Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1876-09-09
HAMBURG HUMBUG.

Editorial of Cincinnati Enquirer. August goth I
For, while lives Were cruelty lost, it was Il
humbng, political massacre intended to fire the
northern heart. We reglet the sacrifice OF life;
we regret that the long suffering of the white
men OF Hamburg was not greater We are sorry
that the white men of Hamburg had not, with Il
snts OF job, endured the provocation, that relief
from this rule might more speedily come. There
Is sense of justice beneath black SKINS un i'm
pulse WHICH, II not misguided or deceived, is
toward equity and fair play, and this patient
love OF the right, OF honest government. among
rapidly developing. 1t is o misfortune when
any white men in the south do anything, no
matter what the provocation, to retarrf this
tendency. 1t Is epecially important that thu.
white men OF the south-wh0 are democrats-
should do nothing to give impetus to the outrage
M machinery. nothing to give ground for charges
OF outrage or abuse, those charges being main
stay fthe republican party. They should obey
the law and keep the peace. The traps are set:
sii. let them not fall into them. But the country
vas the most yiliainously concoctcd, gicvilish
sshelns for political effect that has ever dis
town of Edgeleld district, South Carolina
the district having IN 1870 population of II 900
white. @s,sr1v and so1"red giving the negroes
are negroes. the county officers are negroes, the
militia composed of negroes, the Trial Justice a
negro. and L sample is there offered of black
tyranny. and the opportunity has been libcrally
improved by the colorcd rulers. This was a ii,
spot icr the experiment. an eminentIy favorable
sign. Governor Chamberlain was Il lit man TO
SHecute the plan to nauis,Iraie the courage -
Inc negroes had robbed and r.vished, had seat
tered lawlessness and violence throughout the
district They had exhausted the patience of the
White men OF the district, and kindled the in
ulehatiOn OF the better portion of the people of
tneir own color. Some of their most enormous
oltrages were committed under the sacred name
OF law and order. This WAS the situation when
tne Hamburg Affair began. We have COPIES of
amdhvits proving that this Hamburg violence
was deliberately planned in advance; that the
arms ana ammunition Were secured with the in
tent OF making trouble; that the design was to
make political capital. That the armed body OF |
negroes was without authority of law seems IN
dlsputable. That they laborIOlIslv provoked m.
disturbance Is abundantiy proved. From a mass
OF afndaVlts before us Oiler "A few extracts
Tor the candid consideration OF our north.ru
republicans who have been listening 10 and
believing but one side OF the story wines,
hearts have been 90 fired - III were re-
ceiVei IN court Us competent testimony touching
the question of bail. JAS. X. Randolph sw.,rs
before Nm. L. Gary: "Thut nn sunday morning |
Juiy ~. 1886. drponent saw cruw,i of about
eiSht armed negroes near the piac,. where demo. |
neht resided, four miles from Hamburg. in
Aikeh county, and state OF South Carolina
lnat, IN conversation with this squad of ne
sroes. the negroes who were armed with guns
saiu that the negroes Intended to XIII the Whit.
people that they Intended to kill the men wo-
men and children, and burn the houses. ailcr
taxing sucn provisions and othe supplies IS they
-eeoed. 1he negroes said that thcy intended