Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1881-03-03

ocrats, and that we held no other mass
meetings during that campaign save one
which was attended by L. s. Comrnis
sioner and several U. s. Marshals. When
the last nesting was held there were six
or seven Companies of .. S. troops il
town. l am satisfied if the republicans
had been allowedsto vote untramelei there
would have been a larger republican vote
polied in Edgefeld in 1850 than was ever
polled at any previous election. If q vot-
er was known to be democrat. he had 10
trouble whatever in voting; but up to S
o'clock, not a republican vote had been
polled. l saw quito number OF pistols
in the hands OF red-shirters, while the vot-
ing was going on and from the porch and
swindows of Masonic Hall;.athe piazza Of
the Printing Ohce, from the store door
now occupied by the Joint Stock Compa-
nv, and on the strests, we're quite num-
Der of white men with gune and pistols in
their hands. did not vote, believing tha
/ could not do so with safety. The reason
we did not peraist in our right to votes
was that there was an armed foe in front
Of US. and we felt satisfied it would cause
q difficulty. saw a number OF republi-
cans marching into town with walking
sticks, not clubs. There were. 1000 col
cred republicans IL 'own that day. There
are no colorvd democrats in this County
Not one Almost every one OF them who
claims to be democrat have been TO ne
and told me how they stood. Some Of
them have told me that i knew where
they got their bread and butter from. Left
unbranded, woull be willing to swear
that every one Of the 1000 cclored voters
present that day would have voted. the
republican ticket.
Jesse Jones, I. S. Republican Supervis,
or at Edgeield C. H., sid: l arrived at
the polls about half-past four in the morn
ing. There were about 100 democrats in
the Court eHouse at that time. There we're
Fthree double barrel shot guns in the pris.
onet's box, about one fool from the ballot
box, and remained there two or three hours.
! don't know to whom they belonged. a
democratic Supervisor took them away at
the time row was raised on the ,streets
BY man draxing n pistol. did not
keep 3 poll list because | did not think it
would be safe for me to do so, as ] vas
told By. democrats il ! attempted 10 make
report would rot be allowed 10 act as
Supervisor. The republicans did not have
fres access to the polls, because on one side
the front door was barred, and the demo
Gratis stood on the porch with pistols and
said that no id negroes should vote
there This continued until about o'clock
in the evening. About 1000 republicans
we're around the polls attempting to. get
into the polls, but were not allowed to en-
ter. The little passage way vas obstruct-
ed by men standing there doing nothing,
and filling Up the passage way, and keep-
ing the people from passing ohont. / saw
n large crowd Of democrats in tie Picture
gallery and the Masonic Hall. wilb Iilos
and double barrel shot guns. saw
pistol drawn by o democrat en- republicans,
and ! saw democrats packing up large
brick bats and SAYING ii you d--n me-
groes attempt to come up to vote you will
catch thia. ."-refsrrin2 10 the bricks tkey
had in their hands. know Of nor-rtsi
dents voting, and know Of parties voting
from one to eight times.