The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-08-04

.rtssnel we're negroes More t-tan
ha:t OF the legislature were negroes.
Taey spent all OF their time stealing
from the state Thousands ana thous-
ands OF dollars were taken by the
black thieves. Neither lives nor
property were safe. Lei US al few
facts.
IL swo years from 1865 20 1870 the
state debt was increased from five
million dollars TO eighteen million
dollars. some few years before the
war. the average tx llevy was five
hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
In 1883 It vas increased to two nil
lion. IN 1870 the legislature paid a
Radical newspaper TWO dollars and
fifty cents IN inch in ordinary col
umns TO publish the proceedings OF
that body. which amounted to several
large volumes It was during that
session that the legislature approprja-
ted seven hundred thousand dollars.
to buy land for the homeless. The
land commissioners stole ninety
thousand dollars in one deal alone.
The state was charged to one hundred
and fifty seven thousand, eight hun
dred dollars for wines, whiskies,
cigars, drygoods and groceries pur
chased by the legislature for their
personal use. The cost Of one session
which lasted only one hundred and
six days was, seven hundred thous-
and dollars In Ulster county there
we're about FIVE thousand farms,
twenty-nine hundred of which were to
be sold for taxes. This is not only
true in Ulster county, but in many
others. To add to these outrages, the
government placed rifles into the
hands Of the negroes, in order to keep
the whites from the polls on 'elec-
ton day.
At this time there was an organiza-
ton effected by the whites, known as
the Ku Klux. Klan. They visited the
unruly negro at night and afflicted
such punishment, as fitted the crime
the negro had committed. In some
cases the punishment was death. The
Klan did much to protect the lives
and property OF the state. They were
clan of determined men, many of
whose members we're the most promi-
nent men OF the state. They were so
we'll organized thai although many
were brought to trial, it never
amounted to much. So we'll was their
work done, that they terrified the
negro, and thus their work in recon
struction was great.
The real reconstruction began un-
der Governor D. H. Chamberlain, 4
white man of Massachusetts,. IN his
first message to the legislature he
urged that the taxes be reduced. He
POINTED out the unnecessary extrava-
gance of the former session, and ask
ed that it be cut down. He also or
dered the negro troops to lay down
their rifles and disband. 1t was dur
iug his adm ;nistration that many of
the robberies were brought to light
and many of the robbers fed the state.
The campaign OF 1876 was one Of
the bitterest in the history of South
Carolina or any other state. Cham
berlain was the Radical nominee.
General Wade Hampton, man who
always led his men to victory against
the Federals, was the Democratic
nominee Hampton and his colleagues
made speeches ali over the state.
They were accompanied by men
wearing the red shirts known as The
Red Shirt Boys of '76. They rode to
all the campaigns all over the state,
urging Hampton with their cheers.
The election passed off quietly.
HAMPTON was declared to be the
nominee. Chamberlain also declared
to be the nominee and REUSED t.
laave Office. Then the cad was seat
out all over the state for the Red Shirt
Boys to come help seaI Hampton
Special trains were run into Columbia
bearing the Red Shirt Boys With their
guns and rifles. Hampton was made
governor. But another difficulty "on
fronted them The Democrats did not
have a majority in the legislature.
At this time s. S. Bridges, a negro,
was a member of the Legislature from
Newberry county. Some white men