The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-09
PATTERSON'S STORY OF
OUTRAGE AND OF DANGER.

Senator Patterson has been on re-
cent mission to Washington, and has
made there statements of reign of ter
rorisn in South Carolina which calls for
the interposition of the military author
tiles. These statements have been de-
nounced, even by journals and politi-
clans of his own party, as entirely
unfounded in fact, and as having their
origin either in distempered fancy or
in a sinister motive. According to his
scport, murder and murderous outrages
are almost of daily occurrence, and an
armed outbreak is imminent-ku kluX
organizations, under the name OF rifle
clubs, are drilling all over the State
and can call into the field at any mo-
ment 5000 men fully armed and equip
ped-thc only hope of the State is IN the
Federal army, and his present mission
to Washington was to have the army
distributed throughout the State, and
held there until after the election-there
were troops enough in the State, but 1t
was necessary that they should be dis
tributed generally-thcy were now con-
fined to Columbia, York and Newberry,
where there were no disturbances, and
should be sent to points where they are
needed. '."
These statements, as we have said,
have called forth an indignant protest
and fiat contradiction from many quar-
ters. Judge Cooke, a prominent he-
publican, in a recent interview with the
editor Of the Grccnvulc NecS, declares
that his Circuit was never more tran
quill, and that for two years past there
have been 10 cases of Ku Klux outrage
lin the State; DIR. Latimer, leading
Republican of Greenville, and a candl-
date for Congress from the Fourth Dis
trict, makes the same statements for that
section; the Columbia Board OF Trade
denounce the report of anticipated col
lissions between the races as entirely
unfounded, and as disastrous to the best
interests of the State; whilst journals,
both Republican and Democratic, come
to the same conclusion. So far from,
there being danger of an armed out
break, there seems to be but little or
ganization among the white people,
either political or military. The Tax
Unions have been only partially estab-
ished, and partake nothing of a military
organization. Some twenty-eight rifle
clubs have been formed in the State,
some eighteen in the city of Charleston,
but have gradually come into disuse
during the past eight years, and those
clubs which have recently been formed
owe their origin to the turbulence of the
blacks in some sections-self-protection
being the sole purpose of these organi-
cations. There is no battalion or bri-
gade organization among these clubs,
and they could muster, at the ontslde,
not more than fifteen hundred undrilled
soldiers. On the other hand, there is
the National Guard of the State, organ
lied AMI equipped by the State; and
under the command of thorough-going
Republican leaders.
Whatever outbreaks may have taken
place in other sections of the South,
none worthy of the name have occurred
of late in South Carolina, and whatever
necessity may exist for the interposltio2n
of Federal troops elsewhere, none exists
in this State. Intriguing demagogues
may fan the flame of discord for selfish
purposes, and INSCRIPTIONS journals
may circulate unfounded stories of out
rage for partisan ends, but we feel
assured that the President will inquire
into the facts fully before lAe once more
inflicts upon us the odium of procla-
nation against riots, and brands the fair
fame of the good people of the State
with the imputation of being Hiolators
of law and good order. ......
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