The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-08-02
THE STATE HOUSE PLOT.

THE STATE HOUSE PLOT.
Some Interesting RecoIIeetions of the
CiosinE scenes OF Robber Rule I'm
Columbia by One of the Men who
guarded the State House poors.
reporter for tho Ncps and Cbur;er
yesterday called upon James Shannon
the signer of the communication in rela.
tion to Furniture" Dennis g. Co.. pub
lished day or two ago. Mr.. Shannon
gives an interesting narrative Of bis ad-
ventures from the time that he received
ms discharge from tho United States
navy, July 81, 1876, until his arrival in
this State. He says that he made his
way i'll search Of work from Brooklyn
across the country until he reached DarI-
ington on the 9Th of November last.
Upon his arrival there, he accidentally
camo into contact with Baruch. then n
Trial Justice, and now Sheriff of that
county. Through him he was introduced
10 Whittcmore rs one who could proba-
bly, procure him employment, White
more seemed to think that he had found
Ill Mr. Shannon man with nerve and
recklessness enough to do the work which
he himself said that his 'niggers lacked
the courage to do" He accordingly
promised him q situation as United
States deputy marshal, to execute war
iants winch ne was then preparing to
issue. Mr.. Shannon witnessed much of
the process OF manufacturing affidavits
against some of tho most prominent and
respectable white men in the county who
were marked out for arrest and persecv.
tion. He describes the modus oJ,erond;
quite minutely. lie says that White
more kept his blank affidavits ready, and
sent out his agents to drum up negro in
timidstion witnesses. A negro who made
his, appearance was invariably given to
understand about what he was to swear
to-, and against whom. When he was too
stupid or too conscientious, this latter
rarely happened his language was twig.
ted and contorted to suit. About forty
OF these were prepared one, he remcm-
bers, against Colonel Law, prominent
Democrat of that county. The manu-.
facture was continued unity the time ar
rived for the converting Of the LeKisia-
ture, when Whittemore left for Columbia.
Almost Immediately upon his arrival
there he sc-,t down an urgent message
TOR Mr. Sh'-. ION to come up, rendering
him the pos Jon Of "Arrestirg SergeantS
OF the Legislature, and Offering at the
same time to defray all expenses. His
idea evidently was that he had gotten
hold of O desperate and courageous man
who would hesitate ut nothing. On the
morning of MFR. Shannon's arrival lie was
met by Whittemore, who went into the
State House, and returning in few min
utes bearing O commission as Deputy
Sergeant-at-Arms,w which he handed him.
Mr. Shannon Immediately went OH duty.
aEd vas given virtual command of the
Inegro constabulary about the DOORS
Here he remained until the storming OF
the House by the Democratic members.
He states that the gnovemeab vas COM
plete surprise. He was the only man at
! the deor ct the time. end Ras sSent ant
of the way, despite his resistance. On
that day, about three hours after tho en-.
trance of the Democrats, Mackey came
to Mr.. Shannon and asked rather abrupt
ly If he did not have pistol. Upon bis
replying i'll the negative, Mackoy told
him to call Mt his Office next morning.
He did SO, and was handed fine Colts
six-barreled revolver with the significant
remark that he "knew how to use It."
The force of negroes was increased, all
OF whom being armed and under Mr.
Shannon's orders. On the first or second
n.gb that the Democrats were in the
hall of the House, six cases containing
i20 breech-loading rifles with ammuni.
/ ton and accoutrements were brought
over from the State armory and deposi-
ted in Kennedy's Office Mr.. Shannon
heard Beatty, who acted as his superior
officer, say that in case of an "emergencyn
the door OF Kcnncdy's ofiice mas to be
broken open if the key could not be con-
veniently obtained, and the men armed
with the rifles. After the Democratic
members had been in q day or two, HIr.
Shannon ascertained, or was given to un-
derstand, that Jillson, Dennis, Hayne
and some other of the bolder spirits,
were to act as deputy sergeants-at. arms,
and attempt the election of the cbiec-
tionablo members, being supported by
the Radicals and negroes vhe were freely
admitted by orders, while all white men
were rigidly excluded. Upon resistance
being made sufficient force was to bo
used to provoke violence. Immediately
upon any manifestation Of this avrt
Lieutenant Anderson or Kellogg, one of
whom was to be ut the door, would give
o signal to bring up the troopsfrom down
stairs. These iieutenapts expressed many
fears lest their men should refuse Ito act
in putting ont or shooting at the white
men, but it was determined to lead the
troops to the melee, so as to get at least
one hurt, which they judged would be
sufficient to answer the purpose Of sectir-
ing martial law, or. the ejectment of all
Democrats and the upkclding Of the
Chamberlain government. How this
plan was baffled by the withdrawal of
the "Wallace" House is known to all.
The Radicals in the House were, he
thinks, fully @ - q. ...o ....., ....
were all armed. after the Adjournment
Of the two House, Mr. Shannon was re-
tanned to discipline and watch the negro
eonstabulay, and remained there until
. the final equalization OF ChaGibeFlain
and his crew. lie says that Elliott
brought In ma additional supply of arms,
which, with the others, we're stored in
. the headquarters OF the constabt1afy, and
kept ready for use. He also says that
the troops frequently declared their in.
! tentfon Of throwing down their arms If
, Hampton or his men attempted to cap
ttIre the State House, and expressed their
, wish that he would. Twenty determined
) men, ne says, could have taken tho build!
, | ing &c any time. Mr.. Shhnnon was be-
J hind the scehes, aud certainly knows OF
: what ne speaks. His statements can, he
, claims, be confirmed by Andrew Dohefty,
who wss. like himself. In tho Radical
service ,siIh. Democraiic fselidgs, and
: who Is now Id Columbia - lyeies AID C5u-
j yisr. 12ih i,istt. y, :, 1sl'
I | -. Grows iiss6 been known te live on d
httt,fyofl.