The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-06-21

|
sions and going in tho hail without
those eight would have given tbs Re
publicnns q quorum and ma ajority, tho
| Democrats declined to enter, and re
turned to Carolina Hail.
The u. $. soldiers were then rcmov
| cd from the State House, and the Dem.
| 0cratiC executive committee 8ndEthC
| Wallace House decided to take the
hall still guarded by State C0nstubl
a committee WAS selected to lead the
assault aud the whole Wallace House
marched down in q body, accompanied
by tho Democratic executive commit
tee. On reaching the door the fore
most man was asked to show his com
mission to the chief sergeant Gt arms
Of The Mack"y House, which was then
in session. This he did and as the ser.
gcant was examining it through a
crack, the door boing slightly ajar, the
member pulled the door wide open,
and strong and willing hands sciHnr
1t forced IT, entirely back and held it
there while every mem bcr OF the WAL
lace House rushed in, thrusting aside
the cOnstables who stood in tho way.
The entrance was made SO suddenly
and quietly that tho Mackey House
was stunned with amaZcmcnt fer q
moment and then q pandcmOhium Of
noises broke out, but General Wallace
walked upon the Speakers desk nc.
companicd by his officers and all took
their places. Excitement was intense;
hrlng WAS expected every moment, and
one single pistol shot would have bath
cd the whole State in blood, but most
fortunately no shot WAS fired. There
were two Speakers, two sets Of officers
ana the members soon arranged them
selves on separate sides OF the bail,
commenced transactiug business frc.
Gucntiy two OF them speaking at the
Same time on entirely different sub
jects.
Including, the eight members from
Edgelicld and laurcns, the Democrats
Stlll lacked three members Of u quorum
and every CilOr. WAS now made to Sc
cure three OF the Republican members
To recognize Wallace as Speaker. My
crs, very Intelligent mulatt0, and
Hamilton, a coal black negro, the
finest specimen Of brains and courage
ever SAW o. his race, both from Beau.
Tort, came over and joined the Wallace
iiouoc. Then muiattO named Bird,
Oh Fairfield, came over, but the Demo
Gratis had stayed in that Hall four days
and nights, anu no line OF battle mo-
mentarlly expecting an attack, ever
suffered Il greater nervous strain, and
to make matters more uncomfortable
the Republicans had possession OF the
gallery above the Hall, where they had
u hundred cut-throatS, armed with
army rifles. Bot, for the fact That cool
and bravo men from all over the State
poured into COlumhia rs soon az the
Democrats won't into the State House,
not one member would have gone out
alive, but the revenge on the ltcpubli-
can white and black would have been
fearful. Some Of our men snt within
ten feet Of MaCkey during those four
days and nights, to kill him instantly
when the first shot was fired, and
though he realized his peril he never
llinched. We had obtained our object
in securing the three necessary mem
hers, and being informed that the
United States soldiers had received Or
ders TO clear the hall OF Democrats, we
quietly walked out to Carolina Hall,
carrying quorum with us, and com
plctly blocking the Republican govern
mcnt. a suit WAS brought by The Dom
ecratic State officers before the Su-
prcme Court TO determine the title to
the .cllccs, and it should never be for
gotten that Willard, afterwards elect
I'd Chief Justice OF this State, though
Is Yankee and R4publican, decided
the case in favor OF the Democrats.
In the meantime, however, two sep.
arate State governments were run with
their full quota OF officers, and thc pco-
pic palu their taxes to the Hampton
government freely and voluntarily.
But for the good judgment and ncrv e
Oi Governor Hampton and those .sso-
ciatGd with him, coupled with the en-
tire confidence in and devotion OF the
people OF the State to them, anarchy
and slaughter would have been incvi-
tablo. Those who afterwards spoke
disparaging-y OF the man who rcdccm-
ed the State in 1876 arc worse than
slanderers and ingratcs, for they wcro
traitors to their State, their country
and thc ir race.
When the matters were finally set
tied, and the fearful incubus Of negro
domination, that yoke OF ignorance and
corruption, was thrown or, redeemed,
rcgcncrated and discntnrallcd, South
Carolina sprnng forward in tho race OF
mental, moral and financial progress
and showed her sons and daughters
were worthy Of thCir noble sircs. who
had so gail&ntly fought for their libcr-
ties and rights against overwhelming
odds from 1861 TO 1860, who had sacri
feed property, comfort and life itself
rather than submit TO tyranny and
oppression.
You arc to take the places OF your
fathers and mothers who arc silently
passing away year by year, and inllu
cnCc the dcstinics Of this section in the
onward march Of progress and develop
mcnt. VIII you raise the standard Of
our people, mentally and morally: will
you encourage education and honor
Will you stand T. 20 right against
sci fish creed ,,u0 ip,u,runt nrr in lirn .