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

L
The True Inwardncss OF the
Late Campaign and the Pres
4 cnt situation there.
The able and well known writer,
James Redpath, was recently accorded
an interview by Gov. Chamberlain, of
South Carolina. A shorthand re-
porter preserved the very interesting
answers Of the Governor entire, and
they were published in the Chicago
Tribune of 26th and 9th ult. The
conversation covered every phase of
the past and present political situation
there, and the extracts therefrom for
which we have space will prove both
interesting and Instructive. In con-
Guiding a comprehensive statement of
the present situation, the Governor
said:
II have before stated substantially
the defects in the Democratic situa-
ton. They claim to have had valid
House of Representatives from the
first, but make no claim to the Senate,
or toany State officers, except Governor
and Lieutenant-Goyerno In the
face of all this they have, notwith-
standing, proceeded to inaugurate
their Governor, but have been unable,
of course, to accomplish any legisla-
tive work, and Hampton, SO far as l
know, has not yet assumed to perform
any Executive functions.
II regard the legal situation as en-
tirely safe and satisfactory for the Re-
publicans. There are grave practical
difficulties that may be thrown in our
way by the Democrats. And it is too
early to predict how we shall find our
way through all the difficulties before
us. One thing is certain: the situa-
ton is much more satisfactory now
than than it has been at any time
since the election"
CHARACTER OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Q.-"How many members do the
secessionists claim:"
Gov. C.-"To answer that question
it will be necessary for me to say that
the important question before the
State Canvassers was, first, the valid
ity Of the election in the counties of
Edgefield and Laurens. The charac-
ter of the election in those two coun-
ties was the most difficult, as well as
the most important, question which
came before the Board. On the part
of the Republicans abundant proofs
were presented showing, first, syste-
matte, determined, well-organized
system of intimidation, with view Of
affecting the election and destroying
the freedom of Republican voters, in
all the ways that are now familiar to
those who know anything of Southern
elections. These consisted of an agree
ment among the landowners in these
counties, followed by notification to
the colored tenants, that no contracts
would be made with any who voted
the Republican ticket, either for their
labor upon wages, or for shares of the
crop, or for rent Of the lands, and that
no advance of provisions or stock
would be made. This was followed
by notification-served in various
ways, sometimes in speeches at public
meetings, sometimes through the local
newspapers, more often by letters sent
to the parties themselves, or through
disguised bands Of men at night-to
the leaders of the party, that if they
persisted in organizing and conduct
ing the canvass for the Republican
candidates they would be obliged to
leave the country or lose their limbs.
In a great number of instances these
two features of the plan of intimida-
tion had but little effect, and they
were therefore followed by more Wig
orous plans of intimidation and un-
der this head the first feature is known
as the Division of Time This con-
sisted in the Democracy going always
armed, and usually mounted. in large
numbers, gathered from all parts of
the county, to the Republican meet
ings, and calling upon the Republican
speakers and leaders to give them one
half of the time for addressing Repub-
lican audiences. In any other coun-
try than the South this would be
deemed too impudent demand to be
made, much more to be allowed, by
any political party. But, in point of
fact, the Republicans Of this State
were without any practical means of
resisting this demand.
THE GOVERNORS Personal EXPERT
ENCE.
II attended i'm August last meet
ing of this kind at Edgefield Court
House. | arrived there about o'clock
in the morning, and found the town
already filled with a large number of
Democrats mounted and heavily
armed with pistols. They were riding
through the town shouting and threat
ening, with view, evidently, to pre-
vent us from holding meeting at all,
but, failing in this, about half-hour
before the time for holding our meet
ing, they mustered in the public
square, formed themselves In march
ing order, under the command of Gen.
Butler and Gen. Gary, and marched
to the grove where the Republican
meeting was to be held, and actually
took possession of the platform and the
space around the platform, although
the grove had been engaged by the
Republicans and the platform erected
by them. and the meeting called solely
by them"
WHO GEN. NJ. c. BUTLER Is.
Q.-"This is the Gen. Butler who is
just elected United States Senator by
the Secessionists ?''
Gov. C.-"Yes, sir, the same man
Gen. NJ. G. Butler"
Q.-"Is he the same Butler who was
the leader of the Hamburg massacre?"
Gov. C.-"The same man again."
Q.-"Is he any relative to the United
States Senator to whose speech Sum-
ner replied at the time he was so bru-
tally assaulted by Brooks?"