The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-19
~ sd. II. CHAMBERLAIN,
Governor of South Carolina.
ct-Attorney Corbih's Report

District Attorney Corb1As Heporte I
COLUMBIA, October 9, 1876
10 Governor d. II. Chamberlain: - 'i'
DEAR SIR--You having askeu sofime q
statement Of the general condition of
affairs in Aiken County as l found them
to'bein my visit during the past week, !
have the honor to state that Ispent' three
days in Aiken, ,Gand had before me, and
took the afidavits Of a considerable
number of citizens from different parts OF
the county. I find that rife clubs, or
regular military organizations, organized
substantially after the manner of military
companies in the United States. army,
exist throughout the county. The Of.
GERS of these companies are called cap
tains and lieutenants, and the subordi-
nate officers are called sergeants and cor
peorals. They are all armed with wea-
pornls of various patents, but many OF
them of the latest and most improved
kinds. Rifles and sixteen-shooters, are
most common. Pistols. are universal.
These companies meet at stated Intervals
for drill in the various military naneu-
vres. They are also subject to be called
out on any occasion by their command !
4 These Clubs have created and are caus:
ing a perfect reign of terror. The colored
men are, many of them, living out OF
doors and away from their houses at
nightfall. Many Of them have been
killed, and many have been taken from
their. beds at night and merciiessly
whipped, and others have been hunted
with threats of murder and whipping,
who, thus far, by constant watchfulness
and activity, have escaped. The white
men of these clubs are riding day and
night. and the colored men are Informed
that their only safety from death or whip-
ping lies in their signing an agreement
pledging themselves to- vote the Demo
cratic ticket in the, coming election. -.
From the best information l could
obtain in the time I was in Aiken, fix
the number of colored men killed in this
county alone BY white men of these clubs,
during the past three weeks, at thirteen
certainly, and at probably twenty-five tor
thirty. The civil arm Of the government
in this county is as .poYerless as the wind n
TO DIcSeub GutSc dtlOOle1Co' 1nS SnSA@AAl
of the county, if disposed, dare not at
tempt to arrest the perpetrators of these
crimes for'ifear of his own life being
taken. "a He did not, as am credihlysln'
formed, 60 within seven, ilesiofmthe
eight hundred men, SO estimated by
United States army officers who saw them
assembled under the command Of A.. ?.
Butler, near Ropse's Bridge, and march
| ing upon q crowd Of colored men there,
whom they Had surrounded and intended,
as scores Of them allege,to kiIl. 55@... ea..' .;
In conclusion, I have only to say that
the, condition of affairs in Aiken Comfy
rivals the worst demonstration of thelkp
Klux Klan in 1870 to l571.rh In my judg..
ment you owe it to yourself as. Governor,
and tothe peopleiof the State, to- exercise,
,and at once, all Che powers vested in yn7u
as Governor of the State, to put down
this deplorable state Of affairs. ;...s,, i
Very respectfully, -,
| nt ll1' ii ID. T. CoRBIN,,'' ="
|: United States District Attorney !. ''s'i
sa@ For South Carolina