Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-10-27
SOUTHERN T1LDEN1sM!
THE CAMPAIGN FOR REFORM
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

SOUTHERN TILDENISM!!|
THE 81 SNHsMgEaAAAaSs S1 HSB INFORM
OF CoLoRED REPUB-
LICANs IN BARNWELL AND
AIKEN COUNTIES.
Cold Blooded Crimes Described by Eye
Witnesses.
Correspondent New York Times
COLUMBIA, S. c., Oct. 13.-There
is no doubt that all the riots and
race-conflicts which have occurred
in the so-called "up.country"of South
Carolina within the past six weeks
were brought about by certain law
less white Democrats. They were
the direct results Of regular organ
lied plan to intimidate the negroes
and prevent them from going to the
polls on election-day. TO this end
fully eighty negroes have already
been killed in Aiken and Barnwell,
and a reign of terror still exists in
those counties. Manyo of the negroes
have left their cabins, and are hiding
in the woods and swamps; white
men, we'll mounted and armed, ride
through the country by day and
night, and shoot the blacks where
ever they can find them. This state
ment / make upon the authority of
United States officials and soldiers,
whose sworn testimony and official
reports are now before me.
REFUGEES IN COLUMBIA.
There are now in Columbia a mum
Der of black men who have been driv-
en- out of their homes in Barnwell
and Aiken counties, and who have
been warned by their friends that
they will be killed if they return. l
have just had long interview with
one of these men. He is an honest
faced, outspoken field-hand of more
than ordinary intelligence, who has
always been strong supporter of
Gov. Chamberlin, because, as he says:
"Before dis present 'citement, not
alone de niggers, but all de white
gemmen, war wild him." This man
tells a straightforward story, which
carries conviction with it. l repeat
it as nearly as possible in his own
words. He said, "De whole trouble
bout me, sir, was dis. Fur de past
two years rs been advisin' of de Mig
gers in Barnwell county not to have
noffin' to do wild none Of dem corrupt
niggers, but to stick to Gov. Cham
berlin; dis l did 'cordin' to de advi-
SIM of all de white gemmen. Well,
of course, in dis lection l stay true
to Massa Chamberlin; but de white
gemmen, dey all goes crazy fur old
Boss Hampton, and want all de Mig
gers ii iine what dey calls de Color
ed Democrat Club. Some OBJ de men
jined, sure 'nough, cause OBJ bein fear
ed, but l said straight out dat would
not jine. Well, last week dey was
goin' to have a Democrat mectln' at
Bolton, and dey wanted me to walk
In de line wild de colored cub, and I
said, NO, rs for Chamberlain On
de day before de meetin' | was stand
in by a cotton-gin dom notfin, when
three or four white gemmen what |
didn't know, came up, and one of
them says, Here, you niger, l
want you to jine the Reform Demo-
crat Club Il can't do dat, boss,'
says |, and was walkin' off easy-likc,
when one of the white gemmen
takes out knife and says, If you
don't .jine, I'll cat your Niger heart
ont Den | starts to run, an he run
too, and den he makes cut at me,
an wild the force he fell down, an
de knife went into my leg stead of
INTO de back, like he tended Him
tallin' down save me, sure, an | ust
left dat town for to see de Governor.
OATS de whole story"
The name of the unfortunate man
who was thus driven away from his
home is Ben Williams, and he has
made affidavit to his statement. He
was joined here, day or two ago,
by another black man from Bolton
named HUMPHREYS, who was also
obliged to come here because he re-
fused to join Democratic Club
Yesterday these men received the
following communications from their
wives. 1t was brought to them by
another negro, who also thought it
would be best to leave Bolton, and l
give it exactly as written:
OCTOBER de 4, 1S7G-MY DEAR HUs-
BANDs.-i seat myself to rite you few
line to let you know j am Well at dis
time but not doin so Well am out of
something to eat does not kno but don't
you come here for dey will xii you sure
an sartin if you can sent HE something to
help Me is glad you do SO little dey
come to your house and to mr.. humphrie
to kill you on last tuzday night you war
not at home and dey tell misses Hum
phries to give dem his papers an she did
not an dey say dam her and dat if you
Both come home you will die as soon as
you come don't you come my dear hus-
band don't you come here Will close at
at this time rite soon still remain your
Trely. MARGARET WILLIAMS.
Bolton, c. AMER HUMPHREYS.
Messages like the above are re-
ceived almost every day by the men
who have fed to Columbia and
Charleston from their homes, and
still the Democrats say there Gs no
in South Carolina, and
ask their political opponents not to
wave the bloody shirt.
Regarding the race-conflict which
commenced at Ellenton on the 18th
of last month, and which has to some
extent been continued in Rarnwell
and Aiken counties ever since, Gov.
Chamberlin has made an exhaustive
examination, and this morning re-
ceived an official report from Messrs.
Blackwell and Canton, the United
States Marshals who were detailed
to take testimony. Both the gen.
tlemen named I have known for
time; they are men of
honor, and can be relied upon in
every way. Their report is accom-
panied by the sworn statements Of
;wo well-known officers of the Unit
I'd States Army, whose word cannot
oe doubted, and by affidavits from
more than thirty trustworthy wit