The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-10-26
Federal Troops VIII be Used
if Necessary-.What GrIggs
Says.
Snec,a, to The State.

Says.
Special to The State.
Wilmington. N. G., Oas. "a "A
special to The Messenger from Wash
ingtoo tonight says:
..Sepaso. Pritchasd has suggested
bringing Uoised States troops ioto
North Carolina, ostepsibly TO preserve
peace, bat as Democrats here believe to
influence the coming congressional aud
legislative elections 10 this State. He
has written two letters here. one to the
president aud one to CbairmaD Babcock
Of the Repub!icao congressional COM
mittee. Both are Of similar tenor. In
the letter .c the president. which form.
ed the subject Of especial cabinet meet
ing TO- day. and which was written las:
Friday aud received this morning,
Priscba.d says the Democrats have
raised the race issue io this campaign !;
that most iotense feeling exists !; that
Deuocrats have instituted system of
Intimidation of negroes that threatens
the peace Of the State shat whites are
armiog. aud that negroes are buying
wherever purchasable, although mer-
chants, the majority Of whom are Dem
ocrats, VIII not sell weapons to negroes !;
aud that hoss serious trouble is looked
for in counties where the negroes pre-
dominate. It is charged that the Dem.
ocrats are buying weapons in these
coupties TO insimidate eolored voters
aud keep them away from the polls
General discussion Of Senator
Prischard's letter followed its reading
BY the president. who handed it to AZ
soruey General Griggs The gravity of
the situation was admitted BY the mem
hers of the cabinet after the meeting
adjourned. Daring the session Of the
cabinet, Chairman Babeock called. but
when Informed that the president bad
laid Pritchard' g letter before the cabinet,
he did not send bis letter in, feeling. as
he said, that the matter woold receive
the consideration it demanded. he
said he was fearful the president might
overlook it 10 the accumulation of mat.
ters.
attorney General Griggs was seen
by The Messengers correspondent this
afternoon. he produced Pritchard 8
letter of two sypeuri,'en pages. begin
Dicg: MY Dear Mr. President This
is private political letter said Mr.
Griggs, 10 response to request for a
COPY. saad it would be maui:estly iu.
proper FOR ne to make it public He
said it referred to the North Caroline
situation. which be said was represent
ed as threatening.
t..Will you send deputy United
States warsbal to preserve the peace.
! he was asked
| :. sa1arsbsls have authority to ap-
poist additional deputies. If necessity
| arises, aud will approve such appoint
meoss when made be replied.
"Mr. Griggs said 90 United States
troops would be cent into the State
unless called for by Governor Russell,
ualess Uoi,ed States mails we're inter-
fered With. In that case.' be said
troops will be sent whether the COVER
! por calls fos shem or not Rejecting
a moment, Mr. Griggs said the people
OF North Carol;ua, South Caroline,
| California aud New Jersey may as we'll
coderstacd now as at aoy othT time
that where riot aud violence is threat
eued aud governors ask for the troops
Of the geoeral government, they will
be sent. sad when sept they will pre-
serve the peace If they have to over
7un the entire State Order must and
will be maintained
Attorney General Griggs has the
entire 60 natscr in charge. and if Cover
cor Russell, should be deem the sltua-
ton to be 80 critical as to demand
troopa. will Communicate With Mr..
Griggs, cpon whose advice the presi-
deue viii! act. the troops will be sent.
The object of Governor Russel''s
reoen: mysterious visit to Senator
Pritcbard. 10 the light Of Pritchard's
letter to the president. is cow made
clear. As there are 20 State troops il
service. should 40 armed force be nec
essary. oat;oral troops will have to be
sent
"Iaquiry at the war department de
velops ;he fact that the Second regi'
mspe viii De mustered out by October
29:h. There is no proasbiii,y that
even 10 case of emergency this regi'
nens will bs retained for possible
service, as i. is believed to De 10 sym.
pa.hy the white movement
T. W. c.