Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1878 — For Shame, Hampton! [ARTICLE]

For Shame, Hampton!

The President and Attorney-Genet al have been informed of the details of the persistent attempt, under the leadership of Earle and Dargan, two aids on the staff of Gov. Hampton, of South Carolina, to break up Republican organizations in Sumter County. These accounts led to the instructions sent to the United States Attorney., and the Marshal to proceed in future against all offenders for a violation of Sec. 5,520 of the Revised Statutes. The attacks made upon Republicans were at the three stages of their campaign, namely, at the primary elections for delegates to the County Convention, at the Convention and at all subsequent meetings of the campaign. The whole movement has been under the personal direction and leadership tof Earle and Dargan and this was continued openly and without any diminution of activity after their oonduct had been formally reported by a Committee iff Republi-

cans to Hampton. In July last, wheu the colored Republicans of the county began to assemble at the places designated for meetings to select delegates to the County Convention, they found armed men picketing the roads, and immediately encountered their opposition in assembling. These men carried State arms supplied by the United States, were under military discipline and acted under regulaj officers. They were recognized as mem ben of the State Volunteer Militia, though in these first operations they left their uniform at home. Later, they boldjy appeared in uniform. At all meetings they announced that the white people of the State had decided that the Republican meetings should not be held, and that all who attempted to keep the organization of that party alive should suffer for it. At one precinct meeting the Chairman, who had just built a new house, was driven off upon the threat that if he presided at tne meeting his house should be immediately burned. The meeting was then scattered by the military company. Frazer, State Senator from that county, being appealed to for protection for a meeting, declared that if the Republicans persisted in conducting the campaign neither he nor Gov. Hampton could shield them from the populace. At the County Convention, Earle and Dargan headed a company of about 100 armed men, and attempted to take possession of the hall where the Convention met. Their proceedings were of the most outrageous character, ending in personal assault. A committee of four Republicans, two white and two colored, was then appointed to report to Gov. Hampton the nature of the movement in Sumter County, under direction of his aids, to break down the Republican party in that county. Hampton promised to use his official power to punish all who took part in these matters, and to come to Sumter and denounce this lawlessness in r public speech. After these promises the Republicans called a meeting in the country, twenty miles from the county-seat. Earle and Dargan, at the head of 150 armed men, appeared on the ground, and demanded that the meeting should be called to order, as they intended to participate. As their directions were not promptly followed, they announced that they would allow one hour within which to call it to order. Hit was not done, then no meeting should be held.

Upon tie Republicans appearing on the platform, and the Chairman of the County Committee attempting to speak, Dargan knocked him off the platform with a blow of his 'fist, and jumped down after him. Earle, the other aid of Hampton, seized him by the throat, and the crowd about set upon him and other Republicans and broke up the meeting. * Propositions were then made to shoot the Chairman, Judge Lee, but the crowd opposed this, as they favored hanging. Finally it was decided to take him prisoner and march him into the countv-seat, and there give him and all Republicans formal notice from the Court-House steps that they must give up their meetings and abandon their organizations on pain of A hundred armed men rode as an escort to the wagon into which they tumbled Lee after beating and clicking him, and at three halts on the road he was treated to various indignities, and three attempts were made, by informing him that he had but few moments to live, to make him promise to join the Democratic Club. Finally, on reaching Sumter, he was paraded about the town as the corpse of the Republican party, and the last of it in that county. All Republicans were formally notified, on pain of death, to give up their political operations. On Sept. 21 a great meeting was held for Hampton, and all the military oompanies came in uniforms, and nearly all the others came in. xed-shirts- -andarmed. Leading Republicans attended, expecting that Hampton would redeem his promises and denounce these outrages. Instead of that, he remained -on-the platform-4wid saw-großß- peM«aal indignities and violence offered by his aids to Lee, “the Chairman of the Republican Committee. He simply said that Sumter County must be carried, and Senator Butler, who was £ resent, said significantly that those efore hi in need not be told by him how to do it. Evidenoe laid before the authorities has convinced them tha an organized movement is in progress? in South Carolina to crush out the Republican organization by force, and that Wade Hampton, in the face of all his promises, gives it countenance, if not active support. — Washington Oor. Chicago Tribune.