Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-10-17

disturbance occurred that day. At Rafting
Creek, on the 31st Of August, the Democrats
requested hearing at Radical meeting. 1t
was granted. Col. Dargan commenced speak
ing and alluded to Lee, who sat near him.
Lee rose and shook his finger in bargains
face and Dargan knocked him off the stage.
Confusion ensued and the negroes stampeded.
The Democrats, fearing the Republicans
would hold secret meeting after they left,
demanded that the meeting should 60 on
within an hour. The Republicans declined,
when Colonel Earle and other Democrats
brought Lee to Sumter in buggy. No vio-
lence was done to Lee, and Dargan's blow was
justified by the Magistrates Court, which
failed to convict Dargan and made mis-.
trial. Three negroes and three whites con-
stituted the jury. Lee then had Dargan,
Earle, and one other Democrat tried, who
were all found not guilty. 1t will be remem-
bered that Governor Hampton went to the
mountains for his health, and only returned
to Columbia on the Goth of September. 1t
being rumored that Lee intended ordering
out his colored militia company, the 7th Of
September, to prevent the Democrats divi-
ding time with the Republicans, some white
cavalry companies appeared upon the scene
but though | was in town all day, I heard
no threats and saw no disorder, extept about
evening, when some dragons got tight and
made noise. Afterwards, some miles from
here, they got into difficulty with some
other dragons, all Democrats on both sides.
At Wells Cross Roads, the Democrats had
been informed that Lee had summoned the
Republicans to come to the meeting armed.
The Democrats held primary election near
the same place, on the same day. The Re-
publicans came armed, and the Democrats
came prepared to repei force by force: BE:
fore Col. Dargan arrived, jdiyisiopl Of Gme
had been agreed upon. Notwithstanding
this, as soon as Dargan rose to speak, the Re-
publican leaders attempted to prevent his
being heard, and one colored Republicanfae-
tually pointed cooked pistol at him, but
Dargan and others spoke, and no further dis.
turbance occurred. At the Hampton meet
ing. held the 2lst Of September, Lee proposed
propounding questions to Governor, Hamp.
ton, who promptly consented to answer them.
Some impetuous young men threatened Lee
for this, but Hampton, Gen. M. c. Butler
and the local Democrats protected him and
brought him on the stage to see that he was
not hurt Governor Hampton offered Lee
an opportunity to interrogate him in public
or in private Lee solicited the latter and
left the stage unharmed Gen. Butler did
not call the President His Fraudulency in
his speech at this .meetiug;e his allusion to his
Western tour with Mr.. Hayes was in relation
to the generous action of Western people to-
wards the yellow fever sufferers. Gen. But
ler was severe on Lee; hence the falsehood
about him. In a word, the only y terrorism in
Sumter county is that Of colored Radicals
over colored Democrats, when the eswhite Dem
ocrsts are absent. AS proof of this, two COL
ored women, friends of Lees wife, tore red
shirt, the Democratic emblem, from the back
of an aged coIored Democrat, Mott Brooks,
a Doorkeeper of our State Senate, who went
to Lees house, as a friend, to dissuade him
from his course. This was done through
Lees wife's influence. The Radicals dare not
permit the colored masses to hear Democratic
speakers, but the Democrats are determined
that they shall. This course WIS publicly
approved at the Hampton meeting by Gener-
al Kennedy, Chairman of the State Execu-
tive Committee, as brave and honorable,
man as lives on earth. Colonels Dargsn,
Earle and Richardson are all high toned gen.
temen. CHAs. H. NOISE.