The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-19
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The Situation Viewed fnalB en- Hndepon.
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South Carolina. II is a step not taken
:, without considerations of cerlajpl kipd.
Patterson lsiiggested it, Grant approved
4 1t mud Charlberlain, not -withdrfa brief
struggle with his conscience, orders that
the rifle clubts be disbanded. Only q
week ago the GovernoF did not share in
the apprehensions Of Patterson in regard
to tronble in South Carolina. Cd the
contrary, he said most emphatically 20 o
reporter that he could Tot believe that
either party would seriously contemplate
any 70 verE asttwtich would lead to a COL
lision, rs such conflict would necessarily
be bad for. both parties. He added:
"The Democrats have everything TO gain
by pursuing pacific course, and while
there may be occasional disturbances, like
the affairs at Hamburg and at Aiken, ]
do not believe there will be any general
disturbance" Since these views were ex-
pressed South Carolina has been quiet to
degree exceptional in political cam
paign. A sherif7s posse secured order in
Barnwell and Aiken; tho determination
of the white people 70 protect the colored
Democrats from negro mobs has main
tained peace in the streets Of Charleston,
and every day the report has been that
all was quiet on the Combahee. In fact,
the only serious breach of the peace that
has occurred since Governor Chamberlain
returned to his seat of government was
the brutal whipping Of Emanuel Robin
son and other negroes of Cav Cav town.
ship for declaring their intention to vote
the Democratic ticket, the lash being
applied by Jealous Republicans Of the
same color. What, then. has brought the
Governor around to Senator Patterson's
way OF thinking and led him 10 issue this
warlikc proclamation 1t is simply the
discovery that unless something be d0oe
to break up the wonderful Conservative
organization, and 10 stir up the whites to
resistance, Gen. Wade Hampton will be
the next Governor of South Carolina. A
pretext for the Intervention of the mill
tary arm of the Federal government must
be made, and Governor Chamberlain has
consented TO do his part in this direction.
Another blood,lettipg like that at HAM
burg would be godsend TO him and his
party. The object of his proclamation
Is, therefore, not to preserve the peace,
but to provoke war. b52N"
The nature of the rifle clubs, against
which Governor rCbambcrlain's proclama-
ton is directed, may not be generally
understood in this section. These organ
izations grew out of grossly partisan leg
lslatlon, placing :ie entire militia of the
State in the hands Of the negroes. Near
~ every officer and every man in the
South Carolina militia 10 a negro. The
whites would not serve under negro Off
GERS, and they could not enlist without
danger Of their companies being assigned
10 regiments commanded by negroes.
Under Governor Scott'a, administration
immense appropriations were made for
tho purchase OF arms and ammunition,
and these were distributed throughout
the State with lavish hand until every
negro was supplied, whether enrolled in
n militia Company or rot. Naturally,
the whites saw Gangc. to their interests
in this state of affairs. All attempts to
procure arms from the State for indepen.
dent companies proving futile, they re.
sorted to the organization OF sabre and
rifle clubs, composed Of mcn who bought
their own uniforms and arms So lar
from condemning this step, the Conserya-
tive Republicans looked upon It with
favof, and, If we mistake not, Governcr
Chamberlain, among Others then of thi.
class, was elected to and accepted homo
rary memDership In several Of che associ.
ations thus" formed. Further, he has
even spoken of them in tho North rs on
honor to tho State Such san association
isSthe Washington Liglt Infantry Of
Chdrlestosl, which has Been foremost in
advocacy of reconciliation and peace,
and the members Of which, at Bunker
Hill last year, and at Philadelphia n few
months ago. manifested, ut considerable
personal sacrifice and expense, their zeal
in this cause. Fhr five or ak years thcse
clubs have been il existence, and no dis
turbance oof the pc ice Icap be, traced to
theifhhndence; onsti4 cbutrary, their ID
reason to. JPclieye that they have been q
conservative force and served coed nur-
pose in keeping the armed negroes from
rash acts which might have brought on
race. cbhflictSP But this 'tsouble is that
being white, the members &C these clubS
are Democratic, and, being thoroughly
organized and disciplined, they cons.i-
tute q political power which ,iis used, with
great effect Id thi6 cahpaiguI Their dis
organization would, in Governor Cham,
berlains opinion, break the backbone Of
the Democratic party. Ifthel edict of
the Governor should be resisted by force.
an additional point would be' gained.
Happily, however, there Is reason to be-
lieve that the Governor has counted
without hie host. Y The pebble ofoa6uth
Caroline have. resolved 10 bear and for
bear TO the Utmost in order TO elect the
Reform ticket. tits stated that the clubs
will formally disband, retaining their
arms, which, with the exception of two
companies, are their own property. The
au.hority Of the atate4will be respectets '
however, saitwosthy its representative
Governor Chamberlain will have to try