The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-08-24

He did not arrive upon the ground until
the Democrats started for their own
stand, aud he then approached me and
asked me to furnish him a statement of
the facts, to which / replied that I had
not time to- do.so. I know him to be in
capable of any intentional misrepresen-
tation.
He also. erred in stating that I made
Democratic speech at the Democratic
meeting. On the contrary, in reply to a
remark there made, to the effect that I
should return as a repentant prodigal to
the Democratic fold, I said "No, fell
low.citizens of Edgeield, i am unalter-
ably Republican, proud of my political
laith. Your Democratic party, more
over, can win back no prodigals, for you
have not any fatted calves to draw them
home I am, however, the friend of
good government, and those who strug-
gle to redeem South Carolina from mis-
rule and will find no foe in me while
they act within the limits of the law.
] shall now retire, thanking you sincere
ly for, having respected the right of free
speech here to-day, although that right
was asserted under circumstances which
must have greatly irritated the feelings
-eYerY-.Mhite- citizen. of Edge6eld."
When / made my few brief remarks, I
was Houited oH a large gray horse that
had been placed at my disposal, and
Gen. Butler, as concluded, said aloud,
swell, although you are "a Republican,
you are mounted on Democratic horse;"
to which answered, "I knew him to be
a Democratic horse by his solemn and
hungry look and lean ribs, and he wears
the grayp 7iy1 81 is.f'@!..'i ~
r..I should. add that I did not IGRr a
single fre-arm discharged at any time
during the day, nor did ] see any weap-
on drawn, or any attempt at violence in
any; nform: The colored men were not
excluded from the stand, and if they had
been, I would not; have spoken. They
did not attempt to mount the stand,
neither did Mr.. Jillson nor Mr.. Baus.
Ikett; two white Republicans, who in
tended to speak on the occasion.
The statement is: equally false as to
any attempted violence at Johson's De.
pot, on our return. Some ten or fifteen
white men there walked up near the
train, and one of them cried out:
"There's our Congressman Smalls; let's
kiss, him;Y, awhile Others said, "let's ask
the Governor for lock of his bairw
They. were all in jesting mood, and at
my, request they ceased their offensive
remarks.
!i1The government of Edgefeld has been
for eight,years fostering ulcer upon our
body polite, and diligent attempt is
now being made. to hide with "the bloody
shirt" the appalling wrongs committed
by the Republican party on the white
population of that section. For exam
,ple, there have been three County Treas
urers, all Republicans, appointed in
Edgefeld since 1858. The first, John
Wooley,, proved defaulter to the
amount of $4,000 the second Eichel-
berger, in the sum of about 100000; and
the third, DcDevitt, estimated at $4,000
or $5O,0O0. nh,
j. The government is wholly composed
of negroes elected on the race issue, as
serted even against white Republicans,
and the. very doors of the temple of JUS
tice have been slammed by Republican
Judge in the face: Of the white people Of
'Edge6eld, when they invoked the law to
protect them in their rights. See my re-
port on Edge6eld of January, 1875. q:
7. j. MAcKEY.