New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-10-07
THE RIFLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.


would tend to bring out the full party strength
THE RIFLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
,up POLICY OF VIOLENCE. BY WHICH WADE HAhP-
TON WON HIS ELECTION TWO YEARS A1o' A"A'N
pFsoRrFD TO WITH HIS SANCTION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
w,emScroy Oct 6-The President and the AT
,r,ev-General have been informed of the details OF
persistent attempts making under the leadership OF
Earle and Dargan, two aids of Governor Hampton,
of south Carolina, to break up the Republican Or
eauizaton in Sumter County. These accounts led TO
the instructions which have been sent to the United
States Attorney and the Marshal to proceed In tu-
ture against all offenders for violation OF Section
$500 of the Revised Statutes.
The attacks made upon the Republicans were at
the three stages of their campaign; namely at the
primary election of delegates TO the County Con-
yeption, at the convention, and at all subsequent
meetings of the campaign The whole movement
has been under the personal direction and leader
ship of Earle and Dargan, and their proceedings
have continued openly and without any diminntion
of activity, even when their conduct was formally
renorted by q committee of Republicans TO Governor
Hampton.
In July last when the colOred Republicans of the
county began to assemble at the places designated
for their meetings. 10 select delegates to the county
convention, they found armed men picketlng the
roads and Immediately encountered their opposi-
ton to assembling. These men carried State arms
supplied by the United States. They were under
military discipline, and acted under regu-
lar officers. They were recognized as members
Of the State volunteer militia. Though In
these FIRST operations they left their uniforms
At home, they boldly appeared in them later. At
all the meetings they announced that the white
people of the state had decided that Republican
meetings should not be held, and that all who at
tempted 10 keep the organization of that party alive
should suffer fol it. At meeting the chair
man. who had just built a new house, was
driven away by threat that if he presided at the
meeting his house should be immediately burned.
The meeting WIS then scattered by military COM
pany Frazer the State Senator from that county,
being appealed to for protection, declared that If
the Republicans persisted in continuation of the
campaign neither he nor Governor HAMPTON could
shield them from the populace.
At the county convention, Earle and parRan
headed company of about 100 armed men which
attempted to take possession of the hall where tho
convention met. Their proceedings of the
most outrageous character, ending in personal
assaults committee was then appointed com
posed of four Republicans. two white and two
eolored TO report the nature of the movement III
Sumter County to Governor Hampton. Hampton
promised to use his official power to punish all who
took part in these matters, and to come TO Sumter
County and denounce the lawlessness in public
speech After these promises the Republicans called
a meeting in the county, twenty miles from the
county seat Earle and Dargan, at the head of 100
armedmen appeared on the ground, and demanded
that the meeting should be called to order,
az they intended 10 participate. As their direc-
tons were not promptly followed, they announced
thatthey would allow one hour within which to call
lo,,o ohc
be held. When the Republicans appeared on the
platform ard the chairman eff the County Commit
tee attempted TO speak, IDargan knocked him off tie
platform with blow of bis fist and jumped down
after him Earle, the other aid of Governor Hamp-
ton seized him by the throat and the crowd Of white
men set upon him and the other REPUBLICANS and
broke up the meeting. Propositions were then made
to shoot the chairman. Judge Lee Some opposed
this rs they feared hanging. Finally il decided
Re take him prisoner and march him into the county
seat and there give notice TO him and all the Repub-
lcans TO be found that they must give up their
meetings and abandon their organization on pain of
death. hundred armed horseman rode as an escort
TO the wagon into which they tumbled Judge Lee.
and at three halts which were made ON the road he
was treated TO various indignities, and three at
tcmpts were made, by informing him that he had
only few moments to live, TO make him promise to
ioin the Democratic Club. Finally, on reaching
Sumter, Lee was paraded about town as the corpse
of the Republican party and the last of it i'll that
county. All Republicans were formally warned on
pain If death 20 give up their political operations
On September 81 great meeting was held for
Hampton. All the military companies came to 1t in
Uniform and nearly all the other participants came
In red shirts and armed. Leading Republicans ex-
peeted that Hampton would redeem his promise and
denounce these outrages. Instead OF that he re-
NAMED on the platform and saw gross personal in
dgnities and violence offered by his aids TO Lee the
chairman of the Republican Committee He simply
sad that Sumter County must be carried, and Sena-
Tor Butler who was present said significantly that
those before him need not be told how to do it,
The evidence lad before the authorities has con-
WINGED them thai organized movement is in pro-
gress in South Carolina TO crush ont the Republican
organization by foul means and that Wade Hamp-
ton gives il countenance il not active support.
THE OHIO ELECTION.