Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-16
South Carolina.

Washington despatch dated the l2th, which
we find in the Boston Advertiser says
Mr.. Redpath, clerk Of the Senate Committee to
visit South Carolina, has just returned to Wash
ington lie saws that when he left Columbia the
committee had examined about $50 witnesses, and
he has no doubt that majority of the committee
will report, not only that the Hayes and Wheeler
electors were elected on the face of the returns,
but by an actual majority of at least 10000, and
that Chamberlain, although not elected on the
face of the returns, would have had a majority
within a thousand Of the Presidential vote If the
board of State can,assers had been allowed time
enough to examine all the afidavits and protests
which were sent in by the United States officers
and republican citizens from many precincts in
various counties. BY the action of the State su-
preme court, which. he says, every one there I'M
derstands has been purchased by the democrats,
the board of State canvassers was practically pre-
vented from prosecuting the ir work until only ten
hours remained of the ten days allowed by law
for the sitting of the board. Thus the time was
utterly insufficient for thorough investigation of
all the charges of fraud and intimidation and those
from only two counties, Edgcfield and Laurens.
were examined, in which the frauds were univer-
sal and uudisgused. BY throwing out these
counties Chamberlain, as is known, was elected.
Mir. Redpath represents that the evidence taken
before the committee fully sustalns the charge
that more democratic votes were cast IN Edseheid
aud Laurens than there are adult male citizens of
both races there, and that hundreds of Georgians
came over the line and voted the democratic tick
ct repeatedly in precinct after precinct, the mum
Der OF their votes being limited only by the time
required in riding from poll to poll. The testi-
mony on these points Is overwhelming. In add
ton to these frauds republican election managers
were compelled, in some cases, at the muzze OF a
pistol to sign returns which they knew to be fraud
ulent. But, as in Mississippi, the intimidation
was chiefly before the election, and was acconp-
lished fin ST, by the terror among the black repub
licans created by the Hamburg massacre, and
later by the slaughter at Ellenton; second, by the
riding of bodies Of armed men through the coun-
try at night, firing into negro cabins and killing
leading republican negroes and third by threats
of discharging negro laborers who should vote the
republican ticket, either State OF national. lie as
serts that Hampton will be convicted of having
made plausible speeches for northern circulation
while listening at the same time without remen-
STRANGE to tue open advocacy of the Mississippi
plan by Mississippi orator imported expressly
for that purpose. The state OF affairs in South
Carolina, he says, was even worse than that ex
hibited in evidence before the Mississippi COM
mittee of which Senator Boutwell, was chalrma~
The threatened discharge of republican lsbofers
has been very generally carried out since the cleo
ton, and thousands of these men now home
less. lie thinks the evidence taken by the COM
mittee will completely destroy whatever good rep
utation Wade Hampton may have in the Northern
states. The democrats trying to destroy the
effects of this evidence by bringing witnesses to
swear that the republican witnesses are not wor
thy of belief. But this rebutting testimony, be
says, comes from men, seven-tenth9 OF whom are
under indictment for murder. lie declares that
the recent call by Hampton for ten per cent. of
the taxes is simply an attempt to levy blackmail,
to be enforced by business prescription and social
ostracism. The committee has gone to Charles
ton to examine a number of witnesses there, and
is expected here next week. The evidence taken
will make three large octave volumes.