The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-08

to be enrolled. systematic and or
ganized attack was then made upon
these colored men. and their guns
were taken from them. Six hundred
rifles were taken In Laurens County. In
York County, where the men kept their guns
at their own houses, their houses were ralded
on, the guns taken away, and themselves NAL
treated. "A company In Chester County was
attacked, and similar scenes occurred in New
berry, Fairfield and Union. Altogether, out
of four thousand guns furnished to the militia,
the Ku-Klux captured or destroyed over three
thousand. He asked, therefore, what was his
duty to do about the rest of the guns? Was
he to leave them there to arm the Ku-Klux
Did he take any guns away from Charles
ton! During the time Of these outrages,
the Legislature was i1 session, and
minority from that body asked him
to place those counties under martial
law, but he did not think 1t expedient be-
cause be did not have any sufficient force to
meet in an open field an organized and drilled
army of Ku-KluX. BE asked, show many Of
you from the low country would have volun-
teered to 60 up there to fight an organized
army of Confederate soldiers ?" And the ans
wer came, "Oh, no, not one Of u.s." [The
feeling of the meeting on this one point ap.
peared to be unsnimous] The Governor con-
tinued that, under those circumstances, 1t be-
came necessary to ask for the protection OF
the General Government. But the Legisla-
ture being then In session 1t became their
duty to demand that protection, and they re-
fused to do 1t until the last days of the ses-
sion, and then they did 1t 30 reluctantly that
the General Government did not believe there
was any necessity for the troops They be-
lieved these stories were fabrlcations,. and
some of South Cardinals representatives
in Congress claimed that they were so.
However, he sent to the President, and
within ten days he had the troops there.
He Invited number of citizens OF the
Democratic party to meet in conference. He
invited them because they could have stop
ped 1t, and he desired peace and quletness,
protection for the colored people and enforce
ment of the laws. He reminded them that 1t
was not alone the Republicans who would
need protection; that the same disposition
which had put the Ku-Klux In motion would
start the colored people, and retaliation
would be sure to follow. He said he was as.
tonlshed to see that the white men were al
lowed to live among them. Down here there
were ten negroes to one white man, and still
the Democrats were not molested.
Here. the speaker was again Interrupted;
this time by colored man named James
Hardy, who insisted on being heard. Another
storm of yells and groans arose, and again the
Governor pounded with much
vlgor and his big stick, and called for order.
He begged, entreated, threatened and gestlcu-
lated, but all to no effect. Hardy all this time
was trying to speak, but could not utter a
word before he was gagged BY the uproar.
Finally he managed to make himself heard,
and he asked the Governor, "Did not the
Legislature pass resolution after resolution
calling upon you to call upon the government
for protection? Didn't we say to you that you
were responsible for the murders Of the Re-
publicans In the upper counties? Didn't We"
Hardy had proceeded thus far when he
was again choked off by the yells and
boots that arose all around him. The Cover
nor was noticed appealing to the crowd to
keep order, but in the confusion that prevail
ed. it had only the effect of pantomime. Oc-
caslonally word OF two could be heard about
as follows: Cannot - have meeting -
- Governor State
make speech - being interrupted - bet
ter give up" Shouts arose again of 'put him
out" ''choke him off," ''down Wild him.
'.cotch him by de leg," &C., and rush was
made. for the unhappy Hardy. simultaneously
rush of half the audience was made for the
door, and with that portion of the audience
went the reporters, leaving the floor OF the
hall u struggling. yelling, surging mass of
and odorous humanity.