Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-10-27
South Carolina.

X. Nj. Wallace, United States Marshal
for South Carolina, has just made an Off
cal report to Attorney-Gencral Taft OF the
recent riot at Cainhoy which may well at
tract the attention of all thinking men. 1t
sounds more like passage from the his
tory of South American republic" than
like civil officers report to his superior Of
an affair happening in this great republic,
and at time, too, when We have invited
all the world to come and see the results Of
a hundred years Of freedom. The report
has been delayed, Mr.. Wallace states, in
order that he might obtain fair and cor
rect statement Of all the facts in the case
and there is no doubt but that his report is
as accurate and impartial as possible under
the circumstances. 1t seems that the Dem
ocrats introduced the mississippi" OF
shotgun" policy into South Carolina some
five weeks ago, at place on the Cooper
river, some dozen miles from Cainhoy The
| Republicans had called a meeting there
but Charleston Democrats, $50 strong and
wcll-armed, Put in an appearance and de-
mandcd half Of the time for their speakers.
This modest request was backed by the per-
suasive influence of $50 Winchester rifles
and the Republicans yielded coy consent,
though they did not particularly relish that
particular style Of discussing the political
issues Of the day. At subsequent meetings
there was a similar display Of arms until
finally series of joint discussions was
arranged and an agreement was made tina;
people should not come armed. But the
Democrats disregarded this arrangement,
went into every meeting in large numbers,
very violently denounced the Republicans
and their leaders, and naturally enough a
/ great deal of bitterness and animosi;y arose.
After reciting these facts at some length,
Marshal Wallace gives the following account
Of the affair at CAinhoy
The meeting at Brick Church, near Cain
hoy, was called by the Republicans, and
! hts7 4Hi 10y hbANhANQ " AAC lutu WIN Wei
present at the first meeting, at which the
Democrats had enforced their demand to
| speak, but had attended none of the Joint
discussions and many of them being sus-
| picious of the Democrats carried such guns
rs each man had az his home, consisting Of
old muskets. shot-guns and fOwling pieces.
| But DO militia men attended with State
arms and ammunition, as the Democrats
| claim, and the best evidence Of that fact Is
that all Of the dead uen were shot with
! buckshot. and not with rifle balls. When
| these colored Republicans arrived at the
| place OF meeting their leading men told
them that they were violating an agree
ment by coming armed, and that they must
deposit their arms at some place away from
the grounds. The colored men complied
with the request, and some guns, say fifteen,
were placed in an old dilapidated building
some hily yards from the stand, and Others
were placed across a raviue in the woods
About lj0 Democrats accompanied their
speakers FROM the city on a steamboat, and
soon appeared at the meeting. The first
speaker was a Democrat, a candidate for
prosecuting attorney Of the circuit. He was
heard through very patiently lie was fol-
lowed by W. j. Mckinley (colorcd), who
WAS delegate 10 the Cincinnati Convention
from this State. Soon after Mckinley com
mcnced -Teaking commotion was observed
in the crowd on the side next to the dilapi-
dated bGIdinc, and Mckinley Jumped
fl the stand and said. Those White
men in that house have guns, and are going
TO shoot. The colorod men raised shout
that the Democrats had seized their guns.
and made rush for the other CUTS. The
white men who had secretly slipped into the
house and seized the guns. then fired and
the first shot killed an old colOred man about
~ years Il age. who was Standing leaning
GA stick, and Is the only coiored man who
i- known 90 lave been killed. The colored
men returned with their guns very soon.
attacked the party at the Old house, and
then commenced general fire on the Demo
Gratis. who were generally armed with pistols
but were forced 10 retire rapidly toward the
boat under heavy FIRE. The culored men
became furious when they saw that some Of
their arms bad been seized and one Of their
old men killed. Sheriff Bowen, whom they
recognized as their personal and political
friend rushed among them and tried TO stop
the firing, but they dad not cease until all
tHN NAtti lhtu were QTlNtu AWAY from the
church. SIX white men were killed. or have
died and one coiored man. Several white
men are wounded, bat rome seriously. Ii Is
not Yet known how many nesrocs arc hurt.
~ soon a~ the fight ceased the steamboat
returned TO the cry for arms and reinforce
mruts, and over 100 men went back on her
On Two hours notice, With arms for them
selves and their lo0men already there. HE
neat morning about 200 more armed men
went up IN the same boat. which had re-
turned. These armed men were the military
c.mlanies-or portion Of the companies
which Gov. Chamberlain ordered TO disband
two weeks ago.
Such when closely examined i. found to be
the origin Of nearly all the riots in the South
an act Of violence committed by wEite ex-
rebels. Surely. it was none too soon that
United State troops were sent into the Pal
metto State, and the only hole, not only Of
a reasonably fair election, but also Of pro-
lection from violence and blooi-shed. seems
10 rest On Federal interference.