The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-31
HAMPTON AND THE "OUTRAGES." )"
The Governor Replies to Swails, and Com
mits the Case to the Circuit Solicitor.

Swails, it will be remembered, wrote
to Governor Hampton touching the con-
duct of the Williamsburg Red Shirts.
His complaint was that when he was re-
turning home from a meeting in the
country he was suddenly surrounded by
large number of horsemen, wearing
red shirts and acting generally in an i'm
proper manner, and after some minutes
elapsed, in response to his own inquiry,
the leader of the Red-shirts informed
him that he was under arrest. In this
manner he was carried into the town of
Kingstree, and on arriving there he called
upon Trial Justice Steele for protection,
but that officer failed to give him salts
faction. At a subsequent date he was
notified by a delegation Of white citizens
that he must leave the country and not
return on peril of his life. The reply of
Governor Hampton is as follows:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, S. c., October "a, 1878.
Sir: Owing to absence of some days
from my office, 1 did net receive your
letter until day or two since, and this
accounts for my delay in replying.
While deprccate all acts of violence,
and am always willing to exert proper
authority in maintaining the laws, you
must recognize that I have no power to
exercise judicial authority, nor to take
cognizance of such offences as fall un-
der the jurisdiction of legal tribunals.
If the facts you state are correct, the par
ties who stopped and arrested you on the
public highway were guilty of grave
offence, and it is your duty to have them
indicted. The courts are open to all cti-
zens, and all can secure justice before
them. The only matter that 1 can with
propriety act upon is the charge made
against Trial Justice Steele, and this
shall be fully investigated. All my ef.
forts during this canvass have been used
to promote harmony and preserve the
peace. II there should occur any public
disturbance where l could properly act,
all the authority of my office shall be
used to quell it, and to give full protcc-
ton to all citizens of the State.
have no sympathy with lawlessness
of any sort, nor with those who seek to
produce discord between the two races
Respectfully yours,
WADE HAMPTON.
P. SIN justice to Trial Justice
Steele, l ask that you prefer specific
charges against him. In the meantime
I refer your letter to Solicitor Hirsch
requesting him to investigate the whole
matter and to report to me. You can
communicate with him. w. H.
/ !At the same time Governor Hampton
wrote to Mr.. Hirsch, the circuit solicitor,
Republican, as follows:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, S. c., October "a, 1878.
My Dear Sir: 1 felt it to be my
duty to lay the enclosed papers
before you as solicitor, so that you may
give them full investigation, and am
assured that you will take all proper steps
to see that justice is done to all parties
If any wrong has been committed, the
courts are the proper tribunals for their
redress, and the complaints should prop
erly come before you. beg you to re-
port the result of your investigation ia
me.
Very respectfully yours,
WADE HAMPTON, Governor.
NJ. ]. HIRscH, ESQ.,, Solicitor, S. G.