New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-23

| the officers that the company should get
| out Of the way, and if they did not,
should at once set to work and murder the
men of that military company? ask you,
citizens of the United States, would you
stand it, I ask you, brave men, who fought
| took part in the war of the rebellion, would
you stand it? I ask you, proud Southern
men, who boast of your gallantry and your
Intelligence and your superiority to my
race, would YOU stand it, l ask you. men
of the North, who eacrifced your blood and
| treasure, who sacrificed the lives of your
sons and your relatives, would you stand
it, Do you. then, expect negroes to stand
all this Do you expect my race to submit
meekiy to continual persec1tion and massa-
ere by these people Of the South! Are you
not going to allow US any right OF self de-
Tense? In the name of my race and my peo-
pie, in the name of humanity, ii the name
of God ask you whether We are to be
American citizens, with all the rights and
immunities Of citizens: or whether we are
to be vassals and slaves again! ask you to
tell US whether these things are to 60 on,
so that we may understand, now and
henceforth, what we are to expect?
The Chairman-The gentiemans time
has expired.
Mr. Rainey-One word more. I ask to
have published as part of my remarks an
editorial from the Charleston NewS and
Courier and some other extracts which l
have not had time to read.
Mr.. Garfield-Let them be printed.
The Charm an-The chair hears no OBJ
lection, and the gentleman has consent to
print them.
Mr.. Garfeld-What is the date of the
editorial of the Nems and Courier
Mr.. Rainey-July 10, 1876.
The papers ordered to be printed are as
follows;
THE BLOODY WORK AT HAMBURG.
Assuming that the accounts of the Ham
burg fight given by the Augusta newspa-
pers are in the main correct, we find little,
If any, excuse for the conflict itself and alb
soluteiy none for the cowardly killing of
the seven negro prisoners who were shot
down like rabbits long after they had sur
rendered.
The ignorance OF the negro militiamen,
out of which the trouble came, could easily
have been punished without resort to
arms. General Butler, who appears to have
been in command Of the whites, admitted
that an apology by the militiamen would
satisfy his clients. The affront to Mr.. But
Ter. therefore, was not the immediate cause
Of the fight that followed. This was brought
on by the demand that the militiamea sur
render their arms into the keeping of ths
whites. The presence Of armed bodies of
negroes is q menace to any community; but
we do not understand that the danger was
such rs to justify the whites in demanding
the surrender of the arms or in laying siege
to the house in which the negroes took
refuge and killing the negroes who attempt
ed to escape The killing OF seven Of the
negroes was barbarOus in the extreme. We
have no words strong enough to express
our condemnation of such crime. They
who do such deeds SOW the wind We pray
that they and those who are innocent Of the
wrong may not reap the whirlwi1d.
1t pains Us to be forced to speak in this
strain Of any act done in South Carolina
by white men; but the higher intelligence
and culture OF the whites impose on them
the duty of self-reverence and se!t-control.
When they give way to passion and re-
venge, when they kill ruarmed prisoners,
they 90 what. as soldiers, they would not
have dreamed OF doing; they wrong them.
selves their State, and increase hundred
fold the difficulties and dangers of our
political and social future.
What followed is given in the words of
the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel Of to-
day:
THIS THING HAD GONE ON LONG ENOUGH.
After waiting some time, General Butler
told Rivers that he must proceed. The con.
stable then went to the door and called Ad-
ans, who, however failed to answer. It was
then ascertained that Adams, with mis- COM
psny, was up the street in defiant atti-
tude General Butler thereupon informed
Rivers that this sort Of thing had gone on
long enough, and it was about time that it
was put q stop to. The negroes must give
up their arms at once, and he would give
the names of twenty OF the best citizens in
Edyefeld as security that they would be
turned over to Governor Cham berlain.
Rivers then asked # General Butler, in case
tbs arms were given up, would sac that the
town was protected during the night. Gen
era! Butter answered IN the Affirmative.
Rivers assured him that ne would 20 imme.
diately to Adams and persuade him to give
up the arms. He accordingly went to that
worthy and talked with him for some time.
Upon his return he told General Butler that
the mayor, Gardner, and the officers OF the
company would confer with him at the
council chamber. General Butler accord
!ngiy went thither and had a conference
with the negro leaders. He told them that
necessity for them in that place, and they
had no business with them. As for the Ad-
ans case. Mr.. Butler would be satisfied if
Adams would make an apology.
THEY INTEND TO FIGHT.
This conference accomplished nothing.
The negroes still hesitated about giving up
the arms. In the meantime, however,
number of white citizens had assembled in
the town and matters began to look
sauaily. General Butler rode over to Au-
gusta and told several young men that he
might need their services in Hamburg
during the afternoon, He then returned to
the town. Just after crossing the bridge
he was met by Prince Rivers who said he
would make one more effort to induce the
negroes to give up their guns, and if they
would not yield they must take the conse-
9uences. Accordir ely he conferred with
the officers OF the cOmpOny, a1d shortly re-
turned to General Butler with the an
noueoement that the negroes said they
would not give up their guns; they intended
to fight. In the meantime tae news Of the
trouble had spread in Augusta and caused
much excitement, A large number of
young men hastily procured arms and am
munition aad fastened to the scene. Many
others waited at the foot of the bridge anx-
iously awaiting the result. By seven
o'clock there was large crowd at that
point
OPENING FIRE.
Upon learning the result of Rivers efforts.
General Butler determined to effect by
force that which could not be done by peace
able means. The negroes had entrenched
themselves in large brick structure, known
as Sioley's building, on corner, and detied
the whites. The latter surrounded the
house, and at half-past seven oclOck opened
fire upon it. This was returned by the ne.
g-oes and constant fusilade was kept up
for over two hours.
THE FIRST MAN KILLED.
About eight o'clock young man named
I. McKie Merriwether who was standing
near the front Of the Charlotte. Columbia
and Augusta railroad bridge, was struck in
the head By mimic ball fred from one of
the windows of the Sibley building, and
almost instantly killed. His body was