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ANDERSON, S. Q, THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1876.
VOL. XII-NO. 1.
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THE TILDEN CAMPAIGN SONG.
by CARL brett.
Air, Dixie.
In the land of com and the land of cotton
Radical rogues are ripe and rotten?
Look away I look away!
All too long have the rascals ruled us?
Look away! look away!
, chobcs. '
So I mean to vote for Tilden,
For Uncle Sammy Tilden!
On Tilden's side I'll stand with pride,
And work and vote for Tilden.
Honesty now is what's the matter;
All the thieves we'll force to scatter?
Look away! look away!
Driving the rats from' the Treasury bnildin',
Clearing the track for our Sam Tilden?
Look away! look away!
Chobus.?So I mean to vote for Tilden, etc.
"Whiskey rings and revenue robbers,
Salary grabbers and railroad jobbers
Look away! look away
Leeches that stick to the public pockets,
All must go up and away like rockets
Look away! look away!
CteoBus.?So I mean to vote for Tilden, etc.
North and South are again united,
Equal and free, and no one sb'ghted?
Look away! look away '
Tuck in your shirt that's duty and bloody;
Such a foul fraud can fool nobody?
Look away! look away!
Chobus.?So I mean to vote for Tilden, .etc.
Justice and truth nave long been scanted.
Honesty now .is the thing that's wanted?
Look away! look away!
Look alive, then, and be sure to remember;
Vote for reform, boys, next November
Look away! look away!
Choxcs.?So I mean to vote for Tilden, etc.
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.
? ? -
The Opening or' the Second Century
of the Republic?The Assemblage
of Magnates?The Celebbation on
the FotrBTH of July?Scenes about
Town?Repose among the Wondebs
of the Abt Galleby.
Special Correspondence oj the ?nderton Intelligencer.
Philadelphia, July 13, 1876.
At last the long-expected day has come
and gone, and we have reached our hun?
dred years. Nothing has occurred in the
least to max the general harmony of the
occasion. Our motherland, forgetful of ]
the strife and bitterness of past conflicts,
sends one of the foremost gentlemen of J
England to do us honor. Germany, un?
mindful that we are annually depriving
her of millions of her choicest sons and
daughters, flashes her greeting across the
sea, and bids us a hearty God speed.
Our old-time cousin and friend, Canada,
loving, as she does, her institutions and
hier Queen, nevertheless, through her
Press Association?representing no less
the patriotism than the intelligence of |
the New Dominion?joins in cheers for
the young Republic and hoorays for
Yankee Doodle. It is especially gratify?
ing that this should be so, and that na?
tions representing even the despotisms of |
the world rejoice in our success.
When I closed my last letter, it was on
the eve of the third of July. The whole
city was in a state of breathless expecta?
tion for the night parade which was to
precede the ceremonies of the fourth.
Towards evening on the third the popu?
lation residing in the upper portions of
the city and its environs turned their
faces towards the scene of the procession.
Street cars were crowded, horses strug?
gling for life, conductors swearing, men
quarrelsome, women screaming and scold?
ing, till it really seemed as if the utmost
limit of human patience had been reached.
Wagons and carriages, of all characters
and styles, festooned with flowers and
decked with gay ribbons, constantly flit?
ted by. Arriving at the junction of
Broad and Chestnut streets, the scene
defied description; a struggling mass of |
humanity choked every avenue and
crowded every street; policemen strug?
gled with fate and the crowd, and, not
. withstanding the locust and the majesty
of the law, fate and crowd generally got
the upper hands. By nine o'clock the
line of the route was all ablaze with
various colored lights, rockets filled the
air by the thousands, and Old Glory?
illuminated by the red glare of innumer?
able port-fires?streamed out upon thje
night like a star of hope to the shouting
thousands, who, for the time being, were
forgetful of everything but the approach?
ing completion of the Nation's hundred
years. In my brief space I cannot at?
tempt to describe the procession, any
more than to say it was a grand success;
and as the neu- clock on the old Inde?
pendence Tower announced the hour of
twelve, which sounded like the requiem
of the departed century, the street in
front of the hall, for many blocks either
way, was illuminated with a blaze of j
glory?cannon thundered, steam whistles
screamed, people shouted, drums beat,
small arms rattled, till it really seemed
as if the roof was gone up or the bottom
was dropped out, or something dreadful
had happened, till, finally, completely
exhausted with their own noise, the din
ceased, and peace reigned once more.
Sleep laid bis leaden mace upon the
eyelids of weary thousands, and for two
or three hours there was comparative
calm. With the first streaks of the com?
ing day, however, was heard the low roar
of a great city waking into active, busy
life.
The street Arabs, whose liberty is re?
stricted through all the rest of the year,
set off all sorts of pyrotechnic abomina?
tions, and discharged rusty old pistols,
regardless of the clubs of impotent po?
licemen or the badges of embryo detec?
tives. It was, indeed, a. day of glorious
liberty, to indulge in cheek and impu?
dence, without any of the consequences
that ordinarily overtake these infractions
of the code civile. The fourth was ush?
ered in with the usual national salute
and ringing of bells. The morning was
one of the loveliest of the year?the air
was balmy, cool and bracing?just such
a day as every one wished to see. At
nine o'clock there was not standing-room
on Chestnut street?a dense mass of peo?
ple filled every available space along the
entire route. Crack regiments from
even* portion of the Union participated
in the military display. The President
of the United States was absent, but
Generals Sherman and Sheridan, his
famed lieutenants, honored the occasion,
and the Vice President of the United
States ably presided in the absence of his
chief. A space about Independence
Hall was roped off and guarded by a
"cordon of police, and no one unprovided
with a pass was allowed within the
charmed circle. I will not inflict the
ceremonies on my readers. Suffice to
say there was a poem by Bayard Taylor,
which would be delightful reading when
one has plenty of time, under the cool
shade of an umbrageous tree, with a
cooling lemonade at your elbow, but a
sore trial of patriotism under a broiling
sun, with the thermometer at 120?.?
Then came an'oration by the Hon. Wm.
M. Evarte, filling five mortal columns of
the Ledger. Even patriotism has a limit,
and I inwardly resolved that if I atten?
ded the next Centennial I would bring a
hammock and a slight Innch, so that I
could get rest and refreshment between
the acts. The great Exhibition was com?
paratively deserted during the forenoon
of the fourth. The halls looked empty
and silent, which, of course, must have
been a great disappointment to the Cen?
tennial managers, who expected to take
in sixty or seventy thousand dollars, at
lease, on that day. Toward the afternoon
matters brightened a little, and people
began to come in who had been to the
celebration down town. At two o'clock
the Catholic T. A. B. made ijs appearance
at the gate, several thousand strong, to
assist in the dedication of the T. A. B.
fountain; and right at this point one of
the most stupid things was done that I
ever heard of on any public? occasion.
As the procession entered, the police
seized all the doors facing Memorial
Hall, and with their bludgeons preven?
ted anybody from going in or out for
nearly an hour and a half. They were
as much prisoners as if they had been in
the station-house, and it was not till the
last T. A. B. had passed that anybody
was allowed to go out.
By another stupid arrangement, the
fireworks at Fairmount Park were not
set off till long after dark, though it
must have been evident to the managers
that a storm was impending, and they
were finally let off in a shower of rain,
when thousands were drenched who
might have enjoyed the fireworks, and
have been snugly in their homes, if they
had been set off at the proper time.
However, the day passed off, as a whole,
successfully and pleasantly, with fewer
accidents than might have been reasona?
bly expected. On the evening of the
fourth, Dom Pedro and the Empress
attended a reception at the mansion of
Mr. Drexel, the great banker, at which
were also present Sir Edward Thornton,
the British Ambassador, Generals Sher?
man, and Sheridan, Vice President Ferry,
Governor Hartranft and distinguished
representatives of the Foreign Commis?
sions. The Army of the Cumberland
has hacLits reunion this week, at which
touching resolutions were introduced to
the memory of the brave Custer, whose
untimely death is so universally de?
plored.
It is with a feeling of inexpressible
relief that I turn from the tumult of the
past week to find an hour of peace in
the noble Gallery of Arts. I feel that
this is the opportunity of my life, and,
once past, it will not come back again.
I pity the man or woman who can look
upon this wonderful collection and not
feel bettered by the contact. There are
many stolid and ignorant people who
come to this Exhibition, and I have yet
to see the first one from whom something
.in the collection did not wring out an
unbidden cry of pleasure and surprise.
I have a higher opinion of my kind for
the las* few weeks?they are better than
I gave them credit for. The collection
became too colossal for one building, and
a second had to be put up, larger in area
than the first This annex, as it is
called, is full of priceless gems of art.
Near the south door is the statue of a
child listening to the ticking of a watch,
a most delightful conception, beautifully
worked out; and not far from it, one of
those marvellous creations that wreath
the sculptor's brow with undying im?
mortality. It is the Flight of Time, by
Barzaglia, of Milan. Time is flying
past; he clutches his hour-glass, and
will not be stopped; a female has seized
him and endeavors to impede his flight,
but he speeds ruthlessly on; her fingers
are buried in his flesh; the rush of the
winds as he tears along, sweeps back her
garments, that seem to flutter in the
wind. The plumage on the wings of
time, and the drapery on the female
figure, are miracles of art only seen once
in a life time.
Tell yomr readers not to forget the
splendid Italian mosaics?rich landscapes
of the ruins of Rome, equal in splendor
of color and tints to the finest pictures
in the collection. And beware of French
restaurants! all within the grounds
charge the most extortionate prices. So
I warn all people coming to the Exhibi?
tion?if you see a sign having anything
French about it, give it a wide berth.
BROADBRIM.
Poor Girls.?The poorest girls in the
world are those who have never been
taught to work. There are thousands of
them. Eich parents have petted them ;
they have been taught to despise labor,
and depend upon others for a living, ana
are perfectly helpless. If misfortune
comes upon their friends, as it often does,
their case is hopeless. The most forlorn
and miserable woman on earth belongs to
this class. It belongs to parents to pro?
tect their daughters from this deplorablo
condition. They- do them a great wrong
if they neglect it. Every daughter
should be taught to earn her own living.
The rich as well as the poor require this
training. The wheel of fortune rolls
swiftly round?the rich are very likely
to become poor, and the poor rich.
Skilled to labor is no disadvantage to the
rich, and is indispensable to the poor.
Well-to-do parents must educate their
daughters to work; no reform is more
imperative than this.
Official Report of Attorney General
Stone.
Office of the Attorney General.
Columbia, S. C. July 12, 1876.
Hon. D. H. Chamberlain, Governor.
Sir: According to your request of
Monday last, I have visited Hamburg
for the purpose of ascertaining the facts
connected with the killing of several men
there, on the night of the 8th of July.
My information has been derived
chiefly from Trial Justice Rivers, and
from the testimony of persons who have
been examined before the coroner's jury
now in session, and from those who re?
ceived wounds from the armed body of
white men who had taken them pris?
oners.
From this imormation, the following
facts seem to be clearly established :
During the administration of Governor
Scott a company of State militia was or
Sinized at Hamburg, of which Prince
ivers was captain. This company was
known as company A, 9th regiment Na?
tional Guard of the State of South Caro?
lina. - Arms were at that time furnished
to it, and some ammunition. This com?
pany, previous to May, 1876, had for
some time but few names' on its rolls,
drilled rarely, and scarcely kept alive its
organization. But in May of this year
the number of members increased to
about eighty, and one Doc. Adams was
chosen captain.
On the 4th of July, the company
drilled on one of the public streets, in the
town of Hamburg. The street on which
they drilled was between one hundred
and one hundred and fifty feet wide, but
it was little used and was overgrown with
grass, except in that portion which was
used as a carriage road. While the com?
pany was thus drilling, Thomas Butler
and Henry Getzen, his brother-in-law.
came along in a carriage and demanded
that the company should make away for
them. Adams halted the company, re?
monstrated with Butler and Getzen for
thus seeking to interfere with the com?
pany, and called their attention to the
fact that there was plenty of room on
each side of the company to pass.
Finding them unwilling to turn out of
tbeir course, Adams finally opened ranks
and allowed them to drive through.
This incident seems to have angered
Butler and Getzen, who made complaint
before Trial Justice Rivers against the
militia company for obstructing the high?
way. The trial justice on the following
day issued a warrant against Adams, as
he was the captain of the company, and
had him brought before him for trial.
During the progress of the trial, Adams
was arrested by the trial justice for con?
tempt of court, and subsequently the case
was continued until 4 o clock Saturday
afternoon, July 8.
At that time, Butler and Getzen, with
General M. C. Butler, who had been em?
ployed by Robert J. Butler, father of the
former, as their attorney, repaired to the
office of the trial justice, but Adams did
not appear.
General Butler inquired as to the na
ture of the charges against Adams, and
asked if the trial justice was to hear the
case as trial jastice, or in his official
capacity of major-general of militia.
To this the trial justice replied that he
was to hear the case as a trial justice, but
if the facts showed that a military offense
had her n committed Adams would have
to be tried by a court-martial.
General Butler then stated that he
thought the case might be arranged, and
at his suggestion time was given him to
see the parties.'
After this the trial justice did not see
General Butler at his office, but learned
that he had gone over to Augusta.
In the meantime the trial justice had
been informed that some 200 or 300
armed white men were in Hamburg, and
that a demand had been made by them
that the militia should surrender their
arms. After a consultation With Messrs.
Jefferson and Spencer, Rivers sent for
General Butler. He rode up to the back
gate of Rivers' house. The two had a
conversation in which General Butler
said that he had given orders to have the
guns given up4 in half an hour, and the
time waa nearly up.
Rivers asked if some other arrange?
ment could not be made to which Gen?
eral Butler replied in the negative.
Rivers then asked if he would not con?
sent to have him receive the arms, box
them up and send them to the governor.
To which Gen. Butler replied, that he
would box them up and send them to the
governor, and if he, the governor, should
return them to the company it would be
at his own risk. Rivers then asked if
they would give a bond for the arms, to
which Gen. Butler said, that he would
stand the bond, and turning to another
Eerson?I think R. J. Butler?asked if
e wouldn't go on a bond also, to which
he replied that he would.
Rivers then asked for time before fire
should be opened on the militia, so that
he might have a conference with the
militia officers. This was acceded to,
and Rivers tben went to the building
known as the Sibley building, in the
second story of which the company had
ite armory and drill room, and where it
was then assembled, and told Capt.
Adams what might be expected if he
should refuse to give up the arms. To
this Adams replied that Gen. Butler had
no right to the guns; that the company
held them, and he proposed to hold them
unless Gen. Butler showed some authori?
ty to take them.
After this interview, Rivers returned
to Gen. Butler, with whom was Robert J.
Butler. He told them the decision to
which the company had come. Then
Robert J. Butler said that Gen. Butler
was his attorney; that he had come to
settle the matter. If the company would
apologise for the insult to nis son and
son-in-law he would do nothing more,
but the whole matter was in Gen. But?
ler's hands. Gen. Butler said that, as
the men would not meet him, he would
have no more to do with them. Gen.
Butler was asked by Rivers if he would
guarantee the safety of the town should
the militia surrender their arms. He
said that would depend on bow the men
behaved themselves afterward.
This statement is confirmed by S. P.
Pixley.
While these negotiations were going
on the armed body of white men in the
town were concentrated on the bank of
the river near the Sibley building. Soon
after they were broken off firing began.
Men who were in the building say that
it was commenced by the whites firing
upon the building. Adams gave his
orders not to shoot until he directed them
to. The company had very little ammu-.
nition, and all they had was a portion of
that issued to the company when it was
first organized.
After the firing had begun it was re?
turned by the militia, and one of the
attacking party, McKie Merriwetber, was
shot through the bead and instantly
killed. After this a piece of artillery,
said to belong to the Washington Artil?
lery, of Augusta, was brought over from
Augusta, and four charges of canister
were fired from it upon the armory but
without injuring any one. The persons
in the armory escaped from the rear by
means of ladders and hid under floors of
adjacent buildings or wherever else they
could find shelter.
The first man killed by the whites was
James Cook, town marshal. He had
been in the armory but was not a mem?
ber of the company. He had gone into
the street from the rear of the Sibley
building, arid was at once fired on and
fell dead instantly, pierced by five or six
bullets.
Afterwards the whites began their
search for the members of the company.
They succeeded in getting about twenty
five colored men as prisoners, some of
whom were never members of the com?
pany. As fast as they were captured,
they were taken to a place near the South
Carolina Railroad, where a large party
of armed men stood guard over them.
None of those thus captured had arms
in their-hands. ?
Subsequently, and at about 2 o'clock
a. m. six men took A. T. Attaway out of
the "ring." He and his mother begged
for his life, but in vain. He was then
told to turn round and was shot to death
by the crowd.
David Phillips was next taken out and
was similarly killed.
Pompey Curry was next called out.
He recognized among the by-standers
Henry Getzen and Dr. Pierce Butler,
and called on them to keep the oth^r
men from killing him. He ran, and was
shot at as he ran, one bullet striking him
in the right leg, below the knee.
Afterwards Albert Myniart, Moses
Parks and Hampton Stevens were killed.
Stevens did not belong to the company.
Neider John Parker, who has been com?
monly referred to in the newspaper re?
ports as John Thomas, was corporal in the
company.
When he was arrested and taken to the
spot where the other prisoners were, he
recognized among the party two gentle?
men of Augusta, named Twiggs and
Chaffee. He appealed to them for pro?
tection. They said he should not be hurt.
He states that Gen. M. C. Butler asked
if he was one of the d?d rascals. Tbe
reply was in the affirmative. He was
then shot in the back. Messrs. Twiggs
and Chaffee then said if be was shot again
they would shoot the ones who did it.
They took him off and had him taken to
Augusta. He was shot before Attaway
was killed. He may recover from his
wounds.
One Butler Edwards was taken as a
prisoner. He says he was taken before^
General Butler, who, at the time, was in
the street near the Sibley building. This
was about 12 o'clock.
Threats were made to shoot him. Gen?
eral Butler directed that he be taken to
the others. He recognized among the
crowd one Captain Carwile and ? Dun
bar, of Augusta; said he had a long talk
with the former. He was among the
prisoners who were let loose and told to
run; as they ran they were fired at and
he was shot in the head. He was not a
member of the company.
Willis Davis, one of the members of the
company, was taken to the place where
were the other prisoners. The men stated
that John Swaringen, of Edgefield coun?
ty, had charge of the prisoners. He
states that he saw General Butler before
the men were killed who asked him what
he was doing, and told him he would have
enough of it before he got through.
He was shot in the arm near the elbow,
when he was about twenty paces distant
from the crowd. The ball is still in his
arm and he suffers much pain. He also
states that some of the young men from
Georgia remonstrated against shooting
the prisoners, but in vain.
Besides the killing and wounding of
tbe men herein named, tbe party broke
open several stores and houses, and, in
some instances, robbed tbe inmates.?
They took from Mr. Charles Roll, the
postmaster, and a very respectable white
citizen, a gun which he had in his store,
and his private property. From an old
colored man, named Jacob Samuels, in
his employ, they took a watch and set fire
to his house. They broke open the house
of Trial Justice Rivers, and did much
damage as well as robbed him of his
clothing. They obtained kerosene oil
and attempted to set fire to a house, but
were prevented by Col. A. P. Butler from
doing so. Tbe ropes of the public wells
were cut and some fences were torn
down.
So far as I can learn, the primary ob?
ject of the whites was to take away from 1
the militia their arms.
The man Parker, who was wounded,
states that on Friday, the 7th instant, he
had a long talk with one Harrison Butler,
(white,) on Broad street, Augusta. But?
ler told him that if Rivers did not give
orders for the militia to give up their
arras they would take them any way on
the next day.
On Saturday, rumors were abroad in
Hamburg that there were armed parties
coming in to take tbe guns, but little
credit was attached to them.
One of the white citizens of Hamburg
heard a conversation between David Phil?
lips and Gen. Butler in tbe afternoon.
Phillips talked very "big," as the gentle?
man said, and Gen. Butler told him that
they wanted those guns and were bound
to haye them.
In the afteruonn Col. A. P. Butler went
to the various stores in town and told the
proprietors that they must not sell any
liquor to his men. In spite of this, how?
ever, some of the men compelled one of
the storekeepers to furnish them liquor.
From the same person they obtained
kerosene oil to use in setting fire to a
house.
The whites were armed with guns and
small arm3 of various kinds, and many
of them had axes and hatchets.
It is proper to state that the intendent
of Hamburg, Mr. Gardner, was informed
by Gen. Butler, in an interview with him,
that the arms of the company must be
given up.
Trial Justice Rivers is now holding an
inquest and taking the testimony of wit?
nesses. Until their verdict is rendered,
it will be impossible to tell who were en?
gaged in the attack on the militia and
the subseqent killing and wounding of
the colored men.
It may be possible that a careful judi?
cial investigation may show some slight
errors in some of the minor details stated
in this report. But, making due allow?
ance for such errors, the facts show the
demand on the militia to give up their
arms was made by persons without lawful
authority to enforce such demand or to
receive the arms had they been surren?
dered ; that the attack on the militia to
compel a compliance with this demand
was without lawful excuse or justifica?
tion ; and that after there had been some
twenty or twenty-five prisoners captured
and completely in the power of their cap?
tors, and without means of making fur?
ther resistance, five of them were deliber?
ately shot to denth and three more severe?
ly wounded.
It further appears that not content with
thus satisfying their vengeance, many of
the crowd added to their guilt the crime
of robbery of defens.lcss people, and
were only prevented from arson by the
efforts of their own leaders. Yours, very
respectfully,
William Stone,
Attorney-General S. C.
? New York has a firm named Day &
Knight. It is a strong, safe. firm. Day
may break, but Knight will succeed
nevertheless.
THE HAMBURG COLLISION.
Gen. M. C. Butler's Connection with
the Riot? Au Advocate of Peace, law
and Order.
Editors Columbia Register:
Certain newspaper editors and report?
ers have done me so much injustice by
false reports in reference to the recent
disturbance in Hamburg, that it is due to
myself to make to the public a statement
of my connection with it.
On Friday evening, July 7, Col. Thos.
Shaw, with his brother, the Rev. Wm.
Shaw, was at Edgefield Court House to
see Mr. H. "\V. Addison and Mr. A. J.
Norris and myself on business. After
transacting it, Col. Shaw said to me that
Mr. Robert J. Butler, who lives near
Hamburg, in Aiken County, desired me
to be at Hamburg on the following even?
ing, (Saturday,) at 4 o'clock, to represent
professionally, his son, Thomas Butler,
and son-in-law, Henry Getzen, in a trial
to be had before" Trial Justice Prince
Rivers. Mr. Butler has been a lucrative
client of mine for many years. I in?
quired of Col. Shaw if he knew the nature
of the case to be tried, and he said he
knew nothing except what he had heard
?that these two young men had had an
altercation with a company of negro
militia in the streets of Hamburg on the
4th of July, and that Mr. Robert Butler
had complained to Rivers, the Major
General of Militia and Trial Justice, and
that he supposed the trial referred to that
matter.
I accordingly left Edgefield at 9 o'clock
next morning in a buggy. When I had
gone about seven njiles on the old stage
road, I met Dr. Geo. Wise, who inquired
if I had heard the news from Hamburg.
I replied that I had heard nothing
special, but was on my way to Hamburg
to attend a trial before Rivers. He said
the information had reached his neigh?
borhood that the negro militia had
threatened to lynch Thomas Butler and
Henry Getzen if they were not convicted,
and that several young men had gone in
that direction.
When nearing the town, I sent word to
Mr. Robert Butler to meet me in Ham?
burg, and give me the facts of the case in
which he wished nfe to appear. Mr.
Butler did meet me in a short time, and
I there for the first time ascertained the
character of the trouble.
I had nothing whatever to do with the
matter up to that time?knew nothing
but what I have stated. My business
there was simply professional; bad no?
thing about me but one law book, and
had no more idea of there being a colli?
sion than an utter stranger.
I learned after reaching Hamburg that
Mr. Henry Sparnick, ot Aiken, was in
town as the attorney of the colored mili?
tia, and sent for him with a view of ar?
ranging for the trial or effecting some
arrangement between the parties. Mr.
Sparnick met me, and, I think, will do
me the justice to say that my earnest
effort was to prevent any further trouble,
if possible, and he appeared equally
anxious.
Mr. Robert Butler then interposed and
said to Mr. Sparnick that if these men
would make acknowledgments for their
abuse and maltreatment of his son and
son-in-law, he would be satisfied. I said
nothing about any apology myself.
It was then proposed that we hold a
conference with the officers of the militia
company and Prince Rivers, and see if
we could not adjust matters. I made
this proposition. Mr. Sparnick assented,
saying he had influence with the negroes,
and he thought we could arrange it. He
went off, as I supposed, to Dring his
clients, but did not return.
Sam Spencer, a negro man, came to
Mr. Dam's store, where I was with Mr.
Robert Butler, his son and son-in-law,
and said that he desired to see me pri?
vately. I at once went into Mr. Dam's
back room. " He said he was sorry to see
so much excitement, and I expressed re?
grets at it, when he said that he thought
inasmuch as Trial Justice Rivers was to
hear the case, he would prefer not to be
in the conference. I agreed with the
propriety of that position, and he then
said that the officers of Doc Adams'
militia company would meet me, but did
not like to come to Mr. Dam's store, as
there were armed men there, but would
meet me at his (Spencer's) office if agree?
able to me. I said certainly I would
meet them at his office, and alone if they
preferred. He then went off and did not
return.
The time appointed for the trial having
arrived, I proceeded, with my clients, to
the Trial Justice's office. Rivers was not
in, and after a time his clerk went for
him, and he opened his court. I in?
quired as a preliminary question whether
he was sitting as a civil or military officer.
He replied that that depended upon the
facts, as they would be developed; that
he was then acting as a peace officer. I
remarked that I was indifferent as to the
character of the court, as we only desired
to arrive at the facts, and inquired if the
accused parties would be present. He
said that he did not know, but would
have them called, which his constable
proceeded to do from the door. About
this time Sam Spencer came in, and said
to me that he thought if the trial could
be suspended, the matter could be settled.
I replied that he must see the Trial Jus?
tice, and if he would suspend, I had no
objection. Whereupon Rivers announced
the case suspended for ten minutes, and
I was invited by the Intendant of the
town, a negro man named Gardner, to
the Council Chamber, for the purpose of
meeting the militia officers of Adam's
company. I repaired at once to that
place, and remained tliere about a quarter
of an hour. Nobody appearing but
Gardner, with whom I had some talk as
to the necessity of something being
speedily done, and that I thought the
best solution of the matter was that these
people should deliver up their arms as a
means of settling the present difficulty
and a guarantee against a future recur?
rence ; he said he knew nothing about
it; and waiting, as I thought, long
enough, I got in my buggy and went
over to Augusta on business having no
relation to the Hamburg matter; and
while there, was questioned by a number
of persons as to the status of affairs in
Hamburg, to whom I replied that I
thought a collisidft between the whites
and blacks imminent and likely to take
place.
After despatching my business, I was
returning through Hamburg, on my way
to spend the night at Mr. Robert But?
ler's, two miles in the country, and leave
for home early next morning. When
about half away across the bridge, I met
a delegation of four negroes?Pixley,
Edwards, Spencer and Sims?who
stopped me, and said that, if I would go
to Spencer's office, the officers of the
militia would meet me and endeavor to
stop the impending trouble. I agreed;
went directly to the appointed place,
and waited there some twenty or thirty
minutes, but one of the officers, Cart
ledge, appearing. He said he would do
all in his power to induce the militia to
disband and give up their guns, and I
believe he did.
Whilst I was in Augusta, a body of
men rode into the town (Hamburg)
mounted.
I went around the street to look for
Mr. Butler, and had not Leen gone long
before I received a message from Prince
Rivers asking mc to meet him. I de?
clined to do so, saving that we had made
about four appointments, which were
observed by myself only, and that he
must come to me. I, however, did go to
meet him, and he asked me if the men
would give up theii arms, would I guar?
antee the safety of the town. I said I
have nothing whatever to do with the
town, and could give no guarantee of
any sort, as I had no command or au?
thority, but would say, as a citizen, that,
in my judgment, if they would do that,
there would not be the slightest trouble;
and he said that he thought that right,
and would go and advise them to that
course. In aboutjgn minutes the report
was circulated tbjk the negroes refused
to give up their arms, and intended to
fight. And a few minutes thereafter the
fight did ensue. The negroes were forti?
fied in their drill room in a brick build?
ing, known as Sibley's corner, and they
raised a yell and fired from the windows,
which was responded to by the whites,
and a general firing took place.
Not a very great while after the firing
began, Mr. McKie Merriwether, a most
estimable young man, was shot through
the head and killed. Not a negro had
then been touched, and Merriwether's
death naturally infuriated the already
excited crowd, and they were under the
leadership of no one.
During the firing, some parties un?
known to me brought over a piece of
artillery, and fired four or five times at
the building and returned. The firing
of the negroes from their position then
ceased. I left the crowd arresting the
negroes. How many were killed or how
they were killed I do not know. This
collision was the culmination of the sys?
tem of insulting and outraging of white
people, which the negroes had adopted
there for several years.
Many things were done on this terri?
ble night which, of course, cannot be j
justified, but the negroes "sowed the
wind and reaped the whirlwind."
I did not attempt to accomplish by j
force what I could not accomplish by |
peaceful means.
I was not the leader of this body of in?
furiated men. I was there in the line of I
my profession. The collision was a sort f
of spontaneous combustion. I thought I
saw it approaching, and did all that any
human being could be expected to do to
prevent it.
I have no objection to being saddled
with whatever responsibility fairly at?
taches to my conduct, but I have no idea
of permitting newspaper reporters, for
the sake of a sensation or any other pur?
pose, presenting me as the leader of a
mob, when I was no more the leader and
no more responsible than any other per?
son who might have been there in the
line of his duty.
M. C. Butler.
The Hamburg Coroner.
The News and Courier is just now en?
gaged in the most astonishing piece of I
newspaper enterprise yet recorded. Its f
special correspondent, with headquarters
at Augusta, walked into Major General
Prince Rivers' "Crowner's quest" court,
at Hamburg, Monday morning, in search
of news. Here is his description of that
remarkable tribunal:
Arriving in the city at 8 o'clock this
morning, I lost no time in crossing the
river, in order to attend an examination
which was being conducted by Prince
Rivers, in his two-fold capacity of Inten?
dant and Trial Justice for Hamburg. I
found him in the midst of this occupa?
tion, and, after a patient hearing of a
couple of hours' duration, left him in the
midst of it, fu.'Iy satisfied that no informa?
tion whatever was to be derived from a
further attendance upon the proceedings
of his absurd court, the business of which
was being conducted, or clogged rather,
in a style peculiarly his own, and strong?
ly analogous to the farce which always
follows a tragedy in well-regulated theat?
ricals. The court room was a low, ill
ventilated apartment on the ground floor.
Rivers presided in mock dignity behind a j
long table, with two unskilled scribes at
his elbow, whose want of familiarity with
the uses of a pen contributed no little to
the delay which characterized the in?
quest.
A jury of twelve blacks, ranged six on
each side of the room, and either six oc?
cupying a long, hard bench, completed the
personnel of the Court. All the jurors
were ignorant, unkept and uncomely
looking fellows, one among them being
an ex-convict, whom I recognized on
sight, and another was sound asleep.
One alone paid attention to what was go?
ing on before his eyes, and occasionally
interrupted by asking a question or pro?
posing one, or making general sugges?
tions, or arguing with the .'court in rela?
tion to the proper mode of taking testi?
mony. His interruptions were indig?
nantly rebuked by tie court as often as
volunteered, and each was made the oc?
casion of a long lecture on the part of the
court, which evidently strained itself to
administer fitting, and, at the same time,
varied rebukes. The whole proceeding
was simply and exceedingly childish,
and the result obtained, if any, was utter?
ly worthless as regards the nature and
amount of testimony elicited.
A. Delusion.?A young man who
thinks that he can lead a reckless and
profigate life until he becomes a middle
aged man, and then repent and make a
good and steady citizen, is deluded by
the devil. He thinks that people are all
fools, destitute of memory. He con?
cludes that when he repents everybody
will forget that he was a dissipated wretch.
This is not the case, people remember
your bad deeds and forget your good ones.
Besides, it is no easy thing to break up
in middle age, bad habits that have been
formed in youth. When a horse con?
tracts the habit of baulking, he generally
retaius it through life. He will often
perform well enough until the wheel gets
into a deep hole, and then he stops and
holds back. Just so it is with the boys
who contract. bad habits. They will
sometimes leave off their bad tricks, and
do well enough uutil they get intoatight
place, and then they return to the old
habit. Of those boys who contract the
bad habit of drunkenness, not one in every
hundred dies a sober man. The only way
to break up a bad habit is never to con?
tract it. The only way to prevent drunk?
enness is never to drink.
Cremation.?We are informed that j
by a provision of his will, Mr. Henry |
Berry, who died at his residence in this
county on the 9th inst., at an advanced
age, required his executor?one of his
sons?to.cremate his body on pain ofj
being disinherited. We have no details j
of the erection of the funeral pile, tho
burning nor the disposition of the ashes.
Mr. Berry had been successful in busi?
ness, and died possessed of a large and
valuable landed and personal property.
If this provision of his will is carried into"
effect, this will be tho second case of
cremation in South Carolina, the first
being that of the Hon. Henry Laurens in
December, 1792.?Marion Star.
? A gentlemau with considerable face
?the man in the moon.
A BID FOR THE REFORM YOTE.
Gov. Hayes's Letter Accepting the Re?
publican Nomination.
The following is the letter of accept?
ance written by Gov. Hayes to the com?
mittee of the Republican National Con?
vention which informed him of the
nomination at Cincinnati:
Columbus, 0., July 8,1876.
Gentlemen : In reply to your official
communication of June 17, by which I
am informed of my nomination for the
office of President of the United States
by the Republican National Convention
at Cincinnati, I accept the nomination
with gratitude, hoping that, under Prov?
idence, I shall be able, if elected, to exe?
cute the duties of that high office as a
trust for the benefit of all the people.
I do not deem it necessary to enter
upon aoy extended examination of the
declaration of principles made by the
Convention. Toe resolutions are in ac?
cord with my views, and I heartily con?
cur in the principles they announce. In
several of the resolutions, however, ques?
tions are considered which are of such
importance that I deem it proper to
briefly express my convictions in regard
to them.
Tbe fifth resolution adopted by the
Convention is of paramount interest.?
More than forty years ago a system of
making appointments to office grew up
based upon the maxim "To the victors
belong tbe spoils." The old rule, the
true rule, that honesty, capacity and
fidelity constitute the only real qualifica?
tions for office, and that there is no other
claim, gave place to the idea that party
services were to be chiefly considered.
All parties have adopted this system. It
bos been essentially modified since its
first introduction. It has not, however,
been improved. At first, the President,
either directly, or through the beads of
departments, made all the appointments;
but gradually the appointing power, in
many cases, passed into the control of
members of Congress. Tbe offices, in
these cases, have Decome not merely re?
wards for party services, but rewards for
services to party leaders. This system
destroys the independence of the separate
departments of the government; it tends
directly to extravagance and official in?
capacity;, it is a temptation to dishon?
esty; it hinders and impairs tbe care?
ful supervision and strict accountability
by which alone faithful and efficient pub?
lic service can be secured; it obstructs
the prompt removal and sure punishment
of the unworthy; in every way it de?
grades the civil service and the character
of the government. It is felt, I am con?
fident, by a large majority of the mem?
bers of Congress to be an intolerable
burden and unwarrantable hindrance to
the proper discbarge of their legitimate
duties. It ought to be abolished. The
[ reform should be thorough, radical and
complete. We should return to the prin?
ciples and practice of the founders of the
government, supplying by legislation,
? when needed, that which was formerly
established by custom. They neither
expected or desired from the public offi?
cer any partisan service; they meant that
public officers should owe their whole
service to the government and to the
people; they meant that the officer
should be secure in his tenure as long as
his personal character remained untar?
nished and the performance of his duties
satisfactory. If elected, I shall conduct,
the administration of the government
upon these principles, and all constitu?
tional powers vested in the Executive
will be employed to establish this reform.
The declaration of principles by tbe
Cincinnati Convention makes no an?
nouncement in favor of a single Presi?
dential term. I do not assume to add to
that declaration, but believing that the
restoration of the civil service to tbe sys?
tem established.by Washington, and fol?
lowed by the early Presidents, can be
best accomplished by an Executive who
is under no temptation to use the patron?
age of his office to promote his own re?
election. I desire to perform what I
regard as a duty in stating now that my
inflexible purpose, if elected, is not to be
a candidate for election to a second term.
On the currency question I have fre?
quently expressed my views in public and
stand by my record on this subject. I
regard all tbe laws of the United States
relating to tbe payment of tbe public in?
debtedness, the legal tender notes in?
cluded, as constituting a pledge and
moral obligation of the government which
must in good faith be kept. It is my
conviction that tbe feeling of uncertainty
inseparable from an irredeemable paper
currency, with its fluctuations of values,
is one of tbe great obstacles to a revival
of confidence in business and to a return
of prosperity. That uncertainty can be
ended in but one way?the resumption of
specie payment. But the longer the in?
stability connected with our present
money system is permitted to continue,
the greater will be the injury inflcted
upon our economical interests and
all classes of society. If elected
I shall approve every appropriate
measure to accomplish the desired end,
and.shall oppose any step backward.
Tbe resolution with respect to the pub?
lic school system is one which should
receive the hearty support of the Ameri?
can people. Agitation upon this subject
is to be apprehended until, by constitu?
tional amendment, the schools are placed
beyond all danger of sectional control or
interference. The Republican party is
pledged to secure such an amendment.
The resolution of the Convention on
the subject of tbe permanent pacification
of the country, and the complete protec?
tion of all its citizens in the free enjoy?
ment of all their constitutional rights, i?
timely and of great importance. The con?
dition of the Southern States attracts the
attention and commands the sympathy
of the whole Union. In the progressive
recovery from the effects of the war, their
first necessity is an intelligent and honest
administration of the government, which
will protect all classes of citizens in their
political and private rights. What the
South most needs is peace, and peace
depends upon the supremacy of the law.
There can be no enduring peace if the
constitutional rights of any portion of the
people are habitually disregarded. A
division of political parties resting merely
upon distinctions of race, or upon sec?
tional lines, is always unfortunate, and
may be disastrous. The welfare of the
South, alike with that of every other part
of the country, depends upon the attrac?
tions it can offer to labor, to immigration
and to capital. But the laborers will not
go, and capital will not venture where
the constitution and, the laws are set at
defiance and destruction, apprehension
and alarm take the place of peace-loving
and law-abiding social life. All parts of
the constitution are sacred and must be
sacredly observed?the parts that are new,
no less than tbe parts that are old. The
moral and material prosperity of tbe
Southern States can be most effectually
advanced by a hearty and generous
recognition of the rights of all by all?
recognition without reserve or exception.
With euch a recognition fully accorded,
it will be practicable to promote, by the
influence of all legitimate agencies of the
General Government, the effort of the
people of those States to obtain for them?
selves the blessings of honest and capable
government. If elected, I shall consider
it not only my duty, it will be my ardent
desire, to labor for the attainment of this
end. Let me assure my countrymen of
the Southern States tbat, if I shall he
charged with the duty of organizing an
administration, it will be one which will
regard and cherish their truest interests
?the interest of the white and of the
colored people, both and equally, and
which will put forth its best efforts in
behalf of a civil polity which will wipe
out forever the distinct'on between North
and South in our common country.
With a civil service, organized upon a
system which will secure purity, expe?
rience, efficiency and economy, a strict
regard for the public welfare" solely in
appointments, and the speedy, thorough
and unsparing prosecution and punish?
ment of all public officers whobetray offi?
cial trust; with a sound currency;
with education unsectarian and free to
all; with simplicity and frugality in
public and private affairs, and with a
fraternal spirit of harmony pervading the
people of all sections and classes, we may
reasonably hope tbat the second century
of our existence as a nation will, by the
blessing of God, be pre-eminent as an
era of good feeling, and a period of prog?
ress, prosperity and happiness.
Very respectfully, your fellow-citizen,
R. B. Hayes.
"Raising* The Republican Party.
In his speech at Georgetown, on the
4th of July, Governor Chamberlain pro?
poses to "raise up the Republican party
in South Carolina to a higher plane of
purity and respect." It certainly has
been low in its infamous career of oppres?
sion and plunder. During seven years of
official identification with the party, and"
with the scoundrels in this State who
have sought to rob and degrade the
eople, Attorney-General Chamberlain
id not seem to know the dishonor at?
taching to the proceedings of his party
associates. He did not apparently feel
the shame attending those connected
with its villainies.
But two years ago the thing became so
rank and conspicuously indecent a
scandal in the eyes of the country, as to
make the attempt at its purification pop?
ular with Northern Republicans and
essential to any pretence of respectability
on the part of persons identified with it.
Governor Chamberlain for two years has
endeavored to purify and reform South
Carolina Republicanism. His endanger?
ed party at the North may be benefitted,
and he may lift himself out of the slough
of filth in wlych he had been previously
moving. We commend the sagacity of
Governor Chamberlain, as a Radical
politician and as a man of personal aspi?
rations for himself in the future, here or
elsewhere. But to the people of South
Carolina, what is the Republican party;
whatAre its relations to them; what in?
terests have they in seeing it elevated to
the plane of respect ana given a new
lease of life and power?
It is a party founded on sectional greed
and ambition?a party which fanned the
flames of fanaticism and fostered social '
prejudices and jealousies on the part of
people at the North, to grasp the. power
of the general government. Wedding
this for sectional aggression and aggran?
disement, its great object has been to rule
the South in the interest of its parti zaus.
It is a party which, under the clause of
"general welfare," and by construction,
has attempted practically to abolish the
Constitution of the United States, with
all its limitations for the protection of
minorities, and to consolidate all the
powers of government in the hands of the
sectional majority at Washington. It
has sought, under the name of a "new
nation," to conduct a naked, absolute
despotism of Radical numbers, irrespon?
sible and beyond the control of the
minority, whose liberties, whose property
and whose interests are all at their mercy.
It is a party of hate, which, under the
pretence of humanity ancLa love of free?
dom, has depressed the enlightened white
race of the South, to the political domin?
ion and material despoilment of ignorant
and semi-barbarous freed -negroes, man
{aged by inimical adventurers, who have
been kept in power throughout the South
by fraud ana intimidation, with United
States troops.
Such are the objects, the policy, and
the character of the Republican Party.
Is there anything to make desirable for
South Carolina the raising up and re?
vitalizing of Radicalism here. Is it not .
essential that it be extirpated root and
branch, if Carolinians are to have hence?
forward any peace, any prosperity, any
local self-government, any free govern?
ment, any country ? The people of this
State are not wholly habituated to the
condition of Radical oppression. Their
endurance has not yet assumed the stage
of imbecility through custom. Reasoning
subterfuges have not yet usurped tho
place of truthful aspirations. The high
spirit of liberty is not yet crushed out of
their bosoms. While they intend to bo
circumspect, they are in earnest. In
seeking the ways to redeem the-State,
they mean business. And to elevate and
Silvanize the Republican Party, is not in
eir programme. They propose to
"raise" the Republican Party, Dut in a
different style.?Journal of Commerce.
A Railroad Robbery.?A telegram
from St. Louis gives an account of a Dold
and daring robbery committed op the
eastward bound train on the Missouri
Pacific Railway. When the train had
reached a point two and a half miles east
of Otterville, the engineer saw a signal
light ahead. Thinking there was some
obstruction on the track he applied the
air brake, and after running a few yards
discovered a pile of ties and lumber on
the track. He comprehended the situa?
tion at once but could not stop the train,
and it was not till the locomotive had
climbed partly upon the pile that the
train came to a stand. At the same in?
stant a dozen or fifteen men appeared
with terrific yells and discharging their
pistols, dashed at the train. Two jumped
on the engine, and, with navy revolvers,
covered the engineer and fireman, and.
threatened to kill them if they
offered resistance. They were then
marched into the baggage car and placed
under guard. At the same time three
other robbers climbed into the express
car by the side door, which was open.
The express messenger attempted to hide
the keys, but the robbers made him tell
where they were. Having obtained the
' keys, they opened the Adams' safe and
I put the entire contents into a wheat sack.
The passengers were thoroughly de
1 moralized, and made no resistance what?
ever. Having completed their work the
I robbers retreated in a southerly direction,
carrying about $20,000 with them. A
party of citizens at once set out in pur
8i?t, and at last accounts were only ten
miles behind the robbers. Gen. Bacon
Montgomery, a noted guerilla fighter, is
also in pursuit, with an armed baud of
citizens. The robbers wore masks, and
none of them were recognized.
? A Vermont son said at his mother's
funeral tbat he and his father were very
much obliged to the people who came,
"and we hope that the time is not far
distant when we may do the same for