Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-15
ing the negroes and Of exciting people
Of the north against South Carolina.
Joke on the Cana

A Joke on the Gang.
In this connection an amusing story
was told. Gov. Moses was entertain
ing Patterson, Nagle, Dennis and
some other kindred spirits, at the gov
ernor's mansion when the gentle COM
pany was alarmed by the announce
ment that seventy mounted men from
Georgia were at CRANKY ferry, two
miles from Columbia, and had come to
clean out the state house." The ter
rified carpetbaggers summoned the
commander Of the Federal garrison,
who laughed heartily at their fears, for
the supposed buglers Of the Georgia
'critter company" were just some Co.
lumbia boys hunting the red fox in the
Lexington hills. The Federal officer
left in disgust, but Patterson went to
Washington and begged for troops
and that was all that he had to go
upon.
The Boss in 1876.
After another period Of two years,
we find Honest John" the political
boss of South Carolina in the summer
Of 1876. D. H. Chamberlain was nomi-
mated for reelection, Patterson bossed
the convention. He was the most pow
erful man Of the party and Of the worst
faction" writes Edward L. Wells.
There had been a quarrel between
him and Mr.. Chamberlain, but they had
made peace on the night the conven-
ton met, otherwise Mr.. Chamberlain
could not have obtained the nomina-
ton.
Honest John is described as having
been a rough looking man, far from
neat in appearance, with sandy COM
plexion and hair, and a restless, furtive
eye. He wore a long black coat and
watch chain big enough to tie a mas
tiff. His legs were wonderful-long,
thin and very crooked, and when speak
ing to an audience he would become
nervous or excited, these legs would
double up under him so that one could
not keep his eyes Off them, fearing a
catastrophe"
He told the convention: me and
Daniel (Chamberlain) had fell out, but
now me and him is friends" In this
speech he alluded to his well earned
reputation az a thief, but very much
in the way that sweet sixteen might
disclaim the soft impeachment Of being
a firt," says Mr. Wells, the biographer
of Wade Hampton.
Had White Men Jailed.
One Of John ]. Patterson's worst
acts was the wholesale arrest Of DEM
ocratic voters. The riot at Cainhoy
was the cause. In this little town near
Charleston, white Democrats were am
bushed by black men instigated by
their radical leaders. On account OF
this domestic violence Patterson in
voked the aid Of Grants soldiers. THAT
Cainhoy massacre" he is quoted as
saying afterwards, was a godsend to
US. We could not have carried Charles
ton county without 1t" because Of the
encouragement thus given to negroes
to intimidate other negroes from vot-
ing the Democratic ticket. He added
that 100 arrests were made during the
campaign.
He Died Hard.
After the election Of Hampton and
while the matter was pending In abey-
ance as to which government In South
Carolina should be recognized the act
ual contest for possession was trens-
ferred to Washington. There Senator
Patterson represented the Chamberlain
usurpation and bitterly objected to
both the removal Of Federal troops
from the state and any recognition OF
the lawful house of representatives 6r
of Wade Hampton as governor. g.
He presented a lengthy memorial,
concluding with an appeal to congress
to protect the said state government
against domestic violence now threat
ened by Wade Hampton and others
falsely styling themselves officials OF
said state"
Many Of the Republicans came over
to the Democrats when President
Hayes refused to recognize the claims
of Gov Chamberlain.
"One of the first fruits Of Honest
John Patterson's repentance, bowed on
bended knee at Washington, was to
enter mol pros in the cases Of citizens
arrested on charges Of conspiracy to
deprive the negroes Of the right to
vote" says one writer. THE persons
arrested were chiefly in rural districts.
where their homes were left unpro-
tected. Hundreds Of persons at home
had been made miserable by Patter-
sons plan of campaign" The charges
had been "trumped up" on irresponsi-
BILE negro affidavits "at $3.50 for one or
$18 a Dozen"
Patterson Deceived Thorn.
But these cases were not mol pressed.
Patterson let the Ellenton (BarnwelD
riot cases go to trial in Charleston. The
district attorney managed to exclude
all white men from the jury. There
was in spite of this, one acquittal, and
several mistrials, and then the matter
was dropped-after an entire vindica-
tion, despite Patterson.
Patterson's PeeuIations.
The committee which investigated
Patterson's connection with the Blue
Ridge scrip consisted Of Senators John
r. Cochran and Henry A. Meetze and
Representatives Gerhard Muller, ]. G.
Blue and Samuel Dibble. OF those only
Col. .Dibble Of Orangeburg Is living.
This committee in its final report says:
Since the coming Of this man to
South Carolina there has been perpe-
trated upon the people Of the state a
series of frauds, great and small. In
each case the familiar footprints of this
man are to be seen and measured, usu-
ally in the forefront Of the mounted
army Of plunderers. The first note
worthy achievement Of Patterson was
contract for the completion of the
Blue Ridge road, which was annulled
upon the payment to him Of $4,000,