The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-10-28

time, but they would get them the next
time" At the same time the rife clubs
declared that "they intended 10 carry the
election and kill every colored Republic
can who would not vote the Democratic
ticket" 90.
ATRocITY OF THE TERRORISM.
The testimony before me clearly shows
that the pretext heretofore assigned by
tho rifle clubs for their aSsembling-the
assault of the two colored robbers upon
Miss Harley, a fact which l assigned in
my former letter, already referred to as the
cause or occasion OF the riots utterly
unfounded. The rifle clubs assembled in
pursuance OF well.matured plan, known
and published in the three counties, to
"put down the niggers" by inaicting such
violence upon them and by such demon
strations OF force as to cause the leaders
to flee and the mass Of the followers to
iorego voting the Democratic ticket.
have now merely described in out
line the domestic violence and insurrec-
ton as it was actually developed at Ellen
ton and within radius Of 10 miles
thereirom. But in truth this was only one
phase or centre OF the violence and In
surrection. II virtually overspread the
counties OF Aiken and Barnwell, produc-
ing reign Of terror which depopulated
large sections OF these counties Of all
colored males. Investigations now in
progress indicate unmistakably that the
actual murders committed exceed the
estimates heretofore, formed by me or by
those most familiar with the facts.
Scores Of colored men are still missing in
addition to these already known to have
been killed. ..,
NOT CAUSED by INVOLVEMENT.
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 con.
illusions reached are, / think, sustained by
the facts. They make a case amply war
ranting my call and the Presidents
response. To have done less would have
been 10 abandon the chief function Of gov
eminent, and to have permitted domestic
violence and instruction to accomplish
results against which the Constitution Of
the United States was designed to guard
etfectually. ' ...
There Is one pretext somewhat widely
suggested in excuse or mitigation OF the
oltenses which have described, namely,
that those who engaged in this conspiracy
were crushed by an insupportable burden
OF misgovernment. In answer 10 this I
assert that by the statements Of a vast ma
jority Of the leading men and organs OF
public opinion in this State among the
present supporters Of Wade Hampton,
prior to his nomination, my administra.
lion Of public affairs Tor the past two
years has been honorable and successful,
and that at no time since 1868 were the
public evils in the State so far abated or
the prospect Of complete good government
30 bright. The utterances Of Democratic
newspapers and Democratic speakers and
leaders on this point would fill volumes.
No man who knows or. seeks to know the
truth will question this assertion,
The charge that l have been influenced
by the desertion OF Republicans 10 the
Democratic party would receive no con,
sideration from those acquainted with
the political situation here. A free vote
to-day in this State will elect the Repub.
lican candidates by fully 10000 majority.
Besides this, I declare and challenge any
shadow Of proof to the contrary that no
party interest, however great or pressing,
could ever have induced me SO much rs
to contemplate the use Of my official pc.
sition for asking the military aid Of the
United States 10 carry an election. It is
only an incident inseparable from the
case at this time that l have considered
or alluded to factS or results affecting po-
litical parties.
/ have acted as the chief magistrate Of
the State. have sought to protect the
lives and rights OF the people without re.
gard to party. No man in South Caro-.
lima, by reason Of any act Of mine or Of
the President Of the United States, will
be hindered or dissuaded from voting the
Democratic ticket II his free Judgment
shall so incline him. Right.minded men
would have Judged us recreant to our
trusts, il in a proper case, We had failed
to exert the powers entrusted to us for
the restoration OF public peace and the
preservation OF the State Government.
Upon calm review l am convinced that
such case has arisen, and that condi.
ton OF affairs now exists in this State such
as warrants my action and that Of the
President Of the United States.
. oh. CHAMBERLAIN,
Governor Of South Carolina,