The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-04-04
NUMBER IA.

| printed testimony to show their existence
only four are shown to have been formed.
two only were armed, and all were disband-
ed upon the publication Of the governors
proclamation. Democratic clubs were or
ganised in every neighbo.hood in the State,
and many Of them were uniformed with
red shirts; but they were uparmed, and :r
no sense Of the word were they military
organizations. In very few instances, in
localities where the eolored militia, With
arms aud fixed ammupition furnished then,
Dy the State, were 30 violent in their DEM
onstrations las 70 menace the lives and
property Of the whites, the members of
these clubs did drill withou. guns, in order
s1~isAas ssshs Asttss ssx1nm&asr.
forced to contend with an armed mob i'm
bittered and infnriated by the vile teachings
Of their leaders, who publicly declared to
them shat they would be justified in using
the iseendiaTy torch against their former
masters. And in no instance did these
clubs ever parade % IN armed military op-
ganixation.
The proof on this subject, afforded by a
multitude Of witnesses Of the highest char
acter and respectability throughout the con-
gressional district who were active in the
campaign and had every opportuny of know
ing the truth, has not been and cannot be
successfully assailed. Governor Hampton.
in testifying, says truthfully, that the effort
on the part of the democrats twas to
make the campaign thoroughly conserya-
tive and concilatory." He spoke in every
county in the State, and saw no intimida-
tion except that which proceeded from COL
ored republicans, and was Intended to pre-
vent any Of their fellows from voting with
the democrats. He says, further, that "at
no single meeting attended by me was thero
an armed organization:of men," In his letter
to the New York Tribune, dated November
2, 1876, published in the record of this.
case, (page $780, be gives the true charac-
ter of these so-called "riie clubs" "Thev
are" says be, "neither more nor less than
campaign clubs, moving and acting togeth-
er tor reasons such as prompted the organi-
cation of the Boys in Blue the Grand
Army OF the Republic, or other kindred as
sociations." He further declares in this.
letter that "during nay canvass of the State
have not seen single gun or saber in the.
possession of these clubs, and ttey have not
carried any such at any meeting at which T
have been present" They were called "rife.
clubs" in the proclamations; the colored
voters heard then, called "rife clubs" bv
their leaders, who understood better than,
they the political necessities of their marty
to have them so denominated, and so were
prepared to see rifeman in every man
who wore red shiJt.
UNExAMPLED FoRBkARANcR OF THE.
WHITES
X X ~
Thas We have seen tue unlawful and
partisan agencies employed by the republi-
cans to avert political defeat which seemed
inevitable. A republican governor. him
self candidate for re-eleotion, (vahoua
the slightest degree Of truth in the alieya-
tions made to warrant such action, y in yio-
Iatton OF every right Of a free citizen.
virtually declaring the State under martiai
law the whites disarmed while the negro
militia, in the midst of q heated political
contest, not only allowed to keen their
rifles and muskets, but encouraged to used
them, to menace the whites and overavo.
and iutimidate oolored voters who simplv
desired to exercise their right Of voting for
the candidates of their choice; the polls
surrounded by this militia, With arms in
their hands the precinct managers chosen.
as it would seem, on account of their bitter
partisanship, opposing with the authority of
their othce the free choice of the voter: q
host OF supervisors who were themselves
candidates upon the republican ticket for
oface, and having the strongest motives to
secure their own election BY any means.
foul or fair; republican deputy marshal
appointed in violation of the Jaw, guarding
the pathway to every poll, backed BY Fode.
rei bayonets, in the exercise of his assum-
ed and unlawfal authority, and in the COM
mission Of his lavless acts boards of couo.
ty canyassers, who violate without hesits
tion the law and the sanctity which IL had
thrown around the ballots and, last of all
. State board Of canvassers, every one Of
whom are republicans, and majority Of
whom arc candidates upon the ticket OF
their party for high State Offices, surround-
ed BY . Gordon Of United States soldiers.
declaring the result iu defiance Of che man.
date OF . supreme court composed of re-
publican judges
And yet the minority in their report
say the oontsstes was fairly elected, and
mildly hint chat che report Of the maiority
- an effort on their part to induce their
nArtv ooannssk>s - 49,. ,T0-,