The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

an interruption Of Colonel Durgan by a coiored
publican and the drunkenness of awhile man who was
present. The gauntlet was thrown down. and it was
the most natural thing in the world that il should be
taken up-not only in South Carolina. but i'll New
England; yet not single man has been injured.
coNcIIlAIISG THE coLoRED PEOPLE.
The coored vote of sumter county Is very much
termined 70 draw the color line. In pursuance OF
this determination his influence was thrown against
L. b. Johnson. in the republican Congressional
Convention. in favor OF Rancy. who is
colored man. and the consequence has been that
nearly every white man has been driven from
the republican party in sumter county. The demo-
cratic party. the contrary, has done all in its
power 10 conciliate the eolored people and At their
was nominated at the head OF the ticket
III this state of the public mind the meeting ut
Rafting Greek held, at which Colonel Durgan
knocked Lee down for shaking his finger in his face
and in the midst Of tho excitement Lee was placed in
buggy and carried back to Sumter by Colonel Earle
and others. This the situation of things when
you We're in Sumter with Governor Hampton. i'll
September. l the chairman of this meet
ing. and. just before the meeting took place
it came to my knowledge that Lee intended
to arraign the young men engaged in this Rafting
Creek affair before Governor Hampton and the
assembled democracy OF the county. The whole ex-
citcncnt that occasion grew ont of the fact that
these parties had information of Lees purpose.
They were irritated by an attempt on his part TO
bring this personal matter before rho meeting. I
knew this to have been his purpose because he said
to me in answer to ali inquiry made of him with
a view prevent difficulty. The prudence of Gov
Hampton and others prevented personal
violence to Lee, which, whether right wrong, he
You will see from these statements that Lee is the
man who commenced the plan in sumter county of
carrying his ends by force. and that the first large
demonstration in force under party authority was
made by him. and that his followers were armed. It
after he found that he could not succeed iii this
way i'll creating the desired impression on his own
race that he appealed to federal authority and called
the meeting OF the 18th OF October, account of
which General Hogood has given very correctly.
Yours, very truly T. Il. FRASER.
MIR. RICHARDSON MAKES our HIS OWN CASE
The following is from John s. Richardson, Mr.. Raj
ney's competitor and successor
SUMTER S. c., Nov 90, 1878.
MY DEAR GESERAL-I think we will show beyond
doubt that there no budozng Ill timidation
i'll the late campaign election in South Carolina
or, at least i'll my district. If there was fraud or
ballot box stufiing in certain localities do not think
it was general in tho State. / know there none
i'll most of the counties in my district II others as
there fraud-and ballot box stufiing anywhere
ton in this matter. doubt ii afdavits be got
ten up which can prove there was no fraud, &c. but
many be obtained that the atlantis knew of none
and suspected none, &C. As you know, fraud can
hardly be disproved and therefore, always ought
to be proved, or the contrary holds good.
In to your question to Georgetown
county, there were three tickets run in Georgetown
county. First. the regular democratic ticket, on
which, of course was; second, the regular repub-
iican ticket, which had it all democrats for the
county Offices, but Kainey for Congress and two re-
publicans for the Legislature; third, independent
republican ticket, gotten up by David Risley,
publican, and a Northern man who came South just
before the war, and by other leading republicans,
for Congress. the two democratic nominees for the
Legislature and the democrats nominated by the
cratic ticket was however. elected. am told that
got good many votes by means OF being on the
Independent republican ticket.
In Marlboro Marion and HOrry the republicans
county State ticket The field was lett
clear for In Darlington they failed after repeated
efforts at nominating democrats their ticket twho
all declned TO get ont full ticket. They got out at
late day, ticket which only partly filled out,
and had on it such Objectionable persons that the
rnlo aCra In IL
in many instances, and some Of the better class
of republicans refused to their ticket
and came out and publicly announced that they
JOHN S. RICHARDSON.
STRICTLY DEMOCRATIC VIEW.
The next is from Mr.. johnson. chairman Of the
Democratic Committee of Marion county
MARION s. G., Dec. TO- 1873.
DEAR SIR see that our brethren OF the North
disposed TO attribute the overwhelming victory at
the polls in South Carolina in favor OF the denoc-
racy to force and fraud. In justice to the Swamp
Iox" county OF said State Marion) county chair
pprD I deem it duty TO say to you, and to them
ugh you that the leading Republicans all admit
TT the election with M uniformly quiet and
prsceabe, there not having been single instance of
disturbance, and that the campaign was conducted
in quiet and pcaceable manner Many repub-
licans remained away from the polls of their
cord. xssing they had been deceived. by of
their choice in the past that they did not to risk
their own Judgment for the present. and would let
the democrats try their hand at improving things.
Very, many other republicans voted with us. and
especially for Hon. J. s. Richardson against Hon.
J. H. Isainey, the former made a most favorable
impression on the opposition on the stump. and the
latter failed to show where he had benefited them in
single particular. w. Il. Finkea and Elisha Fryer
leading white republicans at Hymansville y. q.
Owens, at Marion Court House; II; II, Jackson. on
Maple Swamp, ana several other leaders came out
openly and worked hard for j. ). Richardson.
The writer politely asked Mr.. Rainey for
permission TO reply to INN at Marion Satnr-
day before the election, and half hours
time was granted. The writer made the best
he could Of it in . courteous way The colored
nudiepce evidently faypr9bly IMPRESSED with
our side, and Henry Bowen. active republican,
approached the writer at once and made promise.
which he kept on the 9Th by voting for the whole
democratic ticket. Nnmberless instances humber
less far space is concerned in this manner Of
communicating could be gone into, but deem it
unnecessary. The coored republican supervisor at
Marion Court House. Rev. Mr.. Nichols, said at the
close of the polls that he never saw more qnet or
q farer election. The report from all the precincts
is about the same, from the lips Of the oppo-
stion. Yours very truly,
J. NJ JOHNSON, County Chairman.
LAWYER pozER's PEACEFUL PICTURE.
The following is from Richard Dozier. leading
lawyer Of Georgetown, and relates that county,
GEonGErowS. S. c. Nov. 20, 1878.
General NJ. c. BUTLER, Washington, ID. CT
MY DEAR SIR see that the Northern papers
notably the New York Tribune and Tina>s-arc indulg
ing in very bitter filings against the SOUTH and es
pecially South Carolina, on account Of the recent
election in this State. The democrats are accused IT
intimidation violence and fraud in carrying the cleo
ton. There is not the slightest foundation for any
charges like these. as believe. in any part OF the
State and as / certainly know in this county. There
never was more quiet, peaceable and orderly cleo
ton here than the held this November. Ny Office
j. in the building next TO the Court House, the
polls for this precinct held and either in
my office at the polls from early in the morning
till the election wes over, and IL there was even
quarrel, political or otherwise, during the day did
hot hear it or of H.. but, the contrary, while min
Cling with the people Ia front Of the Court House
during the day observed the greatest good hurnor
among all classes and the most perfect freedom in
voting each person desired. In truth, while
great many coorcd persons voted with in the cleo
ft.sn ~ fffa fevU iv fbetr
leaders, but in this last election they not only voted
the democratic ticket in largely increased numbers but
they did openly, and. as far as my observation
tended, without being intcrfered with by persons OF
either party In 1876 there certain parts OF this
county inhabited almost exclusively by the coorcd
people, where the democratic speakers were not
allowed 10 hold meeting. much less 10 address the
people In these very localities. during this
pagn Of 1878, the oolored people themselves ap-
pointed the meetings and invited the democrats 10
send speakers there. was myself invited TO address
a meeting in one Of these pisces. II was dve days