The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-01-04

or three of the Republicans, with my
self, however, went upon the platform
and the first scene in the meeting wa
the white men-the Democrats-call
ing on Butler and Gary to address
them, which they actually did befor'
any Republican was allowed to speal
at all. After this the Republican,
We're informed by Gen. Gary that the.
had come there to divide time, ant
that if the Republicans did not give
them half the time there would bt
trouble, and the responsibility of tina,
trouble would be ON the Radical lead.
ers. The situation was threatening
the number of these mounted and
armed Democrats was SO great-thai
every one saw at glance that the only
thing to be done for the time being
was to allow them one-half the time
If any meeting at all was held; and il
was also believed that the Republicans
would have been attacked, and that
lives would have been lost, if they had
attempted quietly to withdraw, with
out holding the meeting"
Q.-"This was after the Hamburg
massacre"
Gov. C.-"Yes, just about one month
after the Hamburg massacre. The re-
suit was that spoke at this meeting
for about half an hour, under the
greatest possible restraint, and with
the consciousness that my own life
was in danger, and that anything like
full and free Republican speech
would have produced general mas
sacre upon the spot.
PUBLIC THREATS AND INTIMIDATION.
II was followed by Gen. Butler, who
attacked not only the Republican par
ty, but the Republican leaders who
were present, in terms of the most un-
measured abuse. He told the Repub-
licans present that the Democrats were
going to carry that county; that they
might as well make up their minds to
1t then; that, no matter how,-that
was not important for them to know,
he wanted them to understand the
fact that the Democrats were going to
rule that county, and going to carry
that election.
"Gen. Gary also spoke, in still more
brutal terms, but to the same effect.
"Now, the result of such meeting
as this was, of course, the reverse of
advantageous to the Republicans.
They felt sense of indignation and
wrong, but still they felt that the De-
mocracy had had their way, and had
gained an advantage, and the whole
effect upon Republicans was exceed
ingly dispiriting, and it showed, also,
to the leaders, how great the danger
was to them personally. And here,
as elsewhere, it is not every leading
politician who is willing to incur
great personal risks in order to stand
by his principles or to serve his party.
"rhis meeting at Edxefield Court
House was specimen merely Of the
plan which was practiced throughout
this and the adjoining counties"
Q.-"Do you mean throughout the
BLACK Eelt'?''
Gov. C.-"Yes, through all the
counties where the Republicans had a
majority. And there was another
form of intimidation more severe than
any yet described. This consisted in
bodies of armed men riding at night
through the county and entering the
cabins of the colored people and threat
ening them with death, or dragging
them out Of their cabins and whipping
them, and in some instances killing
them"
A QUESTION OF vERACITY.
Q.-"Gen. Gordon, Senator from
Georgia, stated in a telegram addressed
at the President (and published by the
Associated Press, believe, before the
President saw it, that during the late
exciting canvass in this State no blood
had BEEN she'd except by the partisans
Of Ctanabertan.' If my memory
serves me rightly, Wade Hampton al
so signed the dispatch. What is your
answer to that statement?v
Gov. C.-"Such statement is
monstrous falsehood, by whomsoever
stated. When | say .fdksehood /
mean untrue in fact, and / am unable
to see how it is not an untruth in in
tent, by any person who has the
slightest familiarity with the history
of the last four months in South Caro-
lima. Ny OWa belief 10 that orer 100
Republicans hare lost their iues, pure
" on account of their political opinions,
since the let of last July in this State,
and 1 kno,c that more than fifty peU-
authenticated cases Of political murder
hare occurred in this State.
"But returning to Edgefield as a
specimen county, and the one involved
in the discussion before the Board of
State Canvassers; whenever there was
settlement or district in this county
where such blow was deemed neces-
sary for the complete intimidation of
the Republican leaders, this system Of
assassination at night was practiced.
This may be considered general
description Of the methods adopted to
terrorize the country prior to the day
of election.
FRAUDS AT ELECTION.
ION the day of election, however,
the most effective means employed
for overcoming the Republican major
ity was repeating. This was practic-
ed by bands of Georgians, who raided
from poll to poll throughout the coun-
ty, as well as by many of the white
people, residents Of the county, who
voted at different polls and oftentimes
repeated at the same poll. There was
hardly precinct in the county where
the managers were not SO much i'm
fear of bodily injury or death, as to
allow them to discharge the duties Of
their office properly. In some in
stances the ballot-boxes were taken
possession of during the day and car
ried away from the polls. probably for
hn nf cft .:Al.