A Washington
paper gives the following particulars;
a On Sunday evening last Senator Robertson
Of South Carolina arrived here, having been
deputed bv Governor Scott to lay before the
President the facts in relation to massacre
of Union men which took place in Lanrens
county on Thursday last, and to ask for the
interposition Of the strong arm OF the govern
ment to prevent further butchery by the
Performers" The Senator LETT South Caro-
lima on Saturday, and on Sunday last so
threatening was the aspect of affairs that the
Governor dispatched delegation, consisting Of
State Treasurer Niles G. Parker, State Audi
tor Tomlinson, and Mr.. c. P. II. Ripley, to
also call upon the President and nrge upon
him the necessity of at once ordering that
troops be sent to the disturbed portions of the
State.
The Governor represents that as many as
sixty persons were killed by the "Reformers
at, and in the vicinity of Laurens courthouse,
on Thursday lass, and fears that a repetition
of the slaughter will occur to-day, as this is
the time fixed for counting the votes, and the
"Reformers" have given out that the Republl-
cans elected will not, under any clrcumstan-
ces, be restored to power. The attack of the
Performers" at Laurens courthouse was
made on the goth instant, the day after the
election, and was prompted by the conviction
that they had been fairly defeated at the polls
BY the Republicans. About 700 stand of arms
were seized, and sixty persons killed, among
them being Hons. Wade Perrin, colored, and
Joseph Crews, white, and both members of
the Legislature, and Volney Powell, son of
Judge Powell of Ohio. Assistant Assessor
Everson was pursued, and barely escaped with
his life. He was saved only by the use OF
secret sign of distress, and even then was
forced to travel to Columbia ON passes fur
nished him by his rebel captors. He has an
nounced his intention of never returning to
his post of duty as United States Assessor at
Anderson. 4..t
The condition of affairs in South Carolina
is truly appalling, and cannot be exaggerated,
and we are sure, from the representations
made US by thoroughly responsible parties,
that unless the Government interferes at once
the State will be plunged into civil war As
the militia il composed mainly of colored men,
and as the State authorities have been warn
ed that if they attempt to send them to
Laurens the railroad will be torn up and the
troops attacked and overpowered by thousands
of well-armed ex-confederates, the necessity
Of United States troops is apparent. The
preservation of the peace of the State is de-
manded by every consideration, and we are
confident that deaf ear vii not be turned to
the appeal of Governor Scott for the immedi
ate presence ofUnted States troops in South
Carolina.