The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-08-27
DUAL GOVERNMENT
IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Some Stirring Times Recalled by the Mix-np in
New York State Over the Possession of
the Governors Office.
The existence of a dual gov.


calls the time when a similar
condition existed in South Caro-
ina. Wade Hampton, democrat,
and D. H. Chamberlain, republi-
can, both sat as governor of the
State from November %, 1876,
to April II. 1877, when Chamber
lain climbed down and out.
For more than four years the
people of the State had groaned
under the terrible oppression of
taxation. AS an example of the
prohigacy Of the times, the legis-
lative sessions for four years av-
1920. 1856; while now a ses-
sion averages about $50, 900.
There were other gratis and ex-
travagances and stealings. The
legislature was composed in large
part of negroes and scalawags,
who owned no property, and the
white people of the State, yet
strainine under the burdens of a
great war, were loaded down
with taxes. The republican ad-
had ploced arms in
the hands of negro militia com
panies and white men were de-
MED the right to have organized
militia. The election machinery
was all in the hands of the ne.
groes.
This was the condition in the
elections of 1876. At each pre-.
ceeding election the democrats
had tired to defeat the republi'
cans. At one time the democrats
and some of the better republi,
cans lendeavored to defeat the
"noto,ious r. K. Scott" with a
combination ticket with r. B,
Carpenter for governor and Gen.
M. G.. Butler for lieutenant gov.
ernor.
A STRAIGHTOUT FIGHT.
In 1876 it was decided to make
a straightout fight. The genera.
history of that fight is vel.
known. Judges Thompson Cooke
and T. j. Mackey came over tc
the democrats; there were mum
erous riots; the democrats of An
derson inaugurated the use o1
the red shirt as a party uniform
Gov. Chamberlain had the fedora
government, President Grant, tc
send 5000 troops into the State
The democrats on the face o1
the returns won against the ter
rible odds. The federal troops.
the great majority of negro pop
ulation, all were Ineffective. The
negroes elected Hampton. There
we're about 5000 of them organ
lied in Hampton clubs. 1t IS esti
mated that Is. 900 negroes votec
the democratic ticket; som
through ignorance. others from
motives of patriotism.
HAMPTON'S MAJORITY.
Hampton's net majority wa:
1923. But having the election
machinery in their hands anc
President U. S. Grant at theil
backs, the republicans decided
to throw out the entire vote O.
Laurens and Edgefeld counties
which showed tor Hampton
combined majority of 4,337 vot
es. Anderson gave Hampton
majority of 5,031. The Sta tx
election board consisted of H. E
Hayne, F. L. Cardozo, T. G
Dunn, R. B. Elliott and II. W
Purvis, most of them negroes
and all State officers offering fol
reelection. They we're the ones
who threw out Hampton's ma
jority and Gov. Chamberlain ap
peaIed to Gen. Grant for more
troops to guard the, State capital
On the day before the organi
zation of the legislature, Gen
Ruger invested the building witt
troops. The alleged purpose was
to prevent the "unauthorized'
entrance of persons not connect
ed with the legislature and thus
secure a s'peaceful" organization
They far exceeded this order
however, and actually took fore
ible possession. Any person en-
tering the state house was made
to pass between two platoons
with loaded rifles and bayonets
fixed.
DUAL LEGISLATURES ORGANIZE
= 40. Jones, clerk of the form
er. house, gave to one John B.
Dennis, a list of the Legislators
approved by the republican elec
ton board. Dennis stood at the
door of the hall of the Legislature
and admitted none with ou
proper" credentials. The re-
publican me mbers. elected nun
bering SO, assembled and pro
ceeded to organize. E. W. NJ.
Mackey was elected speaker and
a negro from Columbia was ser.
geaut at arms.
The democratic members elect,
81 in number. had assembled in
a hall in the city and in a body
marched to the capitol with the
Edgefeld and Laurens delega'
tions in front. Admittance was
demanded and was denied by
Dennis and his squad Of federal
soldiers. Thereupon the Demo.