The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-11-02
A Picture OF South Carolina.
TFrom tho Chicago Intpr-Dcpan.1

From Inc thlcagO
The New York Tribune prints a letter
lire Cfthe state trho is not a Repubtican,'
which is the most comprehensive, as 1t is
the most vivid, picture Of the real horrors
If the Southern situation yet given to the
pull lie. IL Is a calm, judicial review OF the
history Of South Carolina politics from the
time Of reconstruction, and it shows that
State to be the scene OF a reign OF terrorism
fully equal In arrogance and atrocity to that
of 1SB0-61. The writer says:
One passing through south Carolina would i'm.
u vast armed camp. On every green and public
square the c ang Of muskets can be heard, ms
p~araling infantry ground their arms. From
every old HELD rings out threatenlngly the note of
the bugle or the booming Of the field piece, rs
cavalry and artillery perform their cvolutiuns.
| The leDots are crowded with cases OF firearms,
ordered from the North. The stores can not 3 up
ply the demand for arms and an'munitlon, and
every gunsmiiS in the ci y and blacksmith in the
country is repairing dilapidatcd weapons. No
one is suen on the streets without n repeater or
rifle; and not n day passes in town or 'ity but
that the quick and scattering reports OF guns
and pistols, used on targets in the vicinity,
would lead o stranger to suppose that q Skin
mish, il not 4 battle, was in progress around
HIM
lie shows that these notes OF preparation
date from the day OF the assembling Of the
DemOcratic-C Confederate National House OF
Representatives. rre2iou5 to that time
quiet reigned throughout the borders Of the
state. Governor Chamberlain's honest adj
ministratiOn had apparently won him the
confidence OF the tire-eaters. II had opened
to him the doors OF the aristCcracy, and
made him almost the pet Of the cOnserva-
tiyes. But from the day OF the converting
OF the Confederate House the situation rap
Idly changed. The journals whose conserv-
alive editors had supported the reform adj
MinistratiOn Of GOV. Chamberlain were
bought up and placed in new hands. Rife
clubs were formed in every white commune
~ in the State. The conservative c0nyen-
ton which was to have Endorsed Chamber
lain's nomination was packed to nominate
Wade Hampton. With a known overwhelm-
ing majority against them, the eX-Confed-
crates resolved TO carry the state. The
edlct had gone forth from Tildcn's hench-
men that there mist be "a united South,'
and the Buffers and the HamptOns OF South
Carolina prepared to carry out their part of
the programme with the pistol, the knife,
and the shotgun. The following descrip-
ton Of a Republican mass meeting shows
exactly how much of the freedom Of speech
and Of political action there is left in South
Caroline:
In allrm they 1.-THE ~negroesl call a mass meet.
Ing OF the Republicans for consultation. Their
prominent mel, ale Invited 10 he present and
cnt. They organiZ :, and the speaking begins
Suddenly il commotion arises. The orator stops
The tap Of the drum and the sound Of the buglt
are heard down the road. Two long columns o.
white soldiery, armed to the teeth, mounted and
on foot, come ding around the corner and march
, nc rTS p'S anS ssiec, i tRsy GSsH s sssts. 'n Their f1,E"i lead
crs, S.Coniederate %oficers. then mount the
platform and demand half the time for Demo,
l cratic speakers. It'll trcmblingly accorded. a
Confederate General arises, delivers n blood
and thunder harangue, telling the negroes they
have been fools long enough, have got 10 discaTt
=. their present leaders and come back 70 their ole
masters, who intend to carry the election, peace
ably il thsy can, but torcibly If they are resisted
D a Republican follows. lie is & eete,
with "A storm of N gepA and deaf
ening yell OF derision from the military; III
mutters Q few words. every sentenc, benz
uttered loud enough to be heard. Forthwith al
= armed bully steps forward from the ranks ant
. pronounces that assertion 4 lie. The spcake
a dares not resent the insuit-nay, he dares. no
notice or allude TO 1t. lie talks on for awhile
But the insults, jeers, impairment questions
0 alarm Tor his life, he resumes his seat. Whel
4 the kissing has subsidized, another COniederat
Il takes the floor, lie goes over the rambling re
4 marks Of the poor Republican, pronounoes eaca
and every one OF them an infamous. malicious
y damnable lie. and dares him to arise and say the
9 cam. auiyering with fear ana Indignation,
forced TO swallow 1t ut the point of the bayonet
The other speakers on his side are treated IN tn
q same way. Tho meeting breaks up with thre
n times three and q tiger for Hampt N and Tllden
n And such OF lhe negroes rs have not already nc
and curses of the rillemen.
y Yet there are Republicans at the Nortl
who are still distressed on the subject @
"civil-service reform.' They remind u
d of the man who busted himself with plan
d for the improvement OF his dwelling Will
y the house was burning over his head. TIL
whole white population Of South Carolina
with now and then an exception, IL a MAJ
OF brutality and treason. This mass has re
q solved, rs one man, TO carry the State 70
Tilden and Hampton by terrorism, asias
d sination, and fraud; and, strange stupidit
and awful fatality, the country .hesitates I
demand Of the President that the army B
sent there to nip this new rebellion In tn
10 budl The same men who led the State int
secession now lead the white people Of tn
State In an armed crusade against the free
a dom OF the ballot. They say: "MississiI
!, pi was carried by the minority; why M
10 South Carolinaf" We say: TIT aIme
cut-throats who now strike down fro
speech, muzzle the press, and terrorize u
free citizens OF South Carolina as outlaws
who deserve 10 be dispersed or put to tn
sword II must he done, or II b0aste
"a T. zee government will soon become q by
word and reproach among men.