Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-10-28

Aiken, and Bsrnwel. Before leaving Rouse's
Bridge the leaders OF the rifle clubs informed the
coiored people that 1.-THE Yankees had saved them
tins Time, but they Id get them the next lime y
Al the same time the rifle clubs decla, ed that
they intended TO carry the election and kill every
coored republican who would not vote the demo.
/ cratic ticket"
ATRocITY OF THE TERRORISM.
The testimony before me clearly shows that the
preteNt heretofore assigned by the rifle climbs for
their assembling-the assault of the two colored
/ robbers upon Miss Harley, fact which assigned
/ IN my former letter. already referred to, as the
cause or occasion of the riots utterly unfounded
The rife clubs assembled in pursuance of a we'll
inatured plan, known and published in the three
counties, to put down the niggers" by iufictinr
such violence upon them and by such dcmonstra-
hons OF force As to cause the leaders to flee and
we mass oil the followers to ioiego voting vote
the democratic ticket.
have now merely described in outline the do
mestc violence and instruction a. il was actually
developed at Ellenton and within radius of Is
miles therefrom. But in truth this was only one
phase or ceuter of the violence and insurrectiou;
II virtually overspread the cornties of Aiken and
Barnwell, producing reign of terror which de =
populated large sections of those counties of all
co!ored males. Investigations row in progress in
dicate unmstakaby that the actual murders com
mltted exceed the estimates heretofore formed he
me or by those most familiar with the facts
scores OF colored men still missing in addition
TO those already known to have been killed
NOT CAUSED BY MEASUREMENT.
These are some Of the leading evidences of The
domestic violence and instruction which were
the occasion OF my call upon the President for
military aid. The facts presented are clearly
proved, and the conclusions reached are. | th,nt
sustained by the facts. They make a case amply
wafrantlng my call and the Presidents response.
10 have done less would have been to abandon
the chlei Junction of government, and To have
permitted domestic violence and nsurrection to
accomplish results against which the Consttuiiou
OF tae United States was designed to guard effect
ually.
There is one preteXt somewhat widely suggest
ed IN excuse or mitigation of the otfenscs whirh |
nave de>ciibed namely, that those who engaged
IN TINS conspiracy were crushed by an insupport-
aoie burden OF mlsSovernment. In answer to this
assert tbat ny the statements of a vast majority
OF the leading men and organs of public opinion
III tins state among the present supporters Of
Nade Hampton, prior to his nomination, NV ad.
mlnlstrafion OF public affairs for the past two
years mas been honorable and successiul and that
at no time since 1865 were the public evil, in hi /,
state so lar a0ated or the prospect of complete
good government so bright. The utterances Of
democratic newspapers and democratic speakers
aud leaders on tins point would fill volumes M
man VINO knows or seeks to know the truth will
question this assertion.
HE charge that have been influenced nv the
desotton OF republicans to the democratic party
would receive no consideration fion those sc-
qualhted with the political situation here. fee
Vote Today in this State will elect the republican
candidates by fully 20, 900 majority. Besides this
declare and challenge any shadow of proof to
the contrary that no parry interest, however great
OF pressing, could ever have induced me so much
as to contemplate the use OF nv official position
for asking the military aid of the United States TO
carry an election. 1t is only an incde Mt insep.
arabic from the case at this time that have CON
sidered or alluded to facts or results att citing DO.
htical parties.
have acted as the chief magistrate of the
state. l have sought to protect the live, aud
lights OF the people without regard to party. No
man IN South Carolina, by reason of any act Of
ihlne or OF the President of the United States,
will be hndered dissuaded from voting the
democratic ckct if his free Judgment sh all so ill.,
cine hun. Rlsht-ninded men would have Judged
us recreant to our trusts ii, in a proper case we
had Jailed to exert the powers inrusted to us for
the restoration of public peace and the tresorva-
non OF the State Government. Upon calm re-
view | am convinced that such a Gaze has arisen
and that such condition OF affairs now exists ia
this Sta;e AS warran's nv action and that of the
Pres den. OF the United States.
ID. III. CHAMBERL,I AIN,
Governor of South Carolina.
ColuMbiU, S. c., Oct. n 1875.