The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-10-28


murders, Is mot necessary TO establisl
the TACT Of the existence Of domestic vic
lence or insurrection. To send coloreI
constable or . treacherous white sherii
with colored posse to arrest or dtspers
thousand armed, mounted, disciplined
J white men, organized in military colnpa
MES and acting under the command o
military officers, in the midst Of a violen
political campaign In this State, woulc
be au act Of criminal folly. | now pro
coed 10 present statement OF the tacu
upon which the present call upon The
President for aid In suppressing domestic
violence in this State has been made.
shall make no statement which does mol
rest on official information now In my
possession.
MILITARY STRENGTH OF THE RIFLE cLuRs
Fsyh-As 10 the rifle clubs. These
clubs are organizations having every dis
tinctiye feature OF military companies
They exist unless disbanded since my
proclamation Of the 7th inst, Of which I
have no evidence, In every county in the
State. Ihaye the evidence Of the exis.
tence Of 2l3 rifle clubs, with the names
Of some or all Of their officers. These
clubs have an average membership Of 60
men. The evidence shows that the men,
bers OF. this force OF nearly $4,000 men
are armed with not less than 5000 i'm
proved bresch-loading rifles. Ny esti-
mate Of the whole number ofmen enroll.
cd In the rifle clubs apd armed with ei-
fective weapons Is not less than II, 900 or
$4,000, while theestimatOs OF my inform
ants vary from 10000 to $4,000, besides
company officers. The evidence shows
that these clubs are organized into regi-
ments. l have before me at this moment
an authentic printed copy Of the general
orders issued by the colonel OF one Of
these. regiments, countersigned by the ad.
jutant, in (which instructions are specifi-
cally given 10 the lieutenant colonel,
major, and commanding officers Of com.
panies. The evidence points also to the
existence Of general officers having con.
troll Of other formations composed ofregi-
ments and brigadea. There is much eyi.
dence from independent sources showing
that fully 10000 improved breech.ioad-
ing riHes have been purchased by rifle
clubs in this State within the last four
months.
These organizations are not only out
side the law, but they are strictly prohib-
tied by the laws Of the State. The evil
dence is overwhelming that these clubs
were formed and have been constantly
used az the chief basis Of organization Of
the Democratic party. During the month
Of August attended Republican meet.
ings; among others, in the counties Of
Edgeiield, Newberry, Abbeville, Barnwell
and Lancaster, at each Of which these
clubs we're present in numbers varying
from 100 to 1000. They were heavily
armed with pistols and were commanded
by persons bearing the title OF military
officers. They marched and man@uyred
as ordinary military companies. They
attended these meetings as Democrats,
took control OF them In some instances,
and in all instances enforced their de-
mand for participation in Republican
meetings by their presence as armed or
ganized bodies.
In their several localities these clubs
have operated openly and ostensibly as
Democratic campaign organizations,
Far and wide in the State they have rid
den by day and by night as menace to
the members OF the Republican party,
especially its colored members, utteripg
threats, and not seldom executing them.
Prior 10 the recent instances Of wide
spread violence which occasioned my
proclamation and call upon the Presi-
dent, these clubs, or those who
were members thereof, had killed,
exclusive Of the Hamburg and Ellenton
massacres, not less than fifteen mem.
bers Of the Republican party; had whip.
ped and outraged hundreds, and had in.
dividually threatened thousands. They
had for the most part evaded punish
ment by reason OF their numbers and the
terror inspired both in their victims and
in the officers OF the law. Constituting
or representing aa they did almost the en-
tire body Of white men in their localities,
no efficient way OF enforcing the law was
left. A constable or Sheriff with color
ed posse would have been mastered in
an attempt to execute the law. II were
to pass through the same scenes again, !
should never order, advise or per-
nit the effort TO be made to overcome
such obstructions 10 the law by any force
then at my command. 1t would be not
less idle than cruel.
These clubs constituted a vast con-
spiracy against the State Government.
4 conspiracy is defined TO be confedera-
ton Of Two or more persons to do unlaw-
iul acts by unlawful means, 1trose to pro.
portions and exhibited itself in ways
which made all ordinary civil agencies
impo,ent to cope with it. II aimed, by
the commission OF crimes ranging from
threats OF personal injury to murder, to
destroy the freedom OF majority Of the
people in the present election, and TINS
to overthrow the lawful Government OF
the State. .. '7.-... ..... .
THE RIOT AT ELLEsroN.
come now to the transaction which is
known here as "the Ellenton massacre"
and which was the immediate cause OF
my call upon the President for military
aid. The country is already familiar
with the Hamburg masscre, which was at
the time OF occurrence, in July, declared
by my opponents here to be sporadic and
unprecedented In It's character. Ellen
ton, the centre Of the scene Of the latter
and more extensive massacre, Is. situated
in the same county with Hamburg (Ai.
ker), and about 20 miles distant. The
counties adjoining Aiken on the north
and south are Edgetield and Barnwell.
The riot and massacre continued from
the 10th to the cath Of September. The
affair was so carefully planned, all truth
fol reports OF its character were so sue
cessfully suppressed, and tho terror IN
spired In all the local Offices Of the coun-
~ was so great, that I was unable 10 OBJ.
tain my first official report through
special officers sent from Columbia until
the sth OF October. Even then the report
was very imperfect from the fact that
the colored people who were the wit.
nessses and objects Of the violence were
absent from their homes through fear,
and, when accessible, were in many In
stances unwilling to give their testimony
until further protection could DO guar
teed 10 them. An elaborate investigation
has now been made, and the following
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