The New York herald., 1871-03-16
ORIGIN AND PRESENT ASPECT OF THE
CaES Err TR 3UBLES.

The Town Pntr rolcd Regularly at Might by
ArMed White CitiZens-HOw md Why Arms
Were PLACED in the Hands OF the NearOes-
singular Organization Of the sIiIitia-The
Officers Without C0mmissions-War of the
Ku Klux-.he Outrage mt Rock Hiil-siHte
Arms Broken U?-Vyhippina of Negro
Militia Man-Poiitical Persu asions of the Ixu
K!ux-ihe Recent Observation-Disclosures
Statements Of the Number Killed and
Wonnded-Thc Route to YorkviIie-rhe Dis
armins OF the Negroes.
CHESTER, s. c., March IL, 1871.
There ls stIll a great deal of excitement in this
community, resulting from the recent hostile demon
straons made by the negro militia upon this village
Armed patrols guard the town and suburbs at night.
questioning every one found out after a certain hour
as to his or her particular business that required
them up when all good citizens should have retired
These patrols are compose1 exclusively OF whites,
armed with revolvers. Last night | took stroll
through the town as late as eleven O'Clock. / had
not proceeded far when was accosted by two men
with revoivers in their hands, who sad:-
"Wnere are you going this time OF nlghtsn
"Where please"
..Arc you a stranger here?''
"Yes."
''Wel, then, you must know that IL Is against
orders for anybody to be abroad after ten O'Clock,
unless on important business"
my business is to see the state OF the town. and
satisfy myself whether there is any civil law or order
here l am Northern man.n
.'Then. if that be the case, You can 60 along"
| mad scarcely walked 200 yards before two
more armed men accosted me and similar con-
versation ensued my first nterrogators never losing
sight of me until had reached the second party
and they likewise keeping me in view until
the beat OF another watch was reached
his of
alarm and uncertainty that prevails here owing
to the unsettled state or affairs that exists which
has, beyond question of doubt, resulted from the
armament OF the negro militia. These arms were
placed in the hands or the negroes by the Governor
and State radical authorities prior to the fall elec-
tions and for the purpose 1t Is said OF enabling the
negroes to defend themselves at the polls where it
1t was anticipated intimidation and violence would
be resorted to by the whites. In OF this action
large quantities OF the same kind OF arms known as
the
WINCHESTER SIXTEEN SHOOTER RIFLE
were also purchased and brought her hy the whites
who, though they did not carry them openly to the
polls had them conveniently located In case OF an
attack by the negroes-the latter having them in
companies stacked In full view of each voting
place A strange feature. too, In connection with
this armed militia organization Is tnat though the
negroes are regularly organized, armed and
equipped. with their captains eutenants and non.
commissioned OfnccrS, none OF these officers can he
found who have authenticated
COMMISSIONS
from the Governor and It Is almost safe TO say that
no Of1cal record OF the organization OF the militia
can be found IL appears that the arms were sent
here to he used for political purposes placed In the
hands Of the negroes with supplies OF ammunition,
and they allowed to organize elect their officers and
carry out the orders OF such white men as became
attached to the radical party purely from mercenary
motives. The excitement OF the elections ever It
was believed the negroes would be disarmed, but
such not the case. Every township in each county
had It's negro militia company, with Its irresponN
BILE and In the majority OF cases. ignorant officers
VINO drilled them and had their regular public
parades,
STANDING MENACE
to the whites. Outrages by these armed bands be-
came OF such frequent occurrence that life and prO
perty In most nelghborhoods where the negroes
were controlled by bad and unprincpled men were
unsafe, and consequently a counler organization
was gotten up among the whites, which many take
to be q branch OF the wcl-knOwn
KU KLUx KLAN.
This organization, at first having for IT'S object
public safety and cue defence Of life ana property,
as It grew older became gradually aggressive and
more dangerous 10 tho public peace than were the