The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-28
DUTY WELL DONE
Senator TilIman to the Red
Shirt Survivors.
SOME STORMY Times

SOME STORMY Times
Recalled as the Stirring Days of
Redemption Are Passed in Re-
yiew-What the Older People Did
to Redeem South Carolina in the
| Hampton Campaign.
|; Several thousand people heard and
frequently heartily cheered Senator
Tillman in his address at Anderson
on Wednesday before the convention
i of the survivors of what is known
as the Red Shirt organization, which
supported Gen. Hampton in the
dangerous undertaking of redeeming
the State of South Carolina from Re-
publican rule and Reconstruction in
1876. Senator Tillman was particu-
larly interesting lin his remarks
touching that memorable period in
the States history, and what he had
to say was listened to with the clos
est attention. He appeared to carry
vivid pictures in his mind of that
time, when he was young and i'm
questionable. What he had to say
is also of interest from the view
point of his own political history
and personal character. He spoke
for the most part in the high pitched
voice so characteristic Of him when
speaking on topic near to his feel
ings. He said:
There has been more or less dis
cussion in the papers Of the State
recently about the origin of the red
shirts as the Democratic uniform in
1876. I shall leave it to others
to sift the evidence and determine il
it can be done, just where the credit
lies. 1 want to tell what I know
about the: bloody shirt and its ef-
fective use in that memorable cris-
is. In, my story of the Hamburg
riot have mentioned the drumhead
court martial which condemned and
executed prisoners after the fighting
or firing had ceased.
The last man selected to be shot
was a notorious thief by the name
Of Pomp Curry whom I had known
from boyhood. He had furnished
the names of all whom he recognized
to District Attorney Stone and this
evidence caused warrants to be is
sued against practically all the mem
bers of the Sweetwater Sabre club
and few others who were not men,
bers. We were charged with murder
and conspiracy to murder, and the
sheriff Of Aiken county was ordered
to make the arrests. Like wise
and prudent man he did not attempt
to execute the warrants, but com.
municated with Col. Butler, our cap
tain, and by common Understanding
all of the men thus charged assem-
fbled at Lower Cherokee pond, place
near Col. Buffers homeland. started
for Aiken. The procession was led
by the sheriff In buggy, followed
4 by the so-called prisoners, armed to
the teeth, and accompanied by bag
gage wagons with supplies@for hofsc
es and men, cooks and a full camp
ing outfit except tents. Rev. viii
liam Shaw who owned a plantation
two miles west Of Aiken, the dwell
ling ho2se on which was occupied,
| had. kindly offered it for our use.
| We reached this place some time be-
fore. sundoWn, took up our quarters
for the night: Court was to con-
vene two days later and we were
thus early on the ground in order
to give the lawyers who had our
case in hand opportunity to draw up
the papers and prepare for obtain
Ing bail If We were to be allowed to
return home. Gen. Butler, who was
a under indictment, Hon. George w,
Croft, Hon. D. S. Henderson Of the
Aiken nbar' anda Maj. Wilfiam'T!! Gray
we're acting as our attorneys.
!. Among those whose interest had
induced them to accompany us wae
my lro:her, Hon. George D. Till
man, who had been nominated as q
candidate in our congressional dis
trict.; He had been In correspou
dence with Gen., afterwards Senator
j. Q. George, of Mississippi, the mar
whose constructive craftsmanship ir
: devising means to Safeguard South
ern civilization by the elimination
Of the negro vote will cause his nanns
to shine for all time as a great CON
stitutional lawyer and benefactor o.
the South. 1t was under him thai
Mississippi lied off in idisfranchis'
in, the negro and practically every
> Southern State has followed suit
Mississippi had thrown off the car
pet-bag yoke two years before thai
and Gen. George advised my brother