The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-05-05


Col. Alexander C. Haskell was the
ending of a life without fear and
without reproach. AS a soldier OF
the confederacy he suffered grlevous
wounds, bearing upon his face scars
that showed that he held a front
place on the battle line near the
flashing of the guns. When peace
came he returned home undismayed'
and strong in the faith of his ances-
try.
At the age of thirty-six years, III
the supreme effort to redeem the
State from the misrule of the carpet
bagger and the scalawag, he was
elected chairman of the State Demo-
cratic Executive Committee. The
burden was a heavy one, but he bore
it bravely and grandly. Under his
wise guidance Democrats touched ell
bows from the Blue Ridge to the At
lantic, and when the polls closed IN
the November election of 1875 the
great victory was won and Wade
Hampton was chosen Governor OF the
State, the civilization of the people
redeemed and home rule assured.
But the Republican State Board OF
Canvassers, to nullify the voice OF the
good people of the State, white and
colored, to perpetuate the carnival OF
Official corruption and political crime,
threw out the votes of Edgef1eld and
Laurens counties, thereby seeking to
rob the people of the fruits OF the
campaign and to continue the run OF
Republican rule. Col. Haskell rose
to the occasion. He summoned all the
Democratic members of the House OF
Representative to meeting to be
held in Columbia on the Saturday
night previous to the meeting OF the
General Assembly. They all came.
Our personal "reminiscences may
prove interesting and instructive and
bring home to the minds OF the
younger people the distressing con-
ditions that eight years of Republi-
can domination had brought upon
South Carolina.
When we took the train at Willis
ton on that Saturday morning for
Columbia, we were called into a car
filled with prisoners from Barnwell
and Aiken counties, charged with
violation of the election laws. DR..
4Bardeen, white Republican from
the North who had settled near
Aiken, was the deputy marshal In
charge. He at first denied us ad-
mission, but upon being told that we
were of their counsel allowed us and
the late H. M. Thompson, Esq, OF
! WiIliston to enter and remain in the
car. The boys we're all cheerful and
courageous, and satisfied that they
had done no wrong and no one mani
tested any uneasiness.
On arriving in Columbia they were
carried to the county jail. After an
Searly breakfast on Sunday morning
we went to the Jail to see them.
When we approached the barred
door that kept them from freedom
one Of the number whom we had
known from boyhood reached out
his hand, said, 1--WE have not had a
mouthful to eat since we left Aiken
yesterday morning" We promised
them that their hunger should be
quickly appeased, and walked back
TO Main Street. The first man we
met was the late Col. Lee Hagood. We
s told him OF the treatment Of these
prisoners, he made it known to the
leading Democrats, and in quick time
breakfast was sent them from the
! Wheeler House, furniture store was
opened, mattresses and bedding were
sent them, and other comforts in the
way of cigars and various liquids
contributed. An afternoon visit
found them all very cheerful. Judge
Bryan Of the United States District
Court and Judge Bond of the Circuit
Court granted them bail, which was
readily furnished by citizens of Co.
lumbia and they were released and
/ that was the last of their election
troubles.
At the caucus on Saturday even
ing of the Democratic legislators
elect, Gen. William H. Wallace, OF
Union, was nominated for Speaker,
Col. John T. Sloan, Sr., of Columbia,
{ for Clerk, Capt. John D. Brown, OF
Williston, for Sergeant-at-arms and
w. B. Williams, of York, for Read
ing Clerk. On Tuesday, the day fol
the opening of the legislative session,
the doors of the State House were
guarded by Federal soldiers with
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