Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-11

hon Bfnj1Hlin r. DUteT.
My DEAR SIR Knowing you to be an untater,
ing republican, man who has convictions and
dares express them, take the liberty Of address
ing you few lines upon the condition OF affairs
in this State. Being personally acquainted with
YOU do not feel it necessary to apologize further
than have already done. -
We are now in the midst of one of the squalli-
lest campaigns that l have experienced In THIS
State, and have been here ever since reconstruc-
ton. In 1868 it was stormy and unpleasant, but
nothing to be compared to the campaign OF TINS
year. You are, of course. aware OF what mas
been done by the democrats toward making up
their State ticket. Every man upon that ticket,
from Hampton down, was once an officer IN the
rebel army, and most of them are of the violent
class, as Hampton himself was IN 1868, when he
made his nnti-reconstruction speech at Iamnany
Hal-when Seymour was nominated for Presi-
dent.
They have begun their campaign upon what is
commonly known as the Mississippi plan 90
far as that plan has yet been developed, amounts
to just this: Republican meeting Is called in
some county 10 the State, at which, OF course IL
is exp, cted that few besides republicans will re
present. But what is the fact, and what Is the mo
das operandi. let me tell you from my own expo.
rence for | have now been present at fve OF
th. Sc meetings during the past three weeks.
About the time the hour for meeting arrives
hundreds Of mounted, armed white democrats roe
into town, surround the stand, aud to all inents
and purposes, take virtual possession thereof.
You are Of course, aware of the fact that the
great bulk of the republican party of this aud all
other Southern States is made up OF colored men
These men attend the meetings unarmed, and
conseque ntly are in no condition to defend thu m
selves from the insults and jeers of the democra-
CIV Even if they were armed, as undrilled. uned-
ucated, and undsciplined they are, you
can at once see that they would never stand be
fore the trained veterans OF the Confederacy, Tor
these what make up the democratic party IN
this State at least.
| was at, at, at, at, -, and -,
as one of the invited speakers, Gov. Chamberlain
beng present, also at all the gatherings. In every
instance the democrats were present ''in force.
and took what may be called "forcible possession"
of the meeting. They always come In compact
bodies of from three hundred to one thousand
mounted, and every man armed with pistols.
They do not ask to be heard, but they demand 1t,
and say if we do rots agree, they will be heard
anyway. will take the last meeting we attended
on Thursday last, the-inst, At, AS fair spec
linen of the others; although the further we ad
vance in the campaign, the more boisterous and
turbulent the democratic rabble becomes.
At least 600 mounted armed white liners were
present, and about the same number of colored
republicans. Gov. Chamber lain was the first
speaker, and every person who knows the Govern
or knows that he is not man to use harsh lam
guage OF any character After the Governor sat
down. and he several times interrupted, one
-, son Of the poet, followed in an abusive,
insulting harangue of twenty minutes, during
which time he called the Governor "carrion
crow" "buzzard who had come here to rob and
steal from decent people; seedy adventurer from
Massachusetts, where he soon would have to 60
az partner of the thief Ames." His talk was of
this vile character from the moment that he be-
gap,-followed by-and was frequently insuted
in the same way, but not quite so pointedly. AT
ter-came one, Of, who has been nomi-
mated on the Hampton ticket as Congressman from
the-district, now filled by.
made the most reasonable and inflammato-
nv speech ever listened to by any one, and was
cheered by bis rebel rife clubs to the echo, with
the old "rebel yell' which yon have SO often
heard on the battle field. Turning to his rebel
horde he said, "Why don't you hang them p
(poin,ing to the Governor and-seated behind
lin on the STAGE chang them here and now! If
you, people Oh, are too cowardly, send tele-
gram to-and l will guarantee enough trusty
men to do it for you. Shoot them down like dogs,
as they are!
Remember, this was at meeting called by re-
publicans in a strong republican county. When
this appeal was made the democrats yelled franti-
cally, but made no movement toward us. The
Governor was frequently insulted by such express
sions as, "You - bald headed son of a.
get away from here" "Go to Massachusetts,,
you-carpet- thief"
The republicans of the North ought to under
stand these things as they are. l cannot describe
them with my pen as / could orally.
How much longer are we to stand here upon
the outposts of political civilization to hold up the
republican flag
My life has been repeatedly threatened, and it
is not infrequently that you can find colored pick
cts from my home to my office, until it is found
that am safely at home. have wife and fam
lily Of children dependent upon me, and have no
right to peril their interests and their future in
der to uphold what it seems to me is regarded in
the North as a sentiment.
as firmly believe as l believe in my existence,
that the democrats carry the entire South in the
pending election, we will again be called upon to
defend the old flag upon the field of conflict.
Mir, the man who has been nominated for
Congress at - the other day, said that he had
"tacedthe United States Army without fnching
once and was not afraid to do again. They might
send all the troops here they desired, he did not
care for them as they dared do nothing
This is the position in which we are placed here,
and what will our republican frlt nds Of the North