Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-01
5lafrimam DC gnnruL
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER !, 1870.
Governor chamberlaIn's Justification.

mas luInlsheu 10 the new ofk tribune
full statement of the reasons which induced
him to call upon the President for aid in
suppressing domestic violence The press
dispatches from that state, he says, and
truly, represent only the views Of his oppo-
nents. lie himself does not expect TO in
huence partisaus ON either side Most Re
publicans he says, will stand by him aud
the President, while most democrats viii
denounce them both. But he addresses his
statement to " the large reserve force of men
not blinded or perverted by mere partisan
ship" 1t should be remembered that Gov.
ernor Chamberlain is entitled TO candid
hearing by all fair men. His course, since
he became Governor, has merited nothing
but approval lie has striyen with remark
able earnestness to remedy the evils in his
state and TO give it good government lie
broke with the disreputable leaders of the
Republican party, and has been bitterly de-
nounced 10y them while he has been as
warmly praised by the best democrats. Up
to the time that Wade Hampton was nomi-
mated, the leading democratic paper Of South
Carolina and many of the most prominent
democratic leaders strongly opposed making
any nomination against Chamberlain, and
stoutly maintained that he had proved him
self a genuine reformer, and that the best
interests Of the state demanded that he
should be sustained by the honest sentiment
Of the state.
The Tilden programme demanded that
Hampton should be nominated. Chamberlain
denounced, and an effort made to carry the
state on the Mississippi plan !" but this
does not change the good record of Mr..
Chamberlain as a reforner nor prevent his
being a most important and Trustworthy
witness as to the affairs of his state.
Governor Chamberlain asserts that there
was no time to assemble the legislature.
Democratic violence existed presenting so
formidable a resistance or obstruction to the
discharge of the functions of the govern
ment Of the state, the enforcement Of its
laws and the protection of its citizens, as to
require greater force than the government of
the state possesses for that purpose" And to
prove this it was not necessary to send a col
ored constable or sheriff to arrest a thou
sand armed and mounted men. There are
al least two hundred and thirteen ,oliticsl
rifle climbs in the states containing a mem.
bership yariouslv estimated AT from sixteen
10 thirty Thousand. and recnlarlv org,ri,.d
as regiments. Within the last four months
fully tan tbopsand imnrov,d braoch .lo,d;r,,
rifles have been nurcbo.o3 for those cl,hs
which are not only outside tbs law tn+
strictly nrobibited bv the la,ys If tbo .t,to
lie saws
orbo oydonce d. ,t,., ,t...,,,.
varo formed and have to,,, c,,st.,,,i,. r.,., ~.
ntiot ,,,.is - ,,,,,,,i,,,i,,, - ,,.o 5.-.,,.
n,rt- n,ri,,, ma -, -, -, -,
nonnblic,n n,eoti,~s anon, othor. Il, ~.
,,,r,ies ~ tdco,;otl No,.t,or.,. ,,t.,,,,,' ~
VOL ana tan.ss,or a. ,,b ~ ,i,i,t, ~. -
were rresert Il, number. ,,,i,,, ,.,,,, ,,,. t
d-oA o,o -, -.
,,i,t, ,5st,i. a,,, 80 ,...,,..,,., ,.
,oo'ri.,, ,,o ,i,I.. - AZ. a. -
marched and ,,ano,,'ora1 a.. ,,.,,,,.'. ,..,,i.'.
oo,nrarios m, a,,o,,,a., r.. -.
denocr,ts tool, cor,r,l ~ ~,
and in ali insta,,oo, o,,'o, 80, ~
participation in Republican meeting. by their
presence as armed, organized bodies"
Prior to the recent instances Of wide
spread violence which led to the call for
troops, these clubs had killed exclusive of
the Hamburg and Ellenton massacres) not
less than fifteen Republicans had whipped
edly threatened thousands They had eyaded
punishment by reason of their numbers and
the terror inspired both in their sections and