Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-04
SOME TRUTH ABOUT THE CANVASS
IN SOUTH CAROLINA


I'm SUUla huO1443
Correspondence of the st. Louis I1mes.l
LOUISVILLE, Oct. 2S.-Several gentle-
men connected with New YORK business
establishments, who have been travelling
extensively through South Carolina, ana
who are thoroughly acquainted with the
actual condition of affairs in that I'M
happy state, were in the city 4 couple OF
DAYS ago, and the Times correspondent
| had a short conversation with them rel
alive to the campaign IN the fainletto
state, and the numerous stories anoat re-
garding outrages alleged to have been
Committed by the whites upon the blacks:
One gentleman, a middle-aged man, and
an agent for a large New York dry
Goods house, seemed to have particular
" informed himself as to the affairs of
South Carolina. He had journeyed
through the greater portion OF the state,
had talked with the people. attended the
political meetings, and was even present
at occurrences which have been herald
ed through the North by radical news
papers as evidences of the fact that with
out troops
THE LIFE OF H NEGRO
was in constant danger. Among the
places he had visited were Winnsboro,
Chester, Rock Hill, S%partanburg. Green
Vile. Abbeyille and Thornberry, which
are in the southwestern and central por-
lions of the state. What is given here
are his observations while in the state.
He SAYS the whole state is in one con-
stant whirl of excitement. The demo-
Gratis are thoroughly organized and are
holding meetings everywhere and con-
stantly. 4 victory for Hampton. not
w~itastanding the presence of troops, was
sure, and Hampton would probably
carry the state by from 5000 to 5000
majority. This was not mere assertion.
His opinion was based upon what he
saw aud heard among negroes as well
as whites, democrats and republicans.
Both sides were working like beavers to
become the %victors. At first the republi-
cans with their usual loud Boosting and
bravado, claimed that they would carry
the state by not less than %. 900 majori-
ty. Chamberlain was bound to get that
many more votes than the ''rebel'' gen
eral. But time has changed their be-
lief, and now they are whistling a diff
ferent tune and will be glad with 1000
majority. If they are satisfied with that,
then indeed, does it appear that
GENERAL HAMrToN's PROSPECTS
are most glorious. This reminds me a
good deal of the boasting OF the radicals
here before the Indiana election. At first
they bet on Harrison getting net less
than 10000 majority. AS the days rolled
by and the election approached Il demo-
crat had to give odds to get a wager. A
few days before the election ex-Secreta-
nv Bristow was in the city, having Just
closed his campaign speaking in Indiana.
He was asked his opinion as to the re-
publican prospects, and shaking his
head said the result was very doubtful.
H%arrison's majority would not be over
1000 or 5000 If the radicals of
South Carolina. backed by the ma
chinery of the administration, and a cor
rupt alien governor, are of the belief
that their majority will he as small as
this gentleman states. then the state may
be set down for Hampton and Tilden.
Speaking of the campaign, and the
mode of conducting it, the gentleman
said that both parties were resorting to
every dodge imaginable to get votes.
Nothing was being left undone, not a
stone was being left unturned. Far from
intimidating negroes and threatening to
kill them, in order to compel them to
vote the democratic ticket, the demo-
Gratis were resorting to an ~expedient
totally opposite. This was to enroll the
names of all negroes who will vote tho
democratic ticket. promising them stu
ations if they will do Sc. Certificates of
recommendation are given them. These
commemorative Sfnfn fhnt tho r,n ~
holding them are reliable persons will
ing and able to work, and work is sought
for them. In this way numbers of ne
groes have promised to cast their bal |
lots
o TILDEN AND
This does not look much like murder
ing them in cold blood. But the repub-
licans are angry at the success with
which the democrats have met in their
.endeavors, and as the negro vote is
drawing off from their party, attribute
it to intimidation, but the negro is
shrewd enough to know that the demo-
Gratis are better able to give them work
than the carpet-bag thieves who run the
radical party down there. The demo-
Gratis, and the republicans also, have
men employed on every plantation in
the state, as enrolling officers to enroll
the names of the voters and induce the
doubtful )nes to change to one side OF
the other. The excitement from this is
consequently great, and if collisions do
occur the, ale such as will happen in
any red-ht political canvass throughout
the countr?. local, state or national, and
have no mre particular significance at
tached to hem.
Referring to the sending of troops to
South Carolina. my informant said it
was the bes thing for the sure success
of Hampton. He assigns as a reason
that from what he saw the soldiers will
take no pat in the election, and will
only act when needed to quell a riot.
So popular had the troops become
with the PEOPLE in some places in the
state, arr there was such a mingling
and fratenization. between the whites
and the tOops, that the latter had to be
moved away from one place to another.
His view
REGARDING THE TROOPS
IS confirmed by a letter written BY an
officer 10Y in South Carolina to a rela-
tive here in which he states that the
troops ar. disguised with the way the
radicals ire behaving there, that the
stories OF outrages are false and that the
democrats and the soldiers are acting to-
gether ira harmonious spirit, the SOL
diels beng well treated and received
with consideration. If this letter could
be obtained for publication it would
open the eyes of u good many people to
the real state OF affairs in South Caro-
lima. Itwould show who are the real
disturbers Of the peace there.
Reports of riots are fabrications made
out of whole cloth, according to the
statements of this New York drummer.
A shor; time ago a flaming report was
published of the assassination OF a num-
Der Of negroes in il small place in South
Carolina. The whites were made the
perpetrators, and the entire blame placed
upon them. He says he was present
when the affair took place, saw it all,
and not Il single negro met with death.
The quarrel commenced between a ne
gre and a white man, both considerably