The New York herald., 1876-07-31
THE HAMBURG MASSACRE.
WHAT THE coLoRED CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA
STATE ABOUT THE DREADFUL AFFAIR.

WHAT THE CoLoRED CITIZENS OF COLUMBIA
STATE ABOUT THE DREADFUL AFFAIR.
The following is an abstract OF address to tho
People of the United States, adopted at conference
of coIored citizens, held Columbia S. C, July 20
and 2l 1876 in reference the Hamburg massacre
WHAT TUE ADDRESS REcIrEs.
The address opens by stating that those who signed
II respectfully submit to their fellow citizens their
dton as citizens OF the United States and more espe
ciay IN connection with the recent massacre OF peace
able and law abiding citizens OF the State of South
Carolina at Hamburg, on the sth of July inst
The document says that the sgnaares deem 1t
right IN view OF TO the cause OF
the massacre and due. to the character of the mur
we'll of their surviving associates pre-
sent Tor the information and consideration OF the
American people calm, dispassionate and truthful
exposition OF that terrible affair
1t calls attention to tho providing for the enrol!
ment OF the male citizens oil the State who were, by
its terms made subject to the performance Of militia
duty by virtue Of which colorod citizens OF the State
duly enrolled part OF its military force
The statement is then made that 1.-THE white citizens
OF the State, With but lew EXCEPTIONS failed neglected
and refused to become members OF the iorce provided
Tor by the actthe consequence being that the active
militia of the State became composed almost exclu-
svey oi coored citizens. The county OF Edgehed, Of
which the town OF Hamburg was then part consti-
tued OF the military districts of the State under
the apportonment and allotment made by the Adjulant
General-one regiment known and numbered the
Ninth Regiment OF infantry being allotted 10 said
district. with one +. A. Belaneer as Colonel and I. r.
Rivers as Lieutenant Colonel thereof
One company OF this regiment allotted to and
organized In the town OF Hamburg, and its members
Rivers was aitcrward promoted to the rank OF brigade
commander and recently to that OF major general
OF division soon after the latter promotion new
regiment known as the Eighteenth regiment of the
National Guard, was formed. John Williams being
commissioned colonel and assigned to its command,
and hs Old company being ut the same time detached
from the Ninth and attached TO his new regiment
under the designation Of Company A. Some time be-
tore the company transferred IN this manner its
ranks became depleted and Its members ceased 10 bc
active at drills and mustcrs. although was s borne
upon the roster OF the Adjutan Generals Department
nndn rrplG lGaflf IN ha rfnH nj lA
National Guard OF the State. Soon after Williams
took command OF the Eighteenth regiment ana the
Rivers transferred the arms OF the company-which
had meanwhile been stored away under his charge
well as the acts of the General Assembly. responsible
and accountable for all the ordnance and ordnance
stores oil his regiment Recently the members of the
company whose names remained upon lis roll reOrgan
ized elected officers and recruited It's ranks to the
quistc number oil men.
Thercupon Colonel John Williams refused to reissue
to the company its arms The company ncor-
porated body having duly chartered by Of
the General Assembly, approved March II 1872
The declaration that one OF the causes which led to
the demand for the surrender OF the OF the COM
pany and the enorccment of such demand by the
bombardmcnt of their drill room was the statement OF
General Rivers that the company did not receive their
from him. and were in unlawful possession OF thcm
Is disproved by the TACT that General Rivers denies
in sworn statement that he made such assertion
about the ''unlawfui possession of the arms
On Tuesday, July the company paraded for drill at
Hamburg and, whe passing through ono OF the least
frcquented streets OF the town, which by actual
meas urement l4S feet wde horse and buggy was
driven into their ranks by Thomas Butler and Henry
Getzen white citizens living some miles IRON the
town. At the time Of this interference the company
marching in columns OF fours, occupying space
of less than eight feet the width OF the street.
After demonstrating with the occupants OF the buggy
Doc. Adams, captain OF the company, ordered The
company divide and suffered the buggy to drive
through peaceably. On the following day Robert j.
Butler father OF Of the occupants OF the buggy and
father iu.law OF the other. complained before P. r.
Rivers Trial Justice, that the company had obstruced
public street. Upon thus complaint Rivers sum-
moned, by civil process, the captain and other officers
Of The company to appear before him on the following
day. Adams and his lieutenant appeared to answer
the day named.
Robert j. Butler the complainant was present, ac-
companed by several othcr white men, each heavily
armed with revolvers On tho calling of the it
was announced to the Court that the defendants
present aud that Mr.. Henry Sparnick member of The
circuit bar OF The county. had been retained repre-
sent them Robert j. Butler, in angry and excited
manner, protested against such rcprese and
that the hearing should be postponed until he
could procure counsel from the city OF Augusta, Ga,
to represent his sido OF the case; whereupon Adams
and his eutenants. after consultation with their ator-
ney. who informed them that there legal
grounds upon which the could be decided against
them, waived their constitutional right to- be repre-
scntcd by counsel and consented TO go to trial There
upon the opened and proceeded
with for some time but, owing TO some me
further hearing adjourned to tho S.h inst On Satur-
day General N. g. Butler OF Edgeied, arrived in tho
town OF Hamburg, aud soon alter mounted armed white
began to arrive IN squads Of ten fifteen up
hali-pas five o'clock, when the number OF armed
dred-the last arrival up TO That time beng that OF
Colonel A. p Butler at tue head OF ty or seven,yve
men, Immediately after General N. C. Buffers arrival In
the town he sent for the attorney who had
been engaged to represent tho militia officers
on the Thursday preceding. An interview
held the result OF which that the at
torney charged with request from General But
Ter General Rivers and the officers OF the militia
company 10 come and confer with HIM. The attorney
lett ON that MISSION and before reaching the officers,
met gentleman who apprzcd him OF the TACT that he
had been requested by the officers OF tho company
D,tln ,,,A -n,th hn
agreed between the two that tho former should
acquant General Rivers with the facts and remain
his Rivers house tilt the latter should from
his interview with General Butler. THIS done. Be-
fore the latter returned the officers of the company
had met at General Rivers house. and when the
from General Butler came 1t was agreed upon ata
free conference held between General Rivers the ator
ncy the officers and some OF their friends present that
expedicn ana best to accede to General Buffers
request and lave an interview with him.
To this proposition two OF the officers excepted stat
ing again and again they were AFRAID to do So be-
they believed 1t to be plot 10 effect their
sinaton. message was, however, sent to General
Butle to ascertain II he could them without the
presence OF his armed force To this he asscncd, but
before couki DO made bring the
interview "a message from him stating that the
hour fixed ior trial had arrived that he at court,
and requesting the presence OF the trial justice Gen
era Rivers The latter proceeded 10 his Office alone
and found General Butler waiting for him. Rivers
about TO proceed with the case when Butler asked Tor
further time. which granted. He went of but
never returned 10 the court Butler went from Rivers
Office to the Council Chamber, oilowed,by crowd Of
along He sent a committee TO wait on the officers,
requesting them 10 come and him. The officers
again declined 10 go, assigning the as be-
forcthat they were not safe in their persons long
rs Butler surrounded by this armed band
Another committee from General Butler announced
the latters ut matum, which that the officers
should apologize for what took place July and
surrender their arms to him Upon this the officers
asked General Rivers, who only the trial JUS
tcc before whom their case was pending, but
major general commanding tho division OF the militia
which they belonged, If he demanded arms from
them Rivers replied that he did no, and thcrcupon
the officers declared their unwilngncss to surrender
their arms to General Butler. because they re-
sponsblc and he had no right to demand them or to
receive thcm f surrendered. Subsequently a citizen,
anxious to prevent what he feared would be a COL
lision, called General Batter and asked hiln
what he proposed doing. He replied that he
Intended to have the arms In nalf an hour
or ..lay the damned town ashes'' Another inter-
view was held, at which General Butler again repeated
his utmatun, and upon being asked whether II his
terms complied WITH he would guarantee pro-
lection 10 the people OF the town he said he aid mot