The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-12
THE PROCLAMATION AND THE RI.
FILE CLUBS.

THE PROCLAMATION AND THE RI
FILE CLUBS.
AS the time for the general election
draws near, the conspiracy of the Radical
gang to destroy the peace of this State
becomes apparent. Every step in the
campaign has exposed the desire of the
conspirators to goad on to madness and
desperation the determined masses of the
Democrats, and in almost every instance
their Vaccinations have been frustrated
by the prudence, discretion and manly for
bearance of the white citizens of this
State. But the desperate straits of the
Radical party, with certain and inevita-
bic defeat staring them in the face, re-
quired bolder and more unscrupulous
conduct on their part, and this necessity
has eliminated in theinfamous procla-
nation of the puritannical and false
hearted Governor of South Carolina, set
ting forth the pretence that in certain
counties the unlawful combinations and
illegal distractions which render it i'm
practicable to enforce the laws by the
ordinary course of judicial proceedings,
and further alleging that there are organ
izations known as "riae clubs" which are
engaged in committing open acts of law
lessness and violence, now existing in all
the counties of this State. These "unlaw-
full combinations. and assemblages," to-
gether with the 'srihe clubs" are COM
manded to disband and disperse within
three days from the date of the proclaim
alton, on pain of incurring the penalties
which may be imposed by the active use
of all the powers conferred upon the
Chief Executive by the statutes "made
and provided" to meet such EMERGENCIES
as the Radical leaders find are now con-
fronting them.
The disturbances in Aiken and Barn
we'll Counties have long since ceased to
exist. The facts have been given to the
world, and prove conclusively that the
recent troubles in that section originated
from members of the Radical party, who
were defying the law and resisting its
officers, besides endangering the peace,
order and security of the entire commu-
nifty. When the riots occurred, did Gov.
Chamberlain attempt to exercise the ex-
traordinary powers he now boasts of pos.
sessing in quelling the disturbances :?
Not for single moment! He hied away
to Massachusetts,, via Washington City,
when the outbreak was made known, and
it was not until the rioters and disturbers
of the public peace were scattered by the
United States troops, with the assistance
ofthe maligned "riAe clubs" acting as a
posse conaitotus under the officers of the
civil law, that Governor Chamberlain
ventured back again into the confines of
the State he disgraces and traduces at
every step of his mad career. 1t is we'll
to remember that Aiken and Barnwell
Counties are within the judicial circuit
presided over by Republican Judge,
whose official act are in striking harmony
with the conspiracy now developed to
accuse his political opponents of resisting
the laws he is sworn to execute. Judge
Wiggin "a mere leaf on the current" as
Gov. Chamberlain described him last
winter, denied an investigation into the
Hamburg riot only last month, under the
procurement of the Attorney-General of
the State, who is Chamberlain's appointee
and intimate friend. The citizens of
Aiken County charged with participa-
tion in the Hamburg affair were ready and
anxious for trial, but it was refused
Not one of the accused resisted arrest in
the first instance. In the case of the
Ellenton riot, Judge Wiggin adjourned
the Barnwell Court in most summary
and uniustifable manner, while the dis
turbance was in progress, and authorized
the rifle clubs" under the command of
Gen. Hagood to 60 with the Sheriff as a
posse comitatus to assist in quelling the
riots. Not a single attempt has been
made to arrest Democrat for any par
ticipation in the Ellenton affair, and the
facts stamp the Governor with unblush-
ing falsehood and mendacity in alleging
that there is resistance to the methods
and machinery of the law. The only
obstruction to the ordinary course of
judicial proceedings has been created and
maintained by Judge Wiggin, under the
advice and counsel of Republican officials,
including Chamberlain himself, as we
verify believe.
The allegation that there are certain
organizations in all the counties of this
State, commonly known as "rife clubs, :"
none will deny or attempt to conceal.
Their formation has not been secured in
secret, nor are the members unknown to
all citizens who cared TO enquire as to
their "local habitation and names" We
will take Anderson County for an exam
pie as to the process of organization. In
every instance, probably, when these
companies were formed, the name, place
and date of their formation, together
with the list of officers elected, were
promptly furnished to the editors of the
Lntelkgencsr, and our files will show the
facts connected with their organization.