The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-10-11

manner Indicated that he did not consider
himself {; prisoner Or III danger, as he was
talking freely with the white men who ac-
c0mpanicd him. Cocker and those who ac-
culnpanieu him proceeded to Il piazza III front
of Il store at Ellenton station and sat down
for Il few moments, but soon proceeded to Il
large tree standing about thirty rods from the
spot where my informant stood, Cocker still
appearing uncOncerned. While standing un-
der this tree the white men suddenly stepped
away from C3ker about T., SIX io PAGES and; sta turn urn
fell, wlicreupon several Of the party advanced
towards his body and fired upon 1t O second
time. My informant also mentions s n fact
that he saw n. ~. Patterson, a democratic
trial Justice Of Bsrnwcll county; walking In
company with Cocker at Ellenton station 1T
the time first above stated. Cocker, 1t now ap-
pears, had been enticcd from his home to FL
lcnt0n upon some false pretenSe OF d sum-
mons to answer L criminal charge.
The killing OF colored people IN connection
with the EllcntOn riot extended far ana wide,
! and was kept up for several days. IN truth.
my information leads lne TO believe that it
cannot be said to have ceased now. Persons
living in the vicinitics named vouch to me
personally for the truth OF these, among
many other, instances OF murders OF colOrcu
men in Barnwell county, growing out OF the
E,llentOn riot.
On the nth Of September several colored
men were picking cotton near Elko, among
whom were two refugees from the vicinity Of
EllenLDn. Eight or ten whito men rode into
the field and nreue upon these refugees, kill
ing one and wonnding the other. The dead
body was carried and thrown into q swamp,
where 1t was found Oh the 18th by Trial JUS
lice Black, of Black vile. and Captain kensic,
of the United States garrison at Biackvillc.
On tho night OF the 9th, 81 party OF white
men visited the house OF Il cOlOrcd man about
seven miles from Black vile, and took out q
colored man who was u refugee from near
I;llcntOl. This refugee has not been seen or
heard OF since.
On Sunday, September 9th, wo coIOred
men escaping from tho vicinity of EllentOn
passed - church near A~llcndalc while the
white people were ut church. They were pur-
sued by white men from the church, and
ovcrtaken at the cabin OF u c0lorcd man at
carly evening. One was shot and died of his
| wounds at . O'Clock that night. Eand the other,
though wounded, escaped.
These are but few of the outrageS which I
fully believe have been committed by white
democrats, member Of the democratic rifle
clubs, upon colorcd republicans in Earnwell
county alone. More than forty colored and
white refugees arc reported to me as under
the protection OF the United States troops In
their camp at Blackviile at this time,
present these facts to you as a portion Of
the evidence now In my hands and within
my knowledge, which refutcS your claim that
The mrthods and agencies now employed by
the democratic purity are peaceful, orderly
and within the law
The present armed organizations which
constitute the effective force of the democratic
| party, rs WEI iS us ClltI tSelcy III us CHI
vasS, are manifrStly q menace to the peace of
the state and the rights Of the members OF
the republican party, because those orgirliza-
tons are unlawful in their origin, unlawful
in their aims, and aggressive and law-bretk-
ing in their conduct.
DEMOCRATIC PROTECTION"
1comcn nov 10 your demand that IL believe
that lawlcssness and terrorism prevail in the
to suppress it, before ! appeal to the govern
mrnt Of the United States. I am familiar
with this demand. ] have heard 1t here and
have heard 1t abroad. 1t is made the occasion
Of constant reproach that | am governor OF
the state and yet cannot and do not preserve
the public peace. General Hampton and his
blowers are seeking to profit politically by
uttcring this reproach and declaring their
easy ability to maintain the pc:icc Of the
state. 1 shall answer your demand with per-
feet plainnCss OF speech. The reason | cannot
and do not maintain the peace Of the state
and suppress lawIcSsneSs and prevent terror
! ism. Is solely because the democratic party
are the authors. of the disturbances OF the
: peace. the lawleSSne$S and terrorism which
they now reproacll me with and demand that
shall allow or Invite them to suppress. Qui
cttSlodeS cuStOdict
TO rntrust the protection of those who are
to-day endangered by the nrcSent diStur-
democratic rifle clubs, would, in my sober
Judgment, be as unnatural and unhitlIful in
me as to set kites to watch doves, or wolves
to guard sheep.
Actual lawlessncss Is, in my Judgment. and
upon the evidence before me. prevalent to-
day I'm several counties and sections OF the
state. and ! believe, upon the best altainahle
evidence. that 1t has already resulted in the
killing OF from forty to nifty defenSclcSs and
unrcsiSting republican voters. Terrorism. re-
SUlting from lawlrSSnrSS and violence, eX-
tends far more widely; and In support Of this
statement, repeat here the remark made to
me two days since by ~ white democrat who
had crossed the country from the vicinity Of
Robbins station, through Rarnwell Ounty to
/ vlnn ,,.ntt fhnf s'ttn dill Ynt IA n Gitrrart
! man anywhere But when, in view Of this
lawlcsSneSs and terrorism. you and your assoc
rtateS mock me with the demand to put II
: down by calling on the white armed demo-
Gratis who are the authors of It,. I answer that
you are welcome to the political advantage
such n demand may give you. but / shall
yield to no such demand SO long us l hold the
O.hce Of governor.
: You know as | know, that the republican
voters Of this state are not organized for sue
cesSful resistance to the aegrcssiOns OF the
democratic ritic clubs. You know, as ] know,
HAT to call upon the cOlOred Republicans
alone TO suppress this lawlcssncSs and terror
Ism would he to invite or prcclpitatc q con-
tlict the result OF which would be to Increase,
rather than suppress, the lawlessncss and ter
rnrism which now exist. In such an cmer-
gency my only reliance for effective physical
force must he upon United States troops. I
have struggled long and hard to avoid II re-
sort to this agency. I have hoped against
hope tina Il sober second thought would come
10 those who govern the democratic party
strong enough and Just enough to relieve me
from tho necessity of action which must in
tict great temporary injury upon the mate
rial Interests Of the state. But nm invested
with large and extraordinary powers by the
laws of the state to meet extraordinary cmcr-
grncies.
The executive Of the United States will do
his duty, and shall do minc; and 1t shall be
seen by the world whether the right to n
peaceful and free ballot by the citizens of this
state, conferred and made inviolable by the
constitution and laws OF state and nation
7 alike can be tramplcd under foot by any conf
bination or party Of men In this state. The
people Of this state know that I am not q
rash or unjust man, that lam tender of every
private and public interest and right; but
ing my duty, without haste but without fear.
have doubtless wearicd you, Sir-I Ger.
tainly have wearied myself-in setting forth
the various matters which were essential to
my replyto your communication. Tho state
ments OF facts herein made all rest upon ac-
tual evidence now before me-. the sources Of
J which I should have here stated If ] had not
been compelled, in order to secure the evil
dencc, to givea solemn promise. in many in
stances, not to make known the sources.
IN conclusion. ! have only to renew my
! acknowledgements for the respectful form Of
your communication. and to express the hope
that | have followed your example In that re-
gard. and that the peace and prosperity .of
south Carolina MAJ be speedily restored and
perpetually maintained.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant.
u. ii. CHAMBERLAIN,
Governor Of South (nrIlinn.