The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-25
Grants USurpatiOn.

The Democratic journals are making much
ado over speech Of Senator Randolph OF
New Jersey. In his speech on the army bill
Mr.. Randolph told story apparently de-
signed to be blood-curdling, of a conversa-
tion he had with President Grant in 1876.
This is his account, repeated with great joy
by the Democrats:
In 1876, I bore a message from Governor
Hampton to the then President of the United
States, urging the latter to withdraw the troops
from the State house. You may imagine my
astonishment and indignation when, in an
angry tone and uncivil manner, the President
replied, 81 won't withdraw the troops
don't regard the decision Of the Supreme
Court of the State, and if had any mes
sage 10 send to Hampton it would be that his
message to me is an impertinence.
At the time the political status of the State
of South Carolina was in dispute. Wade
Hampton and Daniel Chamberlain both
claimed the GoVernorshp. President Grant
did not recognize Mr.. Hampton as Governor.
He did recognize the authority OF the old
Governor until the question as to the new
should be decided. Mr.. Hampton made de.
mand upon him which he rightly deemed
an impertnence. 1t is a question to-day
whether Wade Hampton is the lawfully ell
ected Governor of South Carolina. The
question was certainly not decided then.
What was the situation in South Carolina
at the time? In 1876 Wade Hampton
gathered at Columbia body he called Leg
islature, and had himself proclaimed Cover
ernor. The legal Legislature met, declared
Chamberlain Governor, and declined to rec
oguize the usurper. Hampton thereupon
called upon lis red-shirted riders to support
him. The pretext for their assemblage was
patch which called them together:
COLUMBIA December 2, 1876.
R. H. Kennedy, Greenyie, 5. c.:
Fun ex pected at the fair this week. Prepare tor
high sport: Let best boys come, but not too many,
unless t1eH heeled. V. T.. McBEE.
The next Gay no less than seven urgent
dispatches were sent all over the State to
rally armed Democrats "to attend the State
fair" Here are some of them:
December 3. 1876.
Strictly Confdential)
j. H. Evins or j. d. Bessngame, Spartanburg, S.
For prudential reasons thought best to secure
presence of few true and prudent from different
cot miles, Can't you and and few Others come down
tomorrow ostensibty to Uisit State fdr? Send this
teleglam TO some one in Union that some men there
can come also. L. 3. FARLoW.
December 1856.
Jas. Allen, Florence, S. c.:
Send up to night all the right men possible. u
rites can be concealed, BRING them Don't wait till
tomorrow evening Come to State fair ostensib'y.
G. HOWARD.
COLUMBIA, December 8, 1876.
W. L. Lauldin, Greenville:
have telegraphed eagle too. Perhaps you had
better consolidate Extra train may leave Green
vile to-Dight Bring best men, anu tool chest for
fair. Answer. V. E. McBEE.
December 8, 1876.
Gen. Jas. Conner, Charleston
The Hunkadori Club on the Scay here for q ro,o
tomorrow. See Pickens ard delay train till evening.
WADE HAMPTON.
December 4, 1876.
To R. L DannenbeIg, winnsboro. 5. c.:
All quiet now. Mackbey speaking. Killed ten
Radicals. NAT.
CoULUMBIA, December 4, 1876.
To DR.. W. E. Aiken:
Men pouring in by hundreds. Hampton sure; in
augura lou tomorrow skirmishing Bring my
black suit. w. AIKEN.
It was under these circumstances, while
United States soldiers were, at the call Of the
Governor, protecting the Legislature Of
South Carolina against domestic violence, that
President Grant refused to withdraw the
troops at the demand of the leader of the
Ku-Klux. This, according to Senator Ran.
dolph, was the ''usurping act" of which the
President was guilty. If that is the Demo
cratic idea of usurpation, the Democrats will
have to shout "tyranny" great many years
longer before they will irighten the people.