New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-23
CENFRAL kU.kLUx BUTLER AGAIN
An Affair that Shows the Prepriety Of
Secretary CamerOn's Order.


The following appears As . special dis
patch in the Charleston News and Courier,
the leading Democratic paper of South Car
DINA, from Aiken, August 13. We repro.
duce it without further comment, for the
Olsen righteousness of the narrative can not
be improved upon:
In accordance with instructions I went
over to 'Edgefield Courthouse, yesterday,
to report the Republican meeting at that
place. Governor Chamberlain, Congress
man Smalls and Judge Maokey came over
from Columbia, and arrived at Edgeield in
the morning. Elliott didn't come. The
outside OF the village, and about 1900 per-
sons, white and black, were present As
soon as the Republicans had taken the
stand, about 600 mounted whites rode up,
with large crowd on foot, and demanded
half of the time for Democratic speakers.
The Governor assented, and agreed to half
an hour for each speaker. The stand
was then crowded with Democrats and Re
publicans.
The Governor spoke first, but said very
little, and was evidently under great re-
straint. He spoke of his desire to reform
the State, and compared himself in this
respect to Governor Tilden. He held that,
if elected, he could do more to ward reform
than any one else. Meantime the Demo
Gratis kept crowding closer to the stand,
showing determination to do everything to
break the meeting up.
About this time the stand came down
with crash, but was replaced, and Gen
eral Butler replied to the Governor. He
made q very bitter speech, speaking out
boldly his opinion of the Governor. He
said that Smalls and the Governor had de-
nounced him as a leader of Ku-Klux and
Regulators. II they had made this state
ment, believing it to be true, he was there,
face to face, and defied them to prove it.
If they did not rise and prove it they stood
confessed liars. No proof was offered.
Judge Mackey next spoke, indOrsing Gov
ernor Chamberlain, and holding that he
could do more for the Democrats than one
of their own party. He said he knew they
could elect their county ticket, but thought
it unwise in them to oppose the Governor.
General Gary followed in Q very hot
speech against the Governor, in which he
abused him roundly, accusing him of fraud
and corruption, and of willingly keeping
Treasurer McDevitt in power after his ras-
cality had been made known to him.
Judge Mackey then rose again. but was
so frequently interrupted by the Democrats
that he could say nothing.
At this point the stand fell fat, prostrat.
ing every one upon it except General But
Ter, who remained perched upon the only
point left standing. This mishap was re-
ceived by the Democrats with cheer after
cheer, as significant that Radicals would 60
down, and the Democrats stay up. The
negroes by this time were completely
hacked.
Governor Chamberlain and Smalls lett
the stand, and with the negroes moved off
toward the village, followed by the Demo-
Gratis. cheering and jeeriDs, and threaten
ing to break them up wherever they went
to speak.
The Democrats then assembled in Court
house square and had meeting of their
own, at which Messrs. Joseph Collision. w.
s. Allen, John R. Abney. General Gary and
others spoke, declaring that they would
carry the county peaceably if they could,
but carry it they would.
Judge Mackey, who had followed the
Democrats, made an out and out Demo-
cratic speech, still, however, indorsing
Chamberlain as being able to do more for
the Democrats than one of their own party.
The judges speech was loudly cheered by
the Democrats. The meeting then ad-
journed, the Democratic horsemen keeping
up cheer after cheer.
1t was rumored, later ia the evening,
that the negroes had threatened to fire the |
together. and camped a little way out of |
own, in case of emergency. There was no
of any kind. The negroes were |
erribly frightened, and did no dare to show |
light. The Republican speakers were very
moderate in their language, and showed BY |
heir uneasy manner that they felt ill-satis-
led with the look of things. The Cover
Tor, Smalls and Mackey, left for Columbia
q the afternoon. No negroes spoke.
The Democrats are very jubilant over
heir victory, and gave the Republicans to
Understand that they intended to carry the
ounty, and would treat any meeting they
tempted to have in the came way that
hey had done this one. The negroes dis
ersed quietly, and did not attempt to
aise anOt her meeting.