The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-02

It was true that they had been relieved from
oppression that their confessed debt to their
reform Governor was yet unpaid, and that
while they supported him, rs in the past, there
was no danger of misgovernment. But should
they rest contented with this! Why not get
the upper hand at home, and then make des-
perate attempt to seize on the reins Of power at
Wsshingtonl
RACE ooNFrIoTs-HAMBuRG.
Race difficulties became frequent in Edge
field. At last in June, six negroes, accused Of
the murder of two whites, were seized by an
armed band of white men, evidently well or
ganized and shot. They were made to face the
force, and every man, at the word OF command,
emptied the contents of his gun into their bo-
dies The affair stirred up much bad blood be
tween the races all over the State. The Repub-
lcans denounced 1t, and the Governor, though
he knew it to be useless, offered areward for the
apprehension of the lynchers. The straight
cutters and firc-eaters sided with the lynchers.
But so pacihed had the whites become under
Chamberlain that many were found to condemn
the shooting as cruel, unnecessary, and likely
to produce trouble. This affair is known as the
lynching of the Harmon murderers.
General Butler now resolved on a bold, des-
pcrate stroke. 1t was the massacre at Hamburg.
Every one is familiar with that horrible tale. L
desire to call attention to the evident premedi-
tation of the whole affair. A State militia COM
pany composed of negroes was parading on the
them a Butler, drove up the street in buggy.
and instead of turning aside demanded that the
militia should give way. After some ineiiec-
tive protests this was done. They drove past
The captain ere long indicted for obstrlict-
ing the highway. The young men and the father
of one of them were the prosecutors. General
NJ. T.. Butler appeared as their counsel. Hardly
had they reached the office of the justice when
armed bands of white men began to pour into
town the captain and the company, all residents
of the town, hastily assembled at their armory
| for consultation. The whites soon made de-
mand on them for their arms unable to under
stand the right Of band of rioters TO disarm le
! gal military company, and fearful of their treat
| ment should they surrender, they refused. Fire
| was opened on them. They returned it after q
| half hour. Then hundreds of armed Grorgians
hurried over the bridge from Augusta on the
| opposite side of the Savannah river, and joined
in the contest. Finally a cannon was brought
! from Augusta, and the company compelled to
| abandon the house. Many of them were cap
| tured or these, seven were shot in cold blood,
and the rest turned loose and fired on they
| departed and the rioters, after despoiling the
| property of their victims, broke up and de
parted for home. Butler was at the bot
tom of the conspiracy, which will 60 down
| in history with Glencoe and Wyoming, con-
demned to the eternal eXccration OF humanity.
TIE CONVENTION.
Butler had calculated well. The affair stirred
up the passions of the races. The straight-out
! organs boldly defended it. Every tire-eater de-
Tended it. They caught at the chance. Country
papers were purchased. Every county was can
vasScd. The passions of the Confederate soldiers
were appealed to. The young men were called
upon to rally to the support of General NJ c.
Butler, who had lost leg in defence of South
Carolina, and won honors in the war. The editor
of the Ne,cs and CoVricr had as far as he dared,
put the outrage in its true light. An attempt was
made to throttle him. General Gary strove to
engage him in a duel. Mr.. Rhctt also tried to
fost upon him an affair of honor. Both were
thwartcd, but at the expense ofmuch influence to
the editor, as withdrawal from duel is still
considered cowardlv and degrading in South
Carolina. The organization of Democratic
clubs, rifle companies, and mounted companies
were rapidly begun. The tirc-eaters induced all
the young men to join them, and send to Covcn-
try those who would not The call on the Prcsi-
dent for troops by the Governor, though abso-
lutely justified by Hamburg, was also used to
stir up animosity. The State Democratic Con-
yention called unusually early by the Central
Committee, composed largely Of tire-eaters, and
the election Of delegate after delegate pledged
to strait-outism in the compromise counties
indicated the success of these tremendous efforts
The convention finally met the 18th of
August. The straight-outs were in the ma
jority. But so strong was the confidence of the
whites in Governor Chamberlain that, notwith-
standing all the exertons that had been made,
this ma jority was only a few votes. But it was
sufficient. The convention resolved to nominate
q straight-out Bourbon Democratic ticket. and
to make a desperate attempt to carry the State on
the Mississippi plan. The ticket was nominated.
Every man on it is an OK Con nfrderate officer and
bears wounds received while lighting against the
Union. And at the head of il, nominated for
Governor, stands Wade Hampton. the aI,istocrat
of The urstocrats. the ireeater Of the fire-eat-
erS, famous general in the Confederate army.
ihe incarnation Of Calhounism, JEFF. Davsism,
anti-NorthiSm, and Southern intolerance. After
the measure was once resolved upon the dele
gates acted in concert. Butler, the hero OF HAM
burg, placed Hampton in nomination before the
convention. The whites once more resolved to
trust them and surrendered at discretion. The
convention gave sentence for open war. After
a torchlight procession and mammoth ratiIica-
ton meeting the delegates went home with
full understanding OF the methods to be en-
ployed.
MASS MEETING IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
And by St.Paul! the work has gone on brayely
Never since the passage Of the ordinance Of Sc
cession have there been such scenes in the State
The whole white population is up in arms and
drilling. Wade Hampton and his colleagues are
canvassing the State. Everywhere they 90 there
are mass meetings and torchlight and military
professions, recalling those OF 1S60-6l. A wide
spread system of terrorism and intimidation
reigns supreme. The negroes, now so long un-
moiested that they have come tC look upon
freedom the natural order of things, have
been suddenly awakened from their dream.
lhey see the military drilling all around them.
Dark faces scowl at them when they go abroad
They hear of secret meetings and gatherings of
their old-time owners. Whsperings Of the
Hamburg butchery reach them. They hear the
whites all around them saying that the bottom
rail has been on the top long enough--that the
darkey has TO step down and out--that Hampton
must be elected. In alarm they call a mass meet
ing of the Republicans for consultation. Their
prominent men are invited to be present and
speak. The time comes. Thousands are pre-
sent. They organize and the speaking begins.
Suddenly commotion arises. The orator
stops. The tap of the drum and the sound of
the bugle are heard down the road. Two long
columns Of white soldiers, armed to the teeth,
mounted and on foot, come filing around the
corner and march to the platform. They push
aside the frightened negroes and select the best
seats. Their leaders, ex-Confederate officers,
then mount the platform and demand half the
time for Democratic speakers. 1t is tremblingly
accorded. Confederate general arises, de-
livers a blood-and- thunder harangue, telling
the negroes they have been fools long enough,
have rot to discard their present leaders and
come back to their old masters, who intend to
carry the election, peaceably if they can, but
forcby if they are resisted. A Republican
ell H. lg-;.1, L.