The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-30
UNPUBLISHED STORY.
How Stralzer, n egro Lawyer, Fought South
Carolina.
Augusta Chronicle.
Carolina.

going through the time and into the
hot-bed of radicalism, has come to the
Herald and has an especial local flavor
which makes it Of particular interest
TO the readers Of the Herald.
The originators Of the famous "red
Shirts" the recognized political uni
form of the Democratic party when
The political aspect Of the Palmetto
State was undergoing vita changes,
has been stated and displ ID time
and time again, but The pscuiiarties
of the then existing conditions which
comes out in this story, although it
touches upon the first use Of the red
shirt and explains why it was origina-
ted as uniform, more particularly
deals with the organization of the first
military company in South Carolina
during those times Of political strife.
SCOTT, RADICAL GOVERNOR.
In 1868 r. K. Scott, an excellent
specimen of Western manhood, fully
six feet, perhaps more, in height, and
bearing in proportions. oil those points
which 60 to make a giant in statue,
was elected governor of the State by
the radical vote, after being affiliated
with them for comparatively short
time. When he took office there was
Law on the statute book Of South
Carolina which prohibited the organi-
zation in any part of the state of any
sort of military company by the
white people, though it was a known
fact that the negroes Of the State were
we'll organized and thoroughly equip
ped. Whatever semblanoe of mill
tary organization there was in the
State was under the direction of the
authorities and naturally in the hands
Of the negro radicals.
During the early part of 1879 a
number of the young and middle aged
men of Edgefeld County took the
matter up and under the semblance Of
pleasure club succeeded in organiz-
ing whac was the first Independent
military company the State had, and
in the face of statute prohibiting any
such organization.
PROTECTION NEEDED.
At that time, and even to- the pres.
dent day: the people of Edge6eld
County were noted for their bravery
and quickness. They recognized the
fact that while the negroes all over
I the State were we'll armed and ruling
everything with high hand, the
principal cities and especially the
capitol being completely in thsir pow
Ter, the white pecnle had no semblance
3of an organization Of any sort, and
a with such conditions staring them in
! the face they could hope for little else
than to be dominated over. a, IS !,
B All Of this was considered and it
Twas decided to form company and
Helect Maj. VIM. 4. Gary, now Judge
Dot the superior court Of Richmond
h county; commander. Major Gary
4 vent to Columbia and had an inter.
hiew with Governor Scott. He .o!a
him things in Edgefeld County were
M3eed as e ,naokersl; that there was ab-
99o!utely nothing in the way Of enter
Eainment or social exeitementto to break
E8he monotony and the place was get
Hing the dry.rot, that the young men
Bf the place wanted tc organize COM
Bany, have tournaments. contest for
prizes, have club and the like.
h GOV. BIT THE BAIT.
q While Governor Scott was recogni2.
Id as q man far from being fool, he
Nit at the bait more readily than was
HEpected. He asked what nature Of
Epmpany it was that Maj. Gary want
to organize, and the major explain
that it was his purpose to organize
sabre company, and have big tour
lament two or three times year and
Rake things get some life in them;
hat NE wanted the men to have ss-
es and he wanted the governor Of
Pc State 70 furnish the arms. Atten-
0n was called BY the governor to the
Eot that they could not organize g
Eilitary company and he was in turn
e)a that the company would be pure.
cavalry company aud would be
buipped By the State with sabres
aly; that they would have .ourna-:
ents and build up 4 social club.
ter thinking aome little time Gov.
1 Hott consented readily 70 the organi-:
tion sos the company. and the State
& Finished the sabres. .s-,
B Efhe major Wsss ab ont tss we'll .acs
ainted with conditions as any man
II the State and he foressw trouble
lefs