New-York tribune., 1876-10-25

same time the rife clubs declared that 90 they in
tended TO carry the election and kill every colored
Republican who would not vote the Democratic
ticket"
ATROCITY or TIE TERRORISM.
The testimony before me clearly shows that the
pretext heretofore assigned by the rifle clubs for their
assemblmg-the assault of the two colored robbers
upon Miss Harley, fact which assigned in my
former letter. already referred TO- as the cause or
casIon of the riots utterly unfounded. The rifle
clubs assembled IN pursuance of a woll-matured
plan, known and published in the three counties to
"put down the niggers" by inficting such violence
upon them and by such demonstrations of force as
10 the leaders to flee and the mass Of the fol-
lowers to fOrego voting vote the Democratic
ticket.
have now merely described in outline the domes-
tie violence and nsurrection il was actually de-
vcloped at Ellenton and within a radius of u
miles thcrcfrom. But in truth this only one
phase center of the violence and insurrcction. 1t
virtually overspread the Counties Of Aiken and
Barnwel, producing reign of terror which de-
populated large sections of those counties of all
colored males Investigations in progress indi-
cate Enthusiastically that the actual murders COM
mittcd exceed the estimates heretofore formed by
or by those most familiar with the facts. Scores
Of colored men still missing in addition to those
already known to have been killed.
not CAUSED BY MIsGOvERNMENT.
These are some Of the leading evidences of the
domestic violence and insurrection which were the
occasion of my call upon the President for military
aid. The facts presented clearly proved, and
the conclusions reached are, think sustained by
the facts. They make ease amply warranting my
call aud the Presidents response. To have done less
would have been to abandon the chief function of
government, and to have permitted domestic yio-
lence aud usurTcCtion to accomplish results against
which the Constitution of the United states was
designed to guard cfcctually.
There is one prctcN; somewhat widely suggested
in excuse or mitigation Of the ocnses which have
described. namely that those who engaged in this
conspiracy were crushed by an nsupportable bur
den of misgoccrnment. IL answer 10 this assert
that by the statements Of vast majority Of tine
leading men and organs Of public opinion in this
State among tIo present supporters Of Wade Hamp-
ton. prior 10 las nomination, my administration oi
public affairs for the past two years has been honor
able and successful aud ;hat at uo time since 1865
were the pubic evil, in this state far abated or
the prospect of complete good government 80 bright.
The uttclauocs of Democratic newspapers and Dem
ocratic speaker, and leader. on this point would ill
volumes. No man who knows or seeks to know the
truth will question this assertion.
The charge that have been influenced 10y the de-
scrtiou of Republicans 10 the Democratic party
would receive uo consideration from those ac-
quaiutal with thc political situation here. fre"
vote to-day 10 th, state viii elect the Republican
candidates by fully 10000 majority. Besides this
declare and challenge any shadow Of proof to the
contrary that mo- party interest. however great or
pressing. could ever have induced me much ~ To
contemplate tine u-. of my official position for ask
ing the military ad Of the United states 20 carry an
election II D, only %. an incident n-cp1rablc from
the case at thi. time that have considered or al
ludcd to fact. or results affecting political parties.
have acted "a. the chief magistrate of the state.
have sought TO protect the lives and rights OF the
iroplc without regard to party. No man m South
CaIulua. by reason 90 any act Of mine or OF the
President of the United >tat,-. viii be- hInd'r'd or
di-.uidcI from voting the Democratic ticket If lbs
free, judgement shall 20. incline him. Rght-mndcd
mca woud have Judged us rccrraut 20 clr trusts IT,
in proper case. wc had failed To exert the powers
iatfu.:,l to- o., for the restoration Of public peace
and th, pIc-cryaiou of the state Government
Irnop , calm f.yIry am convinced that such a case
has arisen and that such a condition Of affairs NJ"
exist. in thi- State rs warrants my action and that
Of tine President of the United states
u. H. CHAHBFRtAIN.
Governor Of South Carolina.
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