The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-10-21

strike had recently occurred ON some rico pianta.
tons which was not yet settled but violence had
been used on eiiher side A stranger sojourning In
any part of the State Ii he had been brought along
blindfolded from the North, could not have told
from sis experience whether he was In Virginia,
North Carolina south Carolina or Georgia. The
usual industries of this latitude were pursued by
whites aud blacks as quietly and harmonionsly as
ever before Acts Of awlessncSs were not at all more
common than ~ New England. Property holders
indeed were obliged 10 complain OF excessive taxa
ton, and values OF all kinds were much diminished,
because Of the frauds which had been practised by
State officials But otherwise there was nothing 20
make life In South Carolina more uncomfortable
than In the North or West
And to-day, II should be understood, the condition
of affairs described Is unchanged as respects by far
the greater portion OF the Stale II Is only in few
OF the lower counties that outbreaks have occurred,
or arc likely tooccur, Thesecountes contain vast
negro population, Among them, Edgeheld is most
northern lying on the Savannah river, the Georgia
boundary. Nextsouth of Edgoheld Is Aiken county,
in which is situated Hamburg, small, 3ilapidated
village on the river, Just opposite Augusta Barn.
well, Beaufort and Colleton lie between Aiken and
Charleston. The counties eastward from these though
reckoned in the low country" have been free from
disturbances except the occasional burning OF gin
house or dwelling by incendares.
The first serious trouble was the Hamburg riot,
which occurred soon after the nomination OF Gen.
Hampton for Governor. In thatri0t which resulted
In the death OF seven eight negroes and one white
man. the whites were unquestionably the aggrcSors.
IL is true they were exasperated by the nsolent con
duct of the negroes, by numerous losses from fire
which they charged 70 the negroes and by threats
Of further injury TO person and properly. But the
demand for the arms of band OF negroes was ille-
GAL and the attempt 10 take them by force was law
less violence, The shooting of several negroes who
had surrendered after resisting, was In the last de-
gree cruel and barbarous The Hamburg riot how.
ever, was In the striciest sense local affair. The
whites engaged IN IL were mostly young men from
Edgefeld and Augusta, who acted upon sudden
wild impulse stung ~ madness by what they thought
were intOlerabe projections, Their conduct was
denounced by the unanimous voice Of the state,
Many OF them have been arrested, and arc to stand
a. "a
The next trouble was the riot in Charleston. This
really small affair except as All indication Of
the spirit and purpose of the people ON both sides
Here the negroes were to blame, truly the
whites ut Hamburg A Democratic club. composed
OF c0lored men-a lew whites assembling with them
US political friends-had been holding a meeting
As they came of their hall into the street they
were assaulted by mob OF negroes whose object
apparently was TO take vengeance on those OF their
own color who had Joined the Democratic party
OF course a fight ensued and through the whole
night hundreds OF negroes yelling In the streets
uttering tremendous threats of tire and blood and
actually knocking over every white man who chanc-
cd 10 be passing. Many persons were thus laid up
for days with broken heads who had nothing to do
with the affair except as innocent victims of a
whirlwind thatmade no distinctions But there was
only one death--a white man-and the bruises re-
ceiyed weresoon healed ltappeared however, that |
safety and order. Accordingly the next day the rifle
clubs of the city, embracing in the aggregate proba
bly, two thousand men, took steps for defending their
homes If general uprising should occur. They |
were organized under common leader, and details
OF ten or fifteen men IRON each company were re- |
qurcd to be on guard every night in their several
club-rOoms, with instructions for action in of
necessity. This system of watching and guarding
has been continued until now, but there has been
no further disturbance. Still the streets not
sidered safe at night Ladies' do not go out at all
after dark, nor gentlemen. even unless armed.
Another and the most serious, disturbance was
what Is known the Elenton riot about three weeks
ago. Eenton is little village on the railroad be-
tween Augusta and Port Royal, in Barnwel County |
In this the whites Kept within the letter OF the law
so far Us one can learn not from newspaperaccounts
merely but from the unrestrnned talk of our people
among themselves, when they would not be likely
10 disguise the truth through fear of exposure The
beginning was an assault upon a lady in her own
house by two negro men. The end was the death of
twelve or fifteen negroes and one white man. besides
the wounding of many on both sides. The whites
acted as posse regularly summoned 10 assist the
sherln, Inc negroes masscd themselves in large
numbers, armed and refused TO disperse. They had
done much damage, including the wrecking of a
train ON the Port Royal Railroad.
These events have created feeling of uneasiness
an apprehension OF further trouble, and the white
people are not only armed individually, but numer
Gus associations have been formed in many counties
organized after the manner OF militia, and holding
frequent meetings. These are the rihe-clubs which
Governor Chamberlain, by proclamation this week,
has ordered 10 disband, with the threat of martial
law for the entire State II he Is not obeyed The
Governor alleges that the existence of these clubs
intereres with the processes of law, and that the
civil officers resisted This allegation has been
deniedby the ChiefJustice of the State the Associate
Justice all but two of the Circuit Judges land those
two not heard from YETI and by subordinate officers
of the law, among them the Sheriff of Aiken County
Al these are Republican officials and their contra.
dictiOns OF the Governors charges have been pub.
lishod. Arrests are being made now OF citizens in
Aiken and Banwell, by United States troops Gen. |
Hampton and all Democratic leaders have counsel
led the white people TO make resistance to this
movement of the Governor, but submit 10 arrests |
trusting TO the overcoming might of Justice and
honor 70 defeat the plots OF partisan tyranny.
The election for State officers takes place slmulta.
neousy with the Presidential election on the an of
November. The canvass is intensely exciting and
some fears are felt that the crisis will not pass with
out trouble.
Such is an unvarnshed account of affairs In the
State generally. About Charleston, a few words |
more u is undeniable that the negroes of this city
are growing more lawless every day Hundreds Of
them are out of employment and idleness with them
as with Others Of the human family Is prolific OF
evil Mutterings Of wrath are often heard robbcrles
and assaults are common, and in numerous instances
white girls going TO or from school, and most respec-
table married ladies, have been vilely insuled by
negro men. II were possible to identity such VII
lians, one need not hesitate to say that their lives
would quickly pay the forfeit-and the voice OF the
whole country would be- Amen 40
Chdriosi0n, October, 1876.