The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-15
The Hamburg Massacre.

The massacre of negroes at Hamburg,
South Carolina, is fitting commentary on
the sincerity of Southern professions of peace
and good will. To deprive the colored man of
his rights as citizen, to terrorize the districts
where he has majority, and to shoot him
down whenever he opposes the will of his
late masters-all these do not appear to an
tagonize in the Democratic mind the ac-
ceptance in good faith of the constitutional
amendments and the results of the war; But
the loyal people of the North are scarcely
prepared to accept such evidences of recon-
ciliation. A desire for peace that illustrates
itself by murder is not calculated to appeal
strongly to fraternal feeling in this section.
The Northern people entertain certain ideas
in regard 10 the sanctity of human life the
rights of colored men, and the supremacy of
law which do not permit them to view with
complacency occurrences like the Hamburg
riot.
The facts of that affair, as set forth by the
Augusta, Ca, Chronicle are substantially as
follows: On the Fourth of July colored
company was parading in the streets of Ham
burg. Two young South Carolinians one of
them member of the Butler family, who
were driving along the street, were detained
by the procession for few moments, as not
unfrequently happens on like occasions. AZ
ter brief detention the young men went on,
having suffered no violence and little delay.
But their chivalric spirit appears to lave
haap arpnSaJ ot n a1yipu hnap hin6aro1 in
their drive by "nigger' procession, and
they made application next day to justice
of the peace to have the question investigated
as to whether the military had the right to
obstruct the highway. Probably all over the
country similar detentions took place, and
nowhere else was it thought necessary to
bring the matter to the attention of the
courts. But IN South Carolina white man
felt himself affronted and he sought ven
geance. The captain of the colored company
was called before the tribunal, lost his tenn
per at the absurd charge, and was placed un-
| der arrest for contempt of court. Next day
he failed to appear at the trial, and it was
| found that he lad mustered his company pre-
sumably with view to resist arrest. Ex-
| rebel General M. c. Butler, who appeared
for the scions of Southern chivalry, then
| went to the company and demanded that
| they should give up their arms and that the
| captain should make an apology. These
| terms being rejected, word was sent to the
white people about, and they began to as
| semble with arms in their hands. Butler also
summoned the whites from across the Geor-
| gia line, and large detachment came to
| Hamburg to join in the quarrel. The negro
] company, seeing the preparations for an at
tack, took refuge in a large brick building
which was assaulted by the whites. The ne
| groes returned the fire and one white man
was killed. Then the assaulting party pro.
| cured cannon and began bombardment.
The negroes attempted to escape from the
building, but were shot at as they made
their way out. In the course of the night
after an attempt was made by the whites tc
set the building on fire, they did manage tc
escape, but were hunted through the town
and many were captured hid in cellars and
under floors. Soon after midnight seven
| captured negroes were taken out and killed
One of the murdered men was a county com.
missioner and member Of the legislature
The Chronicles narrative says in conclu.
| sion:-
We learn that before the shooting took place
a detail Of twenty-five men was made and or.
| dered to take the prisoners to Aiken to iail.
On the way it was determined to kill the ring
leaders and the shooting was done as described.