Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-08-10

to Tor instructions. An armed detail left the
scsne, and after an absence of few moments
and calling out five of the prisoners
and successfully shot three of
them to death and left one for dead. The fifth
man who was called out succeeded in effect
ing his escape before reaching the place Of
execution, which was but few yards distant
from the ring in which all the prisoners were
placed, but received severe gun shot wound
in the knee. The rest of the prisoners were
then required to hold up their right hands and
swear that they never would bear arms against
the whites nor bear testimony in reference to
this transaction before any court. They were
then ordered to march off by twos to the right
and set free; but as they marched off they were
fired into indiscriminately by the crowd. In
this flight some of the freed prisoners were
wounded. The party then dispersed and left
the town. When the bodies of the murdered
men were examined by daylight by some of
the citizens of the place, it was found that the
tongue of one of them had been cut off, and
that another, who had not been killed instant
ly, but had lived for about three hours after
daylight, had been cut in the hip, and a ghast-
ly wound inflicted with what appeared to have
been an axe. These statements are base upon
the results of judicial investigation.
In conclusion, the paper recites the peace
able, docile, law-abiding character of the ne
groes since their emancipation, and appeals to
the people of the United States sin the name
of justice and humanity, in the name of peace
and order, in the name of Christianity and the
cause of civilization. to vindicate the honor OF
the American name by insisting that the hum.
blest citizen of this Republic shall be made Sc,
cure in his constitutional guarantee of security
for his life, his liberty and his property"
The citizens of that State, the Governor Of
it, and the President of the United States, are
also each appealed to in turn to exercise theil
respective powers and influence to prevent the
repetition of such an occurrence, and to pun
ish the perpetrators of the present.
Sixty signatures are appended to the appeal
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND LETTEI
TO GOV. CHAMBERLAIN.
WASHINGTON, August 1.-The following
message was received by the Senate from thC
President to-day:
To the Senate of the United States: In re
sponse to resolution of the Senate of July
20, calling upon the President to communi
cate to the Senate, if in his opinion not in
compatible with the public interest, any in
formation in regard to the slaughter of Amer
ican citizens at Hamburg, S. c., l have tht
honor to submit the following enclosures.
Here follow number of papers relative t.
the Hamburg massacre.
The President says: These enclosures EN-
brace all the information in my possession
touching tbe late disgraceful and bruta
slaughter of unoffending men at the town O
Hamburg, S. c. My letter to Gov. Chamber
lain contains all the comments wish to make
AS allusion is made in my letter to the condi
ton of other States, and particularly to Lou
isiana and Mississippi, have added to the en-
closures letters and testimony in regard to thu
lawless condition of portion of the people o.
the latter State. In regard to Louisiana af
fairs, murders and massacres of innocent mel
for opinions sake, or on account of color
have been of too recent date, and of too fire.
quent recurrence, to require recapitulation o.
testimony here. All are familiar with thei
horrible details, the only wonder being tina
SO many justify them or apologize for them
But recently committee of the Senate visitet
the State of Mississippi to take testimony OF
the subjects of frauds and violence in tht
elections. Their report has not yet been made
public, but await its forthcoming with ,
feeling of confidence that it will fully sustain
all that have stated in relation to fraud anC
violence in the State of Mississippi.
U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, July 81, 1876.
LETTER TO GOV. CHAMBERLAIN.
The following is the Presidents letter t.
Governor Chamberlain, referred to above:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July
26.-Dear Sir: am in receipt of your lette
of the 22d of July, and all enclosures enumer
ated therein, giving an account of the lat,
barbarous massacre of innocent men at tn,
town of Hamburg, S. c. The views whicl
you express as to the duty you owe to you
oath of Office and to the citizens to secure Il
all their civil rights, Including the right t.
vote according to the dictates of their owl
consciences, and the further duty of the Ex
ecutive of the nation to give all needful aid
when properly called on to do so, to enabl,
you to insure this inalienable right, fully
concur in. The scene at Hamburg, as cruel
lOOd-thirsty, wanton, unprovoked and as un
called for as it was, is only a repetition of tn
course that has been pursued in other South
ern States within the last few years, notably
in Mississippi and Louisiana. Mississippi il
governed to-day by officials chosen through
fraud and violence, such as would scarcely b.
accredited to savages, much less to civilized
and Christian people. How long these thing
are to continue, or what is to be the final rem
edy, the Great Ruler of the Universe only
knows. But have an abiding faith that |
remedy will come, and come speedily, and
earnestly hope that it will come peacefully
There has never been desire on the part o
the North to humiliate the South. Nothing il
claimed for one State that is not freely ac-
corded to all others, unless it may be the righ
to kill negroes and Republicans without fea
of punishment, and without loss of caste o.
reputation. This has seemed to be a privileg,
claimed by few States. repeat again tina
l fully agree with you as to the measure o
your duties in the present emergency, and a
to my duties. Go on, and let every Governo
where the same dangers threaten the peace O
his State 60 on, in the conscientious discharg
of his duties tn the humblest as well as tn,
proudest citizen, and will give every aid TO
which can find law or constitutional power
government that cannot give prOtection Il