The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-10-21
A BAyoNET BALLOT FOR soUH CAROLINA

canvass which Wade Hampton has been max
Ing in South Carolina against chamberlain
Is so vigorous and effective as to have thor
oughly alarmed the carpet-baggers OF 'ha'
state as well as their hackers at Washington
,ho, the state will be carried for Tilden and
Hampton. The condition OF the state is no
less peculiar than deplorable. On a full vote
the state can poll 100000 votes, OF which at
least 100000 are polled by negroes. The
whites, or democrats, for about all the whites,
except Few carpet baggers, are democrats
70 carry the state, must therefore carry at
least 30 900 negro votes. 1t Is known that
Hampton, by frequently addressing large
crowds of negroes, and explaining to them
that the real good Of their race depends on
the establishment of terms OF mutual friend.
shlp and confidence between them ard the
whites has had influence enough to detach
large negro following from the radical party.
The movement of Hampton, which is in per
feet honesty and good faith on his part, is
doubtless largely aided by means possibly
less legitimate, though under the circum-
stances iustfiable, such as the adoption by
the whites of what is nOwn as as the "Preier'
ence Policy" of the nature of which the fol-
lowing, from the Charleston Neaos, gives u
sufficient idea:
In Columbia an intelligence office has been
opened, under the management CT hlessrs. Lee
Hagood, James +. Gadsden, Winthrop Will
! g., I'D n Al Raatfia yhprp naranus sin
accord with the party of honesty and reform,
who are in search of employment or deserve
patronage" may enroll their names, and
where applications may be made by those
who can find work or places for any OF Hamp
tons men.
One capitalist in the middle country, who
has lent $4,000 this year 10 small farmers,
chiefly colored men, on agricultural liens, has
given fair notice that hereafter all the money
he has TO lend to the last dollar, will go to
the followers of Hampton. Merchants in diff
ferent places are taking the same stand. They
will give credit to HaMpton's men and none
other. In Greenvile one white planter has
notified his hands that in the event of Hamp
tons election he can afford to pay them, and
will pay them, three dollars month more
than he now pays them. Those labOrers are
as jealous democrats as any in the county.
The feeling everywhere is that the coored
people must be made to understand that their
interests lie directly and Immediately, not in.
directly or remotely, with the advocates of
honesty, fidelity and economy in public
affairs.
To check the frighttul detection from the re-
publican ranks OF negro voters caused by such
means, the carpet-bagger hordes first under
took, as in Charleston a month ago, TO fright
en- the negroes back into the republican lines
by threatening to mob and shoot every negro
voter found attending democratic meeting
or Joining democratic club. This led to
the organization among the democrats of "rl.
he clubs" to defend democratic negro voters
in the exercise of their political rights. Now
it Is said that to these rifle clubs belong not
only South Carolina democrats of both colors,
but also many L. S. soldiers stationed there,
and that the clubs even frequently have army
sergeants for drill masters. BE that as it may,
Gov. Chamberlain suddenly affected won
drous tear of these clubs, winch he asserts
are formed to overthrow the civil authorities
of the state" meaning doubtless thereby the
defeat of his own reelection as governor, and
he issued pompeus proclamation command
ing all such clubs forthwith to disband and
to dissolve in thin air; and afterwards affect
ing that this bombastic proclamation was not
needed, he made a formal demand on Presi'
dent Grant for T. S. troops to enable him to-
suppress, not an actual, but an anticipated! in.
surrection in his state And Grant promptly
accedes to the demand, and, issuing windy
stuffed with lies as to the con-
dition OF affairs in South Carolina, directs
the Secretary OF War to issue brutal order,
commanding Gen. Sherman to send enough
L. S. troops "to such localities in South Caro-
lima that they may be most speedily and eff.
GENTLY used in case Of resistance to the au-
tbority of the United States,' Uhat is, the
authority of the carpetbaggers in their opera.
tons of voting solid bodies of negroes aud
stutfing ballot boxes on election day.
There is no end to the infamy which this
order would not cover on election day with
the protection of L. S bayonets; but the
democrats of South Carolina, knowing exact.
Iy what they ore about, and having full conf
ience in the sense of justice and sympathy of
he u. S. army, pretend, at least, that they
have no fear on that score, and gladly wei
come the troops. What they dreaded was
that Chamberlain would order out his local
militia, and with carpet.bagger ruilians al
their head would place them in charge of the
polls. So 1t is possible that, notwithstanding
The ill-concealed hellishness Of this order toI
put South Carolina under bayonGt rule, for
The purpose of compelling republican vic
tory in that state in November, it's purpose,
by the circumspecton and good conduct of
he whites, may be wholly defeated and the
missile which is so recklessly hurled from
10 crush the democratic whites,
nay be turned into boomerang and hit only
hose whose deyIlisil schemes IL was intended