The New York herald., 1876-10-30
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Report Of Senator Randolph on the
Condition of the State.
TESTIMONY OF FEDERAL And STATE OFFICIALS
No Population of New Jersey More
Quiet and Peaceful.
THE CONDITIONS OF THE ELECTIONS.
How Chamberlain Has Arranged 10 Count
Himself and Friends In.
A TRIAL JUSTICE ON TIE ELLENTON RIOT
CoLuMnIA. S. c.. Oct. %. 1916

COLUMBIA, S. c., Oct. 90 1876.
Since leaving New Jersey, eight or ton days ago,
havo largely occupied my time with those Districts of
South Carolina declared by the President OF ntcd
States 10 bc in insurrectonary condition. l havc
also spent several days this place. Ny object has
been to obtain the facts, far possible and this
end have obtained interviews with tho leading men
OF both political parties Among these persons
| have seen and convcrscd wmh public men
from Charleston, Columbia. Aiken, Camden and
Edgencd. These places centres OF population al
legged be especially violent aud nsurrcc,ionary. OF
them, and all, can say that village population
OF New Jersey Is more quiet or peaceful and with a
single exception, arising IRON POLITICAL
of these districts have been disturbed Their civil
officers town and county mostly republicans, assert
that there has been no time within Governor Cham
bcrain's administration that they could not execute
the laws without assistance from without
Let enforce this striking assertion South Carolina
has thiry-wo COUNTESS all of these have republican
sheriffs six seven Immediately after the
OF tho Governors proclamation steps taken
10 procure testimony from the civil officers Of these
counties MS to their insurreconary conditions. l
have and read tho atidavits and attest
letters coming from than hall OF the shcrins
OF the counties, inclu ling the hcrTs OF Aiken and
BarEwell--the oaly counties named in the proclama-
ton being insurrcctiorary. Every Of these
sworn statements In substance declares that WITHIN
these counties there has been resistance 10 judicial
process, NO unlawful distractions, combinations, or
assembagcs or persons contrary to law.
The Iacts stated by these civil officers the Cover
nors own deputies IN the several countes, have been
repeatedly brought TO his attention, but elicit no
response or change OF ac,ion.
TESTIMONY JUDGES.
In order TO afiord to tho Governor pretext for
mistaking the condition OF affairs tho Slate tho
timony oil the judges OF the Supreme ana Circuit
courts OF the Stale was had and submitted 10 him.
The judges Of tho Supreme Court thrcc, the Cir
cult judges eight IN number OF these eleven ofi-
GERS, ten republicans. With the exception Of
Judge VINO was absent all those non-poiitcal officers
testified that they are acquainted with no cause that
warranted the issuance OF the Governor proclama-
ton or that OF the President OF the United States
In private conversation with several OF the judges
they have assured mo that the civil power PRIOR TO
the proclamation had been full and ample In all tho
counties, and they branded the Governors assertion
to the contrary libel upon tho Statea motion OF
his own 10 secure his personal reelection TO the Gov
ernorsnip and thence to the United states senate.
THE CIVIL ARM NOW rARALYzED.
Several Of these judges have been until very recently
the personal and political friends OF Mr. Cham
They Justly that since the introduction Of federal
troops the civil arm OF the State has been paray zcd
that men OF both parties and look to the United
Stacs troops 10 perform police duty, aud that the ac
ton OF the Governor has placed upon the President tho
responsibility OF preserving the peace OF the
State. Ny observation sustains this opinion Omit
ting all debate 10 the original nced OF troops in
South Carolina, the leading men OF both parties are
ANXIOUS Tor their retention and protecting care.
TESTIMONY or FEDERAL JUDGE
Seeking Information ON civil officers OF the federal
government stationed In South Carolina, cunverscd
States District Court Tor this State. He has
been republican from the beginning and is now
very recently has been warm friend and admirer Of
Chamberlain. He said he had been astoundcd by tho
Governors proclamation, ahd although his duties led
him 10 travel IN, anu to know every county South
Carolina, he had not been made cognizant OF any inter
rupton OF civil process and had not any violence
outraccs murders, nor heard OF any. the
OF three instances COnsDicuOuSly published
country As TO these the Governor lad published
facts and suppressed others vital to just Judgment As
instance IN point, the Governor had omitted to say
that
TINE ELLExroS AYFRAY
had begun by the negroes cndeayorng to outrage de-
ienceess white woman. and by the refusal OF a
body OF negroes to surrender the culprits
to the constable's posse Judge Bryan Is now
scattered about the sparsey settled portions OF the
state. He fears that the tendency Of The Governors
and Of the presence Of the federal troops
viii bc in the hundreds OF townships where the troops
will not be stationcd to give license 10 The base aud
brutal passions OF the lower class or negroes Both
tho Judge aud myself have indorsed tho urgent app.
cation OF the citizens OF Charleston and Beaufort To
General Ruger TO put troops immediately in these
lying districts The troops not asked for pro-
toct voters, but dcfcncelcss women and children
MoRE FEDERAL TESTIMONY.
My next interview with Mr.. Hagood, Clerk OF
the United States Circuit Court appolntcc o Judge
Bond, and, ot course, republican He thoaght Gov.
ernor Chamberlain had not been fairIy treated
by democratic audiences and not respect
fully listened to, and admitted that many
prominent republicans were now hostile to
Cham He knew OF no instance OF recent out
rage murder IN all the northern tier OF coun-
ties where he resided, heretofore known tho
ku Klux counties, those cited specifically and
already published. lie knew OF no reason why tao
civil law should not be executed at this time
Mr. Pointer, a Northern man and republican United
States supervisor OF Elections Tor south Carolina,
thought Governor Chamberlain mad been bady treated
by the democrats at meetings and Intruded upon by
tncm that no personal violence had been offered, but
strong personal epithcts applied 10 him. These bad
become offensive as TO cause him to practically
leave the canvass. Mr.. Poinicr has two subordinate
officers AT each polling precinct in the State In
has he had request made OF him Tor troops
sustain these United states officers. Aside from the
disturbances cvnspienously published heretofore he
did not know OF any outrage act OF violence or murder
In the State.
In addition to this ccncurring testimony gathered
manly from republican sources, similar afdavs and
letters hnvc been received from over hfiy other
county officials, mainly ral JUDGES OF counties, clerks
OF counties and Of probate and ofprosecusng attorneys
OF counties.
! havc purposely omitted a vast amount Or tcsti-
mony pronored by merchants, clereymen lawyers
bankers and Others, because II would only be repeat
ing evidence II would be difficult 10 testimony
fully responsible ana satisfactory than that
at hand and accumuatins each day showing the utter
nccdlcssness o. Governor Chambcrlain's action and
hcartess disregard OF iacis.
Touching the conditions OF tho elections submit
this staement:--
CONDITIONS or THE rLEcrioSs
The Board Estate Canvassers consists Of the Sccrc
tary Of state the Comptroller General. the Attorney
General. the Chairman OF tho Committee OF Elections
OF the House. Four OF these officers are republicans.
wIih them rcss the entire power of count OF these
six na! csnvasscrs four candidates Tor reelection
In word. the members OF the State Board abso-
lutcJ and tnay the sole Judges of their own election
Tho county boards OF canvasscrs consist Of three
commissioners OF election. They appointed by the
Governor. lie has nomnaily selected commis-
soncrs from the republican side and one from The
democratic by public proclamation he invited the
two poca committees to designate their choIcc. Hc
also announced that candidates Tor Office would be ap
pointed by him. The persons named by the democratic
committee have not generally been appointed. Of the
republican commissioners selected by tho Governor IN
nearly every instance tho appontce Is republican
Office holder candidate for office at tho coming
eIecon-thus they will canvass the returns of thor
elections. u will be observed that the
Governor appoints the commissioners of tho
county, majority republican,; these IN turn
appoint three managers Tor each polling pre-
cinct, majority republican,; these managers
control tho ballot box, count the votes and make
turns to the Board appointing them. The reception
OF the votes their count tncr csnvass by the County
Board and their nnal canvass by the State Board s
always and wholly within republican control
TnE STATE
tb1 ox.gsI sI.. fat. t.tu frl