The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-29

WealLQ, WHICH Qdu OOue sO uuSu 4O4
the honor of freedom, would have to
take their household gods and goods
and go elsewhere; early in the spring
conferences were held, with a view OF
straightout white mans fight for
white mans government.
1t was a presidential year, and
prominent Democrats within and with
out the State took the position that
determined effort here to disrupt the
carpetbag government would lead to
disorders which would be used against
the growing tide in favor OF Democra-
tic success in the Union. Friends OF
Mr. Tilden were sent here to stop the
movement, but the swell was on, and
il kent growing bigger and bigger. 1t
was no mans movement; it was the
long-suffering peoples, which called
for leadership and relief.
Gen. Gary.
Early in the spring Gen. Martin
! Witherspoon Gary, of Edgefeld, wrote
| 10 and received a reply from Gen. (at-
terwards senator) George, Of Missis-
sippi. saw the reply. 1t gave fully
the Mississippi plan of action to re-
deem the State, and to send conster-
nation to the vampires Of the govern
ment then in the State; and Gen. Gary
should be given full credit for sys-
tematizing this plan and for adapting
| it to the environments of the OCCASION.
| He had the courage Of his convictions;
and obstructed all efforts at compro-
: mise and stood firmly for straightout
fight.
Hamburg.
A call had been promulgated for q
Democratic State convention in Au-
gust. The delegates were being elect
ed ali over the State and (as is the
case III all great moVements) an un-
expected, uplanned event happened,
! which intensified the occasion and
gave igor to the straightout move
ment. The old town of Hamburg, just
opposite Augusta on the Savannah
river, had become the seat of misrule
and bad government. Its master was
! Prince R. Rivers, formerly a slave of
Beaufort family, a coal black, a
member of the legislature and major
general of militia. During the first
week in July, the 1oca1 militia COM
pany blocked the highway running
from the town and two young white
citizens of prominence, one of whom
is now living and a highly respected
citizen, J. Henry Getzen, passing the
'place of blockade, became entangled
with the militia company. They were
brought before Rivers as magistrate,
to be tried for interfering with the
company. They issued a cross-war-
rant against the members of the COM
pany for obstructing the highway. On
the trial day, the friends Of both par
ties appeared armed; difficulties
arose; and that night a battle was
fought in the streets Of Hamburg be-
tween the whites and blacks, which
set the State On fire:
Gen. NJ. C. Butler, then an attorney
at Edgefeld,/ being ca11ed to defend
the two young men, was present at
the trial and took part in the fight;
and with Col. A. P. Butler, afterwards
a senator from Aiken county, were
the leaders Of the whites in the bat
tle
At the instance of Gov. Chamber
lain, warrants were issued for several
hundred white men, among them Gen.
Butler and Col. Butler, for completely
in this matter, charging murder ann
riot. 1t meant in truth the arrest of
! the entire community. The notorious
William Stone, the attorney general,
and the equally notorious David T..
Corbin, the district attorney of the
State, were employed by Gov. Cham
berlain to enforce these arrests and
resist bail.
However, the spirit of liberty was
! in the air.
! The Radical officials were actually
afraid to make any arrests and the
alleged violators of the law to the
number of.30O or 400, headed by their
counsel, Gen. Gary, D. S. Henderson
and G. W. Croft, rode into Aiken and
filled the court house Ior the bail hear
ing. Corbin and Stone insisted that
no bail should be granted, but that
noble judge, John J. AIaher, Of Barn