Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-11-03

participation in Republican meetings
by their presence as armed organized
bodies. In their several localities these
clubs have operated openly, and ostensibly
as Democratic campaign organizations. F.r
aud wide in the State they have ridden by
day and by night, as a menace TO the men,
bers Of the Republican party, especially its
colored members, uttering threats and not
seldom executing them. Prior TO the recent
instances of widespread violence which oc-
casloned my proclamation and call upon the
President, these clubs, or those who were
members thereof, had killed, exclusive of
the Hamburg and Ellenton massacres, not
lees than fifteen members Of the Republican
party, had whipped and outraged hundreds,
and had individually 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 rep
resentng as they did almost the entire body
of white men in their localities, no efficient
way of enforcing the law was left A Con-
stable or sheriff with a colored posse would
have been massacrod In an attemptt to execute
the law.
Then follows an extended statement of
the Ellenton affair, made up from the
written testimony of more than 100
sworn witnesses. After this description
he adds
have now merely described in outline the
domestic violence and insurrection as it was
actually developed at Ellenton, and within a
radius of fifteen miles therefrom; but, in
truth, this was only one phase Of the vio-
lence and insurrection. 1t virtually over
spread the counties of Aiken and Barnwell,
producing reign of terror which depopu-
lated large sections of those counties of all
colored males. Investigations now in prog
ress indicate unmistakably that actual muir
ders committed exceed the estimates hereto
fore formed by me, or by those most familiar
with the facts. Scores of colored men are
still missing in addition to those already
known to have been killed. These are some
of the leading evidences of the domestic vio-
lence and Instructions which were the occa-
sion of my call upon the President for mill
tary aid. The facts presented are clearly
proved, and the conclusions reached are,
think, sustained by the facts. They make a
case amply warraDting my call and the Pres
ident's response. To have done less would
have been to abandon the chief function of
government and to have permitted domestic
violence and insurrection to accomplish re-
suits against which the Constitution of the
United States designed to guard effectually
There Is one preteXt somewhat widely
suggested in excuse or mitigation of the Of
fenses which | have described, namely: that
those who engaged in this conspiracy were
crushed by an insupportable burden of
misgovernmcnt. In answer TO this
assert that, by the statement of vast
majority OF the leading men aud
organs Of public opinion in this State,
among the present supporters of Wade
Hampton prior to his nomination, my ad-
ministration of public affairs for the past
two years has been honorable and success
full, and that at no time since 1868 were the
public evils in this State so far abated or
the prospect of complete good government
so bright.
The utterances of Democratic newspapers
and Democratic speakers and leaders on this
point would fill volumes, No man who
knows or seeks to know the truth will ques-
ton this assertion. The charge that have
been influenced by the desertiOn of Repub-
licans to the Democratic party would receive
no consideration from those acquainted with
the political situation here. free vote to-
day in this State will elect the Republican
candidates by fully 20, 900 majority. Besides
this, / declare, and challenge any shadow
OF proof to the contrary, that no party inter-
est, however great or pressing, could ever
have induced me so much as to contemplate
the use of any official power in asking the
military aid of the United States to carry an
election. 1t is only as an incident insepara-
bic from the case at this time that | have
considered or alluded to facts or results af
fecting political parties. | have acted as the
Chief Magistrate Of the State. have sought
to protect the lives and rights of the people
without regard to party.
No man in South Carolina, by reason of
any act of mine, or of the President of the
United States, will be hindered or dissuaded
from voting the Democratic ticket If his free
judgment shall so incline him. Right-mind
ed men would have Judged us recreant to
our trusts If, in proper case, we had failed
to exert the powers intrusted to us for the
restoration of public peace and the preserva-
tion of the State Government Upon a calm
review am convinced that such case has
arisen, and that such condition of affairs
now exists in this State as warrants my ac-
tion, and that of the President of the United
States. d. II. CHAMBERLAIN,
GOyernOr of South Carolina