The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-12
TO THE RIFLE CLUBS OF ANDERSON
COUNTY.
ANDERSON C. H., S. c., Oct. 10. l

ANDERSON c. H., S. c., Oct. 10, 1876.
At your request, in behalf of yourselves
and the mounted companies, to know
whether D. H. Chamberlain's Proclamation
on the 7th of October has reference to your
organization, have to say as follows: That
there is not single Section in Chapter 1872,
found in the general Statutes, page 726, that
condemns or disallows your organization.
Your organization is nothing more nor less
than your Democratic Club mounted on
horseback for the purpose of travelling to-
gether to and from our political meetings.
Not member of your company is armed
with rifle or other gun, or has procured a
rifle or gun, on account of your organization.
You do not now possess, nor have you pos
sessed since the war, pistol about your
person or premises, or other gun or weapon,
except those commonly used by planters.
You have not banded or conspired together;
| you have not disguised yourselves upon the
public highway or premises of another to
injure, oppress or violate the person or prop
erty of any citizen because of his political
opinions, or expression or exercise of the
same, or hindered, prevented or obstructed
the exercise right or privilege secured to
the citizens by the Constitution and laws of
the United States and Of the State of South
Carolina. And unless you have done some
one of the acts enumerated above, there is
not q letter of constitutional or statutory
law that effects your organization, it being
nothing more nor less than your club noun
ted and travelling together to such political
meetings as they choose to visit within their
reach. Such is the organization of all the
clubs. And in the clubs of this County not
less than five hundred colored men ride side
by side with their white fellow-citizens to
the various political meetings held in the
County. And not a Democratic Club, either
in club room or mounted, that does not
clamor for peace, quiet and order. Repub-
licans have thrown rocks at mounted colored
Democrats in said companies, inlicting great
injuries upon their persons, which was not
resented by the company save through the
channels of the law by indictment. No vio-l
lence upon the part of these companies or
clubs has been offered to any citizen, the
highest or lowest, within the County of
Anderson. There has been less quarrelling,
fewer difficulties, More quiet and peace, and
better order preserved on the part Of the
citizens of this County than has been pre-:
served for the same length of time since the,
war. Indeed, so particular and so careful
are your organizations 10 preserve the peace
that they have adopted rule not to use in
toxicating drinks upon public occasions.
And further the Democratic clubs, or COM
panies, are not insensible of the thirsting
desire of Gov. D. H. Chamberlain and his
party of thieves to provoke difficulties and
collisions between the whites and colored, to
the end that the races may be antagonized.
In this he has signally failed, and his great
est trouble and modification is found in the
fact that the white and colored citizens have
struck hands and pledged their mutual sup
port to each other and the State in the inter-
est of good government. Mr.. Chamber
lain's difficulty, therefore, is not on account
of any acts of violence or disregard to law on
the part of the clubs or companies, but
it is because of your peaceable. quiet and
determined course in the interest of good
government. And more than all because
the colored man has joined you in this effort
to do good.
There is not letter of law, constitutional
or statutory, that does prevent the Demo-
cratic clubs possessing themselves and each
member with Winchester rifles, if they de-
sire to own then.. 1t is not the possession
| of the gun that violates the law, but it is
that act which violates, hinders and OBJ
structs the rights of citizens, enumerated
in the first Section of the Act, and as stated
in this communication. It is private prop
erty, and the Governor has as much right to
demand the citizens horse or other property
as to demand his gun.
There has not been secret meeting of the
Democratic clubs held in this State, and
certainly not in this County. But her men,
bers go out on the highways and invite all,
white and colored, to come. And the whites
all come, and the trouble of Mr.. Chamber
lain is found in the fact that the greater part
of the colored men are likewise coming.
And thousands Of them are joining the
Democratic party to vote for Hampton and
Reform and just here is where the shoe
pinches.
In conclusion, I ask that in the future you
will be as careful to observe the peace, quiet
and good order of the community as you
have in the past, which am sure you will
do, remembering always "that those whom
the gods would destroy they first make
mad" This is Chamberlain's game. He
would make you mad; he would make you
shed the blood of your fellows; he would
make you kill colored men by the scores
he would make you destroy the good feeling
between the races, to the end that Hampton
may be defeated and he, with his miserable
ticket, promoted to power.
am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN B. MOORE.
r n....,.<s. S,Iuh, of Audapeon Eo