Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-10-12
From the New York Times.
Liberty StrangIed in the South
South Carolina Under the Power
of Rebel Rifle CIubs---Republi-
can Meetings For b d d e n
Whites and Blacks Forced to
Join TildeR Clubs.

The condition of affairs in South Car
olina is evidently going from bad to
worse, and the system of intimidation
of negroes in Republican counties is so
thorough and effective that there is not
Likely to be any Republican ballot in
some of them. A private letter from
Barnwell county to gentleman now
in this vicinity recounts several MUIR
ders during the week, and states that
wherever Republican meetings are an
nounced the local rifle clubs assemble
and prevent them. Two negroes were
shot down ia the cotton field near Ell
ko, and these people are flocking into
the camps every day for protection.
COiored Democratic clubs are organized
in various sections spd the negroes
compelled by threats to join them
Liberty of opinion and of person seems
to be at an end, and the authorities ap-
pear utterly helpless to prevent mas
sacre or insure a free ballot. This is
Tilden and Democracy. The following
letter is from a gentleman thoroughly
posted in South Carolina affairs:
''To the Editors of the New York Times.
"On my return to the city, 1 found
the letter which / enclose to you await
ing me. lam tired of reading these
letters. know there is just God,
and that, ultimately, murderers will
receive their just reward. What dis
gusts me is that neither the United
States authorities can find any power,
warrant or force to put a stop to this
carnage. Attorney General Taft issu-
ed an order upon the subject recently.
The order is dead letter. Intimida.
ton and murder for political opinions
are in full operation. l suppose Secre-
tary Taft thought his order would
scare the Confederate ruffians into be-
having themselves, but it did not.
Then there came the order of General
Sherman, directed to the commandant
in the Department of the South, to see
to it that Secretary Taft's order be en-
force !, but t. be very careful, very
cautious, DC. Well, this order may be
good for something, but don't believe
it. The Confedrates keep right on
numbering; their object is accomplish
ed. The negro and the white Republi-
cans are intimidated sufficiently for
this generation, and Barnwell county
will not poll one Republican vote.
This county, on a full vote, gives
1900 Republican majority-always has
done ilEbut mark you, there will not
be one vote for Hayes and Wheeler iu
the coming election. There never will
be another Republican vote in that
mands these murderers, and all his
captains, lietenants and aids are made
to pay the penalty Of their crimes.
Butler bosses the job in Edgefield, and
his brother docs the same thing for
Aiken. Ali these counties are Repub-
lican, but they are hopelessiy lost. The
bullet and the knife have done their
work. IfGov. Chamberlain has any pity
ia his heart he will withdraw from the
canvass, and Secretary Taft and Gen.
Sherman will revoke their orders.
Geo. E. Osborne, for whom the ruffians
are daily in search, is Mason in good
standing, native of South Carolina,
and served during the war in the Con-
federate army. He is County Chair
man of the Republican party of Barn.
well county, aud Chairman of the
Board of Commissioners, a true man
he has fled from his home, his wife and
child. Only for his being a Mason, he
never could have escaped certain
death.
How could all this carnage, death
and intimidation have been avoided?
Had the Government announced that
it conferred citizenship and would pro-
tect it in any State in case the local au
thorities were unable or unwilling to
do so, and then sent Gen. Sheridan, or
man of his stamp, to see to il that
this work of murder and intimidation
cease, .Hagood, Butler & Co., would
have found it convenient to have had
other business instead of riding over
the county by night and day trying to
shoot themselves into effice. Sheridan
would have met them on their own
ground, and they would have ceased.
Insteud Of that the Government sends
few infantry soldiers, and they have
to bridge over the country, and by the
time they reach their destination these
rough-riders have done their murder
Gus work, and are miles away. Then
they trudge back to camp. So 1t goes.
All that can decently be done now Is
for the Government to withdraw that
handful OF infantry they have sent, con-
fess their inability to enforce the fifteeth
amendment to the Constitution, and
quit. SOUTH CoRoIINA.