Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-07

id rascals. aud Parker answering in the aflirma-
tive, was Immediately shot in the back. Butler
Edwards, another prisoner, was taken at midnight
before General Butler, who told his captors to
take him to the other prisoners. Willis Davis, an
other prisoner, saw General Butler before any bad
been killed. aud Butler told him that he would
have enough of II before be got through. After
the murder of the victims, pandemoDium was let
loose in Hamburg. the simory was sacked and
set on fire, Prince Rivers house plundered, and
only by the efforts of some OF the cooler
leaders was general conaagrstion of the
town prevented and Buffers prediction that be
would lay Hamburg IN ashes thwa.ted. IL may
well he stated here a. anywhere that several OF
the guns belonging to the Adams company were
last reported IN Robert J. Buffers possession;
that the suit Of Butler against Adams, ia which
Gen. NJ. {. Butler is counsel has never been
heard OF since that fatal Sth of July; that though
Gen. Butler and Sc associates, including six Bat
lels, were presented by the coroners jury a. guilty
of the murder of six innocent negroes, no pro-
cseding or prosecution against them WAS ever
taken, and that Co. A, 18Th South Carolina, has
had since the day of the Hamburg massacre no
existence. Adams, it, captain, lives III Char les
ton, fugitive from home, and the whole colored
population of Aiken and Edgeheld counties are
in wholesome suDJectlon.
BUFFERS CLAIM -CoRBIN.
If Buffers right to a seat among the senators of
the L. 5. was not denied by the Hamburg slaugh-
ter III the name OF humanity anu civilization, the
method and circumstance of his election would
seem to ytiate his title. vii not here reclte the
tale Of the tauge following the South Carolina
election last November. Two facts are prominent
and demonstrated by the record ,-that on the Eth
OF Dc, David L. Corbin was elected I. >.
tor Tor the term of six years frem March 1, 1871,
by legal ana duly elected legislature, according
10 ali the forms OF the statute, and that his Gre
dentals were on the following day signed by Gov.
Jbamberlaln, governor then IN iull aud undl,puted
authority. by virtue of election nearly two years
before and continuous subsequent exercise vi MS
Official functions. Ii would seem, therefore, tnal
no vacancy OF occasion existed lot any body, leg
islatlve OF other, to elect a senator for the same
term TO which Mr.. Corbin HAD been duly chosen
aud commissioned. Elght DAYS aiter-Dec. pa
body oi 20 men, calling themselves the House of
Representatives OF ;. e., not one OF whom Claimed
TO be u senator OF 10 represent the Senate, and
of whom had no Credentials OF commissions to
show that they were ever legally elected to either
branch calling themselves n quorum vi the eutlte
loo SEA at1rs auu Repfeseni stlyes, proceeded 10
elect zen. NJ. E. Butler, 1. >. Senator Tor the
same term Tor which Mr.. COIbin had been COM
missIOued, and Gu tins state OF facts he loses his
legal ella IN 10 the seat. thus tar, to the credit OF
the republican senators, the only CUES who have
expressed themselves ,sti fed with even the for
maj aud TECHNICAL points IN Butler 5 favor sustain
ing the regularity OF his election are CouOver
and Patterson. lie does not pretend, nor do any
OF his advocates thai he received the vote OF
a single state senator, OF that the .. Z. Senate
participated ln any manner IN his election. MI.
d. /. Corplu, who contests Buffers seat, Is a ia
tive OF Vermont, graduate oi Dartmouth, and
when the war broke out left law practice at
Wells River, Vt, for the front. Disabled III the
field The following year, he served on special duty
until the close Of the war, and alter peace
sent south IN connection with the Freedmens
Bureau. In 1866 he appointed L. 5. District
Attorney for D. -, aud his record in that office Is
part OF the current public history. 1t is that OF
an able la@yer, a courageous, independent repuD
lican anu al upright man.