Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-10-13
The Crisis in South Carolina.

fourteen columns of that paper, in which he
Acknowledges the receipt of an invitation to
meet Gen. Hampton in joint discussion, and
says be is ready rs soon as his official duties
will permit TO accept the invitation. He then
proceeds TO a recital of the history Of his a6-
mnisiration, and INDUCES in violent attack
on the Democratic party, based on the report
Of committee appointed by him to investi-
gate the condition Of affairs 10 the State, de-
claring that the State of Sonth Carolina Is an
armed camp, that over fifty colored men have
been murdered during the present canvass, and
that Tie Democratic meetings were attended by
organized armed bodies. He charges all the
recent disturbances in that State with the ex-
ception of the Charleston riot, to white Dem-
ocratc agencies, and declines to call upon the
Democrats to suppress these disorders solely,
as he alleges, because the Democratic party
are the authors OF the disturbances. He says
il would be like setting wolves TO guard sheep,
and he will never yield to snch demand
lie cannot call upon colored Republicans TO
suppress them, as this would precptate con-
hct. sin such an emergency, "sshe says.
"my only reliance must lie upon United States
troops" lie concludes as follows
'GThe Executive of the United States will
do his duty, and | will do mine, and it shall
be seen by the world whether the right to
Tree ballot can be trampled under foot by any
combination or 2artyof men in this State"
Upon the appearance Of Gov CmmberlaIn's
letter, Gen. Hampton addressed letter TO
Chief ustiee Moses, Republican, requesting
him TO say if in his observation Chamberlain
charges were borne out by the facts of the
case. In reply Judge Moses says so far as bis
observation has extended he has witnessed no
exhibition of arms 10 political meetings during
the canvass; no behavior inconsistent with the
strictest proprety, aud that it would require
very strong evidence to satisfy him that South
Carolina is an armed camp. The Judge adds
that for his part he did not know of anything
which would make him doubtful in any part
of the Stale or enjoying the same security
which he feels attached 10 him under his own
roof.
When Gov. Chamberlain proclamation Or
dering the disbanding of the rifle clubs APP
peared the State Democratic executive commit
Tee issued an address TO the people of the
United Staies, in which they say:
" The charges preferred by Gov. Chamber
lain against the citizens of the State are as
false and libelous as his threatened usurpaton
Of power is tyrannical and unwarranted, and
bis extraordinary proclamation can be eX-
plained only upon the assumption that Gov.
Chamberlain, with a similar disregard of law
and of fact, is determined to resort to The most
extreme measures to prevent the otherwise
certain defeat of himselfa and his corrupt party
There have been disturbances in Aiken county
non political in their character. They have
long since ceased. All the parties for whom
warrants were issued have promptly surren-
dered themselves to the law. Perfect peace
and the profoundest quiet prevail No armed
combinations hlhdef the process OF liie courts,
anu tne hepuoiieah county convention las'
week held CONTINUOUS session OF TWO Gays
without molestation
me disturbances IN barnweli were Repuo-
A.. 81,
llcan IN their origin, oeelhhlhg IN the resist
ance by an armed oahd OF negroes 10 the arrest
OF roober Tor whom warrant hdd been duly
issued. rms oand tore up u fallroad, wrecked
train, fired upon and wounded the sheriff OF
the eonnty' ana was dispersed oy so-cailed
armed oaha OF WHITES VINO hau peen any
summoned by me sherlif us a posse with the
sanction OF Inc Jnnge OF the court mere IN SEES
SION. rms posse atlef performing thelr duties
quietly dispersed. 30 TAR from opposing The
law the who're people desire me PROMPT as
patch OF business IN Tue couf Is ana the en-
lorcemeEt OF iie law ~ the clvll arm me
whl'e people throughout me ota'e nave Soiun-
teered ,heir services 10 Tue governor 10 nam
tain the law aud he has refused them in a
|lhelonS communication intended solely to lur-
nish Il pfetcS' fof me introduction OF teueral
troops 10 ne Plhceu ohhef eontfoi OF lrresPon-
sioie ana unsefupnious oi1chtis 10 ofefdwe the
people ana control ihe election
me Democratic nominees ~ seventeen OF
Inc lhlrly-iwo conntles IN Inc state nave heid
meetings attended " thousands O clilzens OF
ooln races ana Pnrties, ne hepnohcans nave
heia theeungS Wueh anu where they PieaSea'
anu not single act OF violence mas yet oe-
Cured. On me loth ut. inc democratic
executive committee ln't'ea inc hepuhilcan
chhsassefs 10 q JOINT discussion AZ lhelr meet
'ngs- rms invitation was renewed on Inc ZSth
ut, ana accepted ny me hepuolcan executive
committee on the 5th INST upon the usual
terms me proclamation OF the Governor Is
utterly al variance with the action OF The exec
utive COMMITTEE OF his own party The latter
acqulesees IN rec dsclsslohi Inc former IN
effect snppresses debate ana substitutes armed
force Tor free speech
Ihe Repao.lcan State executive committee
has also issued an address 10 the people OF the
United States purporting to give a correct
statement OF The position OF affairs there. 1t
sets forth the claims OF the Republican marty OF
South CaIolina upon the support Of the PEG
Pile of the United States, and appeals to the
American people for their sympathy and
support.
Congressman Elliott, Of the Republican ex-
ecuiive committee, has written II letter to
Col. Haskell, chairman of the State Demo-
cratic executive committee accepting his
challenge to Gov Chamberlain and The other
Republican nominees lie proposes 10 have II
Joint discussion at five places in the low-coun-
Try and five in the up country, selected by
both committees, or five by each
These rifle organizations grew out of the
partisan legislation placing the entire militia
Of South Carolina in the hands of the negroes.
The whites would not serve under negro of
fcers, and they could not enlist without dam
ger of their companies being assigned 10