Ellsworth American., 1876-10-26
The Effect Of the Troops in South Car
olina,

Inc Cuect CI tuo ITOOpS IN OOutn Gar
olina.
| The South Carolina correspondent of the
New York Times. gives an destructive ac.
count of a Republican meeting held at
Edsefield. on the llth inst. This place is
the home of Hamburg Massacre Butler"
and it is where the shot gun policy in South
Carolina originated. when il was known,
therefore. that the Republicans proposed
to hold meeting there, the Elgeiield Id
reTfjser-W ade lIampton'- organ-publi>h-
ed an order for the postponrmeut oi all the
Democratic meetings which were to he
held In the county upon that day. and all
the rifle clubs were directed Ia assemble at
the Court House to attend the Republican
meeting. Still. the Republican leaders re-
fused to abandon their purpose. and even
Gov. Chamberlain prepared ro 90 IL the
meeting. huG MAS dis>uadcd at the last mo-
ment-by friends. who warned him that hi>
lille would be in danger if he did. Robert
Smalls. the brave colored Congressman.
however, Colonel Fillebrown. MIR. Braytou
and other Republican speakers took the
train from Columbia TO Edg-iieid The te-
mainder of the narrative We give in the
CORES pOudent'> own words. a. il vivIdlv
depicts the spirit and manners of these
South Carolina Tldenites al this time. aud
shows the exceedingly beneficial effects OF
a few United States troops stationed ina
community like that.
soon after the train containing Sma'l> snd
his friends came within the conflnes of Edge
field. the county that ha. never been recon-
slructcd.' il was met by party of about one
hundred men on horseback. who were Uniform
ed in red shirt, and black slouch hats. A. the
train passed this company it was saluted by
the rebel yell and by the firing OF guns and
pistols. must state that these were di,charg-
ed in the air. not at the train. When the train
stopped AT the little station called Ridge Spring.
fourteen men uniformed in the same way
those who had first saluted the train. and arm
ed with at least two and in some cases three or
four heavy navy revolNers. came into the car
where the Republicans speakers were seated.
and one of them who appeared to be The leade-
cried out, w here j. that dirty little dog. Dan.
Chsmbe rain: We have come 10 shoot his bald
head Of Then the whole party drew their
pistols anil passed down the ear until they
came TO " here Congre- sman Smalls was seated.
Here they paused for 4 moment. and one Of
them exclaimed. 'Heow here's that yellow
pup. Smalls' Yes. said another. and II b"
knows what's good Tor half-blood nigger he
won't 20 To Edgeiied.'
Finding that Gov. Chamberlain wa> not ln
The car. they contented themselves with cur
ing and abusing the other Republican. in the
most approved fashion Of the southern chiva-
". and then. A. they could tnd no one fool
hardy enough 10 answer item. they lett Ia"
train. Scenes like this were repeated al every
station untIl Pine House was reached. Here
the party was unexpectedly met by two com
psnies OF the Second L. :. Infantry. who were
on their way TO Edgefeld. Declining, for Oh
Nious reasons, the company OF the military,
>mail> and his party proceeded In wagons TO
the Court House. Here they We're met by st
l-sst two thousand white men in red shirts
armed with rifles anG pistols. and all well
mounted. They were in command of Gen. But
ler. and at the order from HIM. Now. boys.
give the Radicals cheer, greeted the little
band Of Republicans with oaths. hpo;s. jeer,
and wells Of the most Offensive 10 people
with weak nerves. Of the most terrifying de-
ssription.
This demonstration was, OF course. intended
to keep the negroes from attending the Repub-
lican meeting. and for time il seemed a. If Il
wouid'be entirely .successfui, for the colored
men and women stood in groops by Themselves
on the side OF the street opposite the rife clubs.
They had no word of welcome for their friends
and leaders; they were silent and afraid. sud
denly. however. they saw the two companies
ot | niied States troops marching toward the
barracks, with the flag OF the onion at their
head, and then, almost A. If By magic. they be
gan TO dance and cheer and shout. have
never seen so sudden change in crowd.
IL seemed for y time a. If the poor people would
20 wild with JOY. They knew that no harm
could come 10 them in the presence Of the
troops, aud their gladness knew no bounds.
They scied just about they do al camp
meeting. and among the shouts for lIsyes aud
Wheeler were mingled the cries OF Well vote.
now honey" our Jesus have come" Uncle
sam boys am da" How j. YOU, Nr. Rifle
Club and 70 be sure. dat's fact. no more
niggar KILN no. The rifle clubs were almost
equally excited. They pretended 10 be very
glad TO see the troops. however, and then quiet
ly rode away at the word Of command. The
soldiers went TO their quarters, where they
were kept under arms during the day, and the
NJ gToe> secure in aknow edge Of their presence.
proceeded TO large open space lsst out OF the
village and prepared TO hold their meeting.
At the same time the rifle clubs and h vast
crowd Of Democrats gathered about the Court
House and were addressed by Gems. Butler
snd Gary, both Of whom said that a. Chamber
lain was afraid 10 come 10 Edgeheld, and a.
additional United States troops had arrived
in the town. il Hould be bost not TO attempt to
divide time with the Radicals Buffers words
were: 'Gentlemen. the chief OF the Radical
thletes-ihe msn who msy BE- Governor Of
South Carolina. but who j. not the ruler OF
Edgeiield-i. afraid 10 come among Us; he l.
not here snd we do not care 10 interfere with
such inferior Smsls sud Brayion. We viii
not attempt TO divide time with them
" hiie these speeches were being mAde by
the Democratic leaders. the Republicans open
ed their meeting. hlle II wa- IN progress,
Gen. Butler rode up 10 | United States Marshal
Low. who was present, and said: My IN N
it cheer, just 10 wake it up you know;
suppose YOU have no objections Col. Low
Replied: Our objection would be 10 no pur-
pose, sir. You must act upon your own re-
sponsibility.' At this Butler rode away, and
shortly AFTER the head OF the rifle club column
could be seen coming down the hill from the
town. The m IN rode four abreast. and were
evidently well disciplined and drilled. Gen.
Butler rode TO point near the Rspubliran
meeting. and the men. passing in review saut-
l.t fh.4lr dor in fh. IN ia.
Then they rode slowly around and around the
Republicans, cheering for Tilden and Hampton,
and yelling al the top Of their voices. In this
way the meeting was broken up for nearly an
hour. II adjourned soon after, and on the
way to the town the Republican speakers were
again subjected TO the yilest insults at the
hands Of the rife club. On the WAY 10 COl-
umbia the sceBesof the morning were repeated.
At Ridge Spring large party of uniformed
roughs came into the car in which Congress
man Smalls was seated and said they wanted
a lock Of hi, hair, he was such nice niger
One of these pleasant gentlemen said 10 Mr..
| Brayton: You may carry south Carolina.
but by-we will getEdgefeld in spite Of your
Niger majority and all the Yankee troops in
/ the world. After many insults OF the same
/ character the party arrived in Columbia
| The events of the day. proved 4 number Of
| things. In the first place, they demonstrated
that the rife clubs Of Edgefield are thor oughy
srm ed and disciplathed. They obey their
/ leaders without question. III Goneral buter
had ordered them 10 fire upon the negro
meeting they would have done without II
word. He commanded them to refrain from
personal violence, and they obeyed. These
men. two thousand strong, assembled in d.
| rect defiance Of the State authorities. They
| beld those authorities in contempt. In Ger
many, England or France they would be treat
ed as insurrectioni,ts. Even IN Mexico CEN
eral BItler's command could only be regarded
a. revolutionary army, but in South Caro-
| lima they are called 'reforRers. They shout
for Tilden and Hampton