The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-11-09


i Charleston and Beaufort to Gen. Ruger
to put troops Immediately in these out,
lying districts. The troops are not asked
for to protect voters, but detenceless
women and children. -.
+" My next interview was with Mr.
'Hagood, clerk of the United States Cir
cult Court, an appointee of Judge Bond,
1 and of course a Republican. He thought
Gov. Chamberlain had not been fairly
treated by Democratic audiepees and not
respectfully listened to, and admitted
that many prominent Republicans were
now hostile to Chamberlain. He knew
of no instance Of recent outrage or muir
der in all the northern tier of counties,
where he resided, heretofore known as
Ku Klux counties, save those cited spe-
ci6cally and already published. He
knew of no reason why the civil law
should not be executed at this time.
Mr.. Pointer, Northern man and Re
publican United States Supervisor of
Elections for South Carolina, thought
Gov. Chamberlain had been badly treat
ed by the Democrats at meetings, and in
truded upon by them that no personal
violence had been offered, but strong
personal epithets applied to him. These
had become so offensive as to cause him
to practically leave the canvass. MIR.
Poinier has two subordinate officers at
each polling precinct in the State. In
no instance has he had request made of
him for troops to sustain these United
States officers. ~.
Aside from the disturbances conspicu-
onsly published heretofore, he did not
know of any outrage, act of violence, or
murder in the State. H.
In addition to this concurring testinlo-
nv, gathered mainly from Republican
sources, similar, afidavits and letters have
been received from over fifty other coun-
ty officials, many Trial Judges of coun-
ties. clerks of counties and of probate,
and of prosecuting attorneys of counties.
1 have purposely omitted vast
amount Of testimony profered by mer;,
chants, clergynen, lawyers, bankers and
others. because it would be only repeat
ing evidence. It would be difficult to
amass testimony more fully responsible
and satisfactory than that now at hand
and accumulating each day, showing the
utter needlessness of Gov. Chamberlain's
action and heartless disregard of facts.
Touching the condition of the election
submit this statement:
The Board of State Canvassers consists
of the Secretary Of State, the Comp
troller-General, the Attorney-General,
the Chairman of the Committee OF Elec-
tions Of the House. Four of those Off
GERS are Republicans. With them rests
the entire power of count. Of these six
final canvassers four are candidates tor
reelection. In word, the members of
the State Board are absolutely and finally
Judges of their own election.
The County Boards of Canvassers con-
sist of three Commissioners of Election.
They are appointed by the Governor.
He has nominally selected two Commits
sioners from the Republican side and one
from the Democracy.
Bv public proclamation he invited the
two political committees to designate
their choice. He also announced that no
candidates for Office would be appointed
by him. The persons named by the
Democratic committee have not general
| ly been appointed. Of the Republican
Commissioners, selected by the Governor,
in nearly every instance the appointee is
a Republican officeholder, or candidate
for election at the coming election; thus
thew will canvass the returns of their
own elections. 1t will be observed that
the Governor appoints the Commissioners
| of the county, majority Republican ;
they, in turn, appoint three managers
for each polling precinct, majority Re
publican. These managers control the
ballot box, count the votes, and make re-
turns to the board appointing them. The
reception of the votes, their count, their
canvass by the County Board, and their
final canvass by the State Board are al
ways and wholly within Republican con-
troll. Ofthe power of the State, | ascer-
tain as follows: It's militia is composed
entirely of negroes To them, and them
alone. are State arms and ammunition
given. Officers and men are Republi-
; cans, and Republicans only.
The rifle clubs of the State are organi.
cations dating far back of any political
disturbances. Some of them have exist
ed since the century began. Many OF
them are organized under Legislative
authority, and most Of them have been
reviewed and personally complimented
by the Governor. Though composed Of
Democratic voters generally, they have
not been decided political organizations.
Under the order of Gov. Chamberlain, all
these organizations have been disbanded
though the colored troops with their arms
remain in force. The State has pur-
; chased over half million dollars worth
of arms within seven years past. They
are now wholly within the control OF
negroes and their leaders.
Regarding the omission of the Gov
ernor to comply with his duty to assemble
the Legislature: In great public emer-
gency the Governors power to assemble
the Legislature has no restraint upon it.
Republicans and Democrats admit that
the members could have been convened
within three days time, and could now.
Indeed, Gov. Chamberlain himself sub
stantiallv admits this, but pleads that he
had no money to pay the members with.
Against this claim it is known that the
Legislature had not convened for years
except with bankrupt treasury, and
, that any rate theirs would be the busi-
ness of providing their own pay. 1t is
claimed that his highest duty was to con-
: vene the representatives of the people, a
vast majority of whom are Republicans,
and that the evidence of insurrectionary
measures, many state, could be best had
through delegates from every leg islative
, district; that he failed to do so because
he would have had to confront the truth
which debate would elicit, and that, in
addition to the unfriendliness of the few
Democratic members of the Legislature,
he would have been met by the violent
opposition of large number Of Republi-
can members who are personally most
| hostile to him, and who threaten to ex-
pose him for past questionable conduct
The Constitution of the State requires