The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-20
THE HAMBURG MASSACRE.
Effect OF the Outrage In a POlit.
icnI Point OF VieW.-I.etter from
Gov. Chamberlain :. How De-
fenceless Negroes Were Shot
Down In Cold Blood.

Down In Cold Blood.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE House
adjourned early to-day, the Democrats
being averse to debate on the Hamburg
massacre, while the Republicans and
hard.money Democrats were ready 10
adjourn as means Of defeating the At
tempt to repeal the resumption act. The
South Carolina affair is an earnest topic
OF private discussion. The Attorney
General and Secretary Of War have
asked Gov. Chamberlain to come TO
Washington this week for consultation.
Prominent Republicans In the House are
determined to ask the Democrats what,
il they should come into power, they
propose to do in such case, and there
is among sensible Democrats a belief
that such q treatment OF il as Mr.. Cox
attempted on Saturday is the reverse Of
iudicious. Meantime the more fully the
matter is investigated the more clearly
the leading and most horrible and dis
gushing details Of the story are establish
ed. The following letter from Governor
Chamberlain to Senator Robertson gives
recital Of the facts as developed by tes-
timony. 1t appears here that the whites
were The aggressors in every stage Of the
event. As the details become more Ger.
tainly known It's apparent here that this
affair is likely to have an important in
Auence upon men OF Republican antece.
dents, who were moved to vote the Demo-
cratic ticket. Such people ask what
would happen in such case If Governor
Tilden were in the White House? The
federal power now does very little, but ii
at least exercises restraining influence.
What, people ask, might not happen II
the Democrats welded the federal nd:
ministration2 Its probable that one or
two leading Southern Democrats may
answer this question in tho House II the
Hamburg affair comes up.to.morrow and
there may be lively debate. The fol-
lowing is Governor Chamberlain's letter;
GOV. cHAMDERLAIs's LETTER
STATE OF sourHss CAROLINA, |
Ex'urIyECHAMBER, COLUMBIA, JulNlS. !
Hon. T. j. Robertson, United States Senator,
Washington, D. CT zlsa..-
DEAR SrR:-Your request for state
ment from me Of the recent bloody affair
at Hamburg, in this State, was duly re.
ceiyed, I have waited before replying
until official reports and statements
should be received. There are now be-
fore me the official reports Of the Attor.
ney General and the A1jutant and Inspec.
tor General, the testimony taken at the
Coroner's inquest and the written state.
ments Of several other persons who were
present and witnessed the whole or parts
Of the affair. ! will present to you as
briefly as possible the leading facts rs
they appear from the evidences 10 which |
have referred.
STATEMENT OF THE AFFAIR.
On the 4th Of July inst, company OF
the State militia (colored) were marching
along one OF the streets OF Hamburg.
The street was 100 feet wide, and the com.
pany was marching in columns Of four.
While 80 marching they were met by two
young white men in buggy, who insisted
on keeping their course in the street with.
out regard 10 the movements Of the militia,
ana at9ye aaaust sI su Sou,s e "a.ia"
Mnisn tn ,IseI h;ch sean,ied II ,,o cOn
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