A VOICE FROM South Carolina JOURNAL OF A RKPUTHD KU-KLUX, AND AN APPENDIX. BY JOHN A. LELAND, Ph.D. CHART, ESTON, S. C. WALKER, EVANS & COGSWELL Nos. 3 Broad and log East Bay Streets. 1879. C O P Y R I G H '1\ 1879 J. A. Leland. DEDICATED TO THE W f) M E N F S U T H CAROLINA PREFACE. The following pages have grown into the proportions of a book, without much design on the part of the author. His purpose, at first, was merely to transcribe the journal of his "jail experience," at the request of some particular friends. This, he found, would be unsatisfactory, without some account of the condition of things in Laurens County, at the time of his arrest. But the state of things in Laurens was anomalous, resulting from causes which affected the whole State alike. A resume of Reconstruction in South Carolina, therefore, seemed necessary j and thus, step by step, he was led back to the deluge of Secession. The narrative was begun in 1874, and continued, from time to time, till the beginning of 1876. The writer then closed with the twelfth chapter; and made efforts to publish in that centennial year As all these efforts failed, the MS. was still on hand, when the wonderful campaign of " Hamp- ton and Home Rule,'' brought about another Revolution. This rendered two additional chapters necessary, to come down to the date of the regen- eration of the State. The author now sends forth these disjecta membra with many misgivings. No one can see the defects of the work more plainly than he does himself > but the remedy would be to re-write the whole, and such a reconstruction might prove as complete a failure and wreck as the one he has attempted to describe. Begging indulgence for thi'i, his first attempt at authorship, he earnestly requests a patient perusal of all the facts herein recorded, with the assurance that there is " Nothing extenuate. Nor aught set down in malice." i CONTENTS. CHAPTER FIRST. Introductory. PAGE. South Carolina before and during Reconstruction. Citizen of the old school — Scalawag of the new. Resume on Slavery. Moral Mania, Driven to Secession Dr. Thornwell on the Secession Convention... ii CHAPTER SECOND. After the War. Sherman's Track: Columbia, Beaufort, and the Sea Islands, Charles- ton, State generally. Military Courts, Freedman's Bureau. Massa- chusetts and her Colored Regiments 24 CHAPTER THIRD. Reconstruction. President Johnson's Policy — First Reconstruction. Congressional Policy — Second Reconstruction. Carpet-baggers come to the front. The Secret of his Power, and a Theory of his Dynasty. Gov. Scott. Hon. W. D. Porter Reform-Party. Constabulary Forces. Colored Militia 36 CHAPTER FOURTH. Reconstruction in Laurens County. Joe Crews. Military Barbecues. Constabulary Force. Counter Organization. Election Riot of 1870. Circuit Court and the Arms. Outrages at Night 5I VIll. CONTENTS. CHAPTER FIFTH. Joe Crews. PAGE. Escape from Riot. Counting the Ballots. Retreat from Laurens. Senator Y. J. P. Owens, Joe's Power of Imagination 65 CHAPTER SIXTH. Laurens — after the Riot. Rumors Scott and Committee of Citizens Scott and Joe Crews Parties Arrested by State Constabulary, Blackmailing. Re- lease under Habeas. Corpus. Judge Vernon and Laurens Prisoners 75 CHAPTER SEVENTH. M.^RTiAL Law in Laurens. Ku-Klux, probable rise. Merrill, in York. County. Committee sent to Washington from Laurens. Martial Law proclaimed. Whole- sale Arrests in 1872. Journal of a reputed Ku-Klux for three days... 86 I CHAPTER EIGHTH. Journal of a Prisoner. Laurens to Union Union to Columbia. First night in Columbia. Kindness of friends. Mrs. Adger, Mrs. Woodrow. Dr. Plumer and his Tin Pails. Religious influence on Prisoners. Gen. Preston's " spiritual comfort." Ben. Ballou. Sim Pearson 98 CHAPTER NINTH. Journal Continued. First appearance before Commissioners. True position of the Author. Farce in the Court Room On to Charleston. Communion Scene. Letter to Judge Field. Treatment of " Mark " Colored State Prisoners. Clinton Prisoners in handcuffs. Miss.Gussie W., Mrs. Woodrow, Dr. Plumer 108 CONTENTS. IX. CHAPTER TENTH. Journal Concluded. PAGE, Clinton Prisoners in Charleston. Doggerel to Sim. Pearson. Handcuffs and Capt. Mc's wrists. Laurens Prisoners taken to Charleston, Kindness of' Charleston friends. Jail in Charleston. House of Correction. *'True Bills'' for "Conspiracy and Murder." Release under bail. Return Home 121 CHAPTER ELEVENTH. Recent Reconstruction. York County. Maj. Merrill. Death of Joe Crews. Successive efforts at Reform. Carpenter. Tomlinson. Green. Chamberlain Moses and Whipper. Indignation Meeting. Montgomery Moses 133 CHAPTER TWELFTH. Centennial Sentiments. Low estate of South Carolina President Grant. Revolutionary Reminiscences. Massachusetts and South Carolina. Tariff^ Question. Slavery. Bunker Hill Centennial Washington Light Infantry. Gens, Bartlett and Fitz Hugh Lee, Politicians 143 POSTSCRIPT CHAPTER FIRST, Hampton's Campaign. Why ''Postscript." Centennial Exposition. "Counting in" the President. Fort Moultrie's Centennial. " Bloody Shirt," Hamburg Horror, Ellenton Riots Chamberlain, First Democratic Conven- tion Second Democratic Convention, Nomination of Wade Hamp- ton. Hampton's Campaign, Women of the State, Rice-field Strikes. Disbanding " Rifle Clubs." Hampton's Peace Policy ifx X. CONTENTS. POSTSCRIPT CHAPTER SECOND Redemption and Home Rule. PAGE. Hampton elected. Returning Board and Supreme Court. Judge Bend. State House garrisoned Legislature convenes Two Houses organized and sitting in one Hall. Starvation versus Stench. Hampton and Chamberlain both inaugurated Washington's Birthday. Hampton invited to visit the President. Senator Gordon comes to the rescue. Troops withdrawn and South Carolina free. Legislature again convenes. Senate. House. Hamilton as an Exhorter. The Two "Investigating Committees.'' Speaker W. H. Wallace, Lieut.-Gov. W. D. Simpson. Col. A. C. Haskell. Gen. James Conner. Gen. Johnson Hagood, Gen M. C. Butler. Gen. M. W. Gary. Con- clusion 166 APPENDIX. A partial Digest of the ' Reports of the Joint Investigating Com- mittee on Public Frauds, and the Election of John J. Patterson to the United States Senate, made to the General Assembly of South Caro- lina, at the Regular Session, iSyy-'yS j with occasional comments on the Knaves and their Knavery.'' li A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. 1874. CHAPTER FIRST. INTRODUCTORY. South Carolina can proudly point to a galaxy of historic names, who have illustrated her fame in every period of her past history. Through these her voice has already been heard in tones which will reach the latest posterity. In the dark days of the Revolution, this voice could be heard in such clarion notes as her Moultries, her Sumters, and her Marions could utter, to electrify to new life her people, though overrun and all but con- quered. In the formation of the government, it has been heard, in no feiltering accents^ from her Pinckneys, her Laurenses, her Rutledges and her Heywards— equals among equals — statesmen, who were jealous of her liberty so dearly purchased. These only con- sented to her association with her sister colonies, when they thought this liberty was hedged in by every safeguard which human wisdom could devise. It has been heard in the halls of State and Federal legislation, from the tongues of Calhoun, Hayne, 2 12 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. McDuffie, Preston, and a long list of worthies, whose names will ever adorn the annals of the past. Giants in intellect, who could embellish profound and enno- bling statesmanship and patriotism, with unsullied integrity, and the purity of the high-toned gentleman. But this potent voice has long been hushed, and her approaching "centennial year" will find her in habiliments of mourning — silent and sad. Most of her sisters who began the race with her, and very many of those younger ones, who are but of yester- day, and who owe so much to her sacrifice of blood and treasure, will then be rejoicing in their prosperity, and have already invited the whole world to witness their progress and their greatness. She, almost alone of the " Old Thirteen," will turn her face to the wall, and will feel no responsive throb to the rejoic- ings over this national jubilee. In one short century, she seems to have run her whole career of rise, progress, decline and fall. She has the same bright sky above her, as in her palmiest days; the same broad rivers flowing from her moun- tains to the seaboard; the same fertile soil and genial climate ; but " 'Tis Greece; but living Greece no more," yet, unlike ancient Greece, how short-lived has been her glory ! Her most bitter enemies must admit that her, so-called, leaders have maintained a dignified silence since her fall. Even those who watch so assiduously to catch up and pervert every chance expression of INTRODUCTORY. 1 3 Ex-Presiclcnt Davis, have found nothing to report from them. These gentlemen show that it is the part of true manhood to endure what is unavoidable, as well as to dare ; and that fortitude is, in many respects, a higher virtue than bravery. This " Voice from South Carolina," comes from one of her humble sons, whose earnest desire is to cling but the closer to her side in the day of her humiliation. He feels irresistibly impelled to publish to the world that the grand old Slate, declared to be free, sovereign and independent, an hundred years ago, is now deposed, gagged, and trampled in the dust. Her seat and name has been usurped by a brazen-faced strumpet, foisted upon her "high places" by the hands of strangers; her proud monuments of the past, all begrimed and vandalized; her sacred treasury thrown wide open to the insatiable rapacity of thieves and robbers ; and her bright escutcheon blackened by every crime known to the decalogue. All these, too, have been the legitimate fruits of deliberate legislation on the part of her sister States, in Congress assembled; peopled, like herself, by the descendants of that glorious old Anglo-Saxon race, v.'hose achievements on this continent have filled the world with amazement and admiration. Could our common ancestors ever have foreseen this? Can posterity ever account for the " madness of the hour," in States, having the same lineage, combining to drive one of their number from the folds of civiliza- tion into the dark despotism of African rule? And yet. South Carolina to-day presents the terrible pic- 14 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. ture of a great American State abandoned to the tender mercies of her former slaves, exasperated and maddened by the teachings and guidance of foreign mercenaries and native desperadoes. Her Hving sons, whom she once deh"ghted to honor, and whose hearts still throb with undying love and devotion, are powerless and voiceless. For them there is no arena amid scenes like these, and no tri- bunal to which they can appeal. The indications now are, that the grand old type of the "Southern gentleman" will soon pass from the stage of active life to the dark mausoleum of the great Past. Here- after he is to be associated with the " Patriarchs," the "Areopagites," and the " Conscript-Fathers," who have, from age to age, illustrated the higher and nobler qualities of our common humanity. With him, State-pride was his idolatry, and honor was his life. Born to command, he was ever too high above the venal place-man and office-seeker, ever to stoop to the low arts of the mere politician and demagogue. What Webster said of Calhoun, in his noble eulogy over that great statesman, might be said of the whole class, of whom Mr. Calhoun was the honored expo- nent : " Nothing low or selfish ever came near the head or heart of Calhoun." Those who carped at this t3^pe of character, mainly from natural want of appreciation, disguised their envy or their fear under the cant phrases of " Southern chivalry," ** Slaveocracy," &c. But to this class is mainly due all the statesmanship and dignity which have adorned our government. Since these have been INTRODUCTORY. 1 5 excluded from the councils of the nation, concfres- sional legislation has become little more than the registering of party edicts. Railroad rings, Credit Mobil ier rings, back-pay grabs, &c., had already nau- seated the public, when the recent investigatio,ns bid fair to bring bribery, fraud and corruption to the very threshold of the Chief Executive of the Republic. In the days of the sway of " Southern chivalry," such mortifying and disgusting exhibitions in our high places would have been moral impossibilities. And what have these reconstructionists given us in the place of a civilization so ruthlessly destroyed? What type of citizen, in the once proud old common- wealth of South Carolina, can now look for place or preferment ? The phrase used to be, to ''aspire" to posts of profit and trust, but in this complete revolu- tion, the aspirant must learn to stoop to the very lowest arts of the demagogue. He must so debase himself in political pollution that he can never again look his former associates in the face, or claim the smallest remnant of self respect. "Dirt eating," in regular and constantly increasing rations, is the only diet to change his nature, and fit him to become a loyal cit- izen of this mongrel Dahomey. And what hope is there for the rising generation, in a civilization like this ? The land-marks of the fathers all obliterated, and the teachings of history, as well as of the fireside, all reversed. What can all these avail, when he sees vice rolling in wealth, and virtue covered with rags ; the liar and thief clothed in the regalia of the highest offices, and the true and l6 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. patriotic happy if only they can escape the dungeon ; and he who can stoop the lowest in infamy, reaping the largest pecuniary rewards, while the pure and the noble are worn down by daily toil for their daily bread. There is a terrible weight of responsibility some- where for this horrible state of things in a Christian land and in the full light of the civilization of the nineteenth century. The true-born son of the soil feels that it is not on him. In the great national con- flict, of which this was the direful sequel, he was only carrying out the teachings of his Revolutionary sires, and the promptings of his own manhood. To avert these very calamities he has sacrificed all, save his honor, and voiceless and powerless, he can only endure. The " bills of mortality " tell a sad tale of many of these who had passed the meridian of their powers ; reminding us, mournfully, of what is so often sung thoughtlessly : " For Freedom now so seldom wakes, The only throb she gives, Is when some heart indignant breaks, To tell that still she lives " In all the grief and mourning of our stricken State over her ** Lost Cause," there are found no tears of penitence. She still proudly points to the records of i860; and it is her chief solace that she has attempt- ed all in her power to avert these very calamities, which she then believed to be inevitable. It is not the design of this little book to undertake INTRODUCTORY. 1/ a vindication of the right of secession. This has already been done by far abler pens, and the verdict of impartial history may calmly be awaited on that point. The writer, however, must be pardoned for giving his testimony against the charge that the act of secession in South Carolina was the work of political leaders. On the contrary, it was one of the grandest spectacles of the unanimous up-rising of a whole people, the world has ever seen. The " leaders" hesitated at the bold step ; the people pushed them aside and came squarely up to the issue. The high and the low, the rich and the poor, the male and the female, the clergy and the laity, the brave and the timid, all, all were of one accord in the " Rebellion" of i860. The tories in 1776 who still adhered to the British crown, were as one hundred to one, when compared to the " Union men" in i860, in point of numbers ; and in character and standing, were vastly superior. When the passions of men shall have had time to cool down, and the deadly hate so long cherished shall have died out with the generation who have fomented it, the course of South Carolina, in what is called her secession mania, will not appear so reckless and mad as our present (Northern) school histories represent it. The moral mania on the other side will then come more prominently forward, and even their posterity will wonder at the madness that ruled the hour. Slavery was the occasion of all this mania on both sides, and posterity will know \\\q facts of the case, without being distempered by morbid sentiment. 1 8 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. A calm review of these facts will show, that as long as slavery and the slave-trade continued to be sources of profit, the conscience of the majority slept quietly enough over their great enormities. After a more full development of their appropriate industries, it was found that the slave was an incubus, and he was quietly shipped and sold where his services were regarded as still indispensable. Being thus happily relieved of his presence, and reimbursed for his pecuniary value, they abolished the institution in their own States ; and these same consciences then became most painfully sensitive to the sins of their neighbors, on whom they had palmed their whole load of fancied guilt. It will not iJicii be forgotten, that, at the time of the adop- tion of the constitution, all\\\^ States were slave-hold- ing, with a single exception; that slavery was fully recognized and gauranteed in the fundamental law of the land, and that all efforts at its abolition were really acts of disloyalty to the government. Yet an anti- slavery sentiment did spring up, at first confined to those despicable and troublesome spirits to be found in every country, who attempt to draw off public atten- tion from their own misdeeds by a great outcry against the faults of others for which they are in no sense res- ponsible. But this little cloud, at first no bigger than a man's hand, afterwards darkened and blackened the whole political sky. A generation arose who had im- bibed with their mother's milk this moral prejudice, and had been incessantly taught from their earliest infancy, in the home-circle, in the school, in the pub- lic prints, in every harangue before the people, and INTRODUCTORY. 1 9 even in the Sanctuary of God, to regard slavery as the sum of all iniquities, and a blot upon the body politic, which it was their mission to remove. Is it to be wondered at that a generation thus indoctrinated should early begin a crusade against this, the greatest of national sins ? And when they themselves became the actors upon the public arena, what limit could be fixed to their moral mania ? Every political question became subordinate to this, and no aspirant for popular favor could hope for suc- cess without adopting as his ov/n the watchword — cartJiago est delciida. This tornado of fanaticism overspread whole States, and soon controlled the pub- lic sentiment of the dominant section of the Union. Already was a President elected by a strictly sectional vote, and there was every probability that a majority in Congress would soon be secured, which, by its omnipotence in controlling every other department of governnient, would leave no ground for hope. A mighty revolution was thus effected, and the government of the United States, based on a written constitution, was to be changed into a huge party engine, to carry out hostile sectional policies. The constitution had already become a dead letter, and the will of the majority was to become the supreme law of the land. Congress, so jealously checked by the fathers, through the co-ordinate branches of the executive and judiciary, was henceforth to exercise the omnipotence claimed by the Parliament of Great Britain. This was not the union for which South Carolina 20 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. had made such sacrifices, neither was this the govern- ment for the maintenance of which she had plighted her faith and her sacred honor. She had unanimously- entered into a solemn league and covenant with homogeneous States and allies, in solemn convention assembled ; again, in solemn convention assembled, she as unanimously withdrew from this union, when it was revolutionized into a consolidated government, controlled by a hostile party. And yet this solemn and formal expression of the sovereign will of the whole people of a State, has been branded as a ** Rebel- lion" ; and the secession of ten States from a revolu- tionized Union, has been stigmatized as an " Insurrec- tion !" Twice before, since the formation* of the govern- ment, had the State gone into convention from her jealousy of oppression and zeal for States' Rights ; but on each of these occasions her people were nearly equally divided. This was not owing to any differ- ence of opinion as to the wrongs complained of, but on the question whether the remedy would be best found within or without the Union. In i860, those who hoped for any redress within the Union were tb.e merest handful, held back more from pride of opinion than from any real love to the government as it then was. As to the convention itself, take the following sketch of it, drawn by a master pen. The Rev. Dr. Thornvvell stood too high in public estimation ever to stoop to flattery; and was too great a devotee to truth ever to exaggerate in the smallest particular. INTRODUCTORY. 21 In an article written for the " Southern Presbyterian Review^' of i860, and headed, " The State of the Country," he said : " That there was a cause, and an adequate cause, might be presumed from the character of the conven- tion which passed the Ordinance of Secession, and the perfect unanimity with which it was done. The convention was not a collection of politicians and demagogues. It was not a conclave of defeated place-hunters, w^ho sought to avenge their disappoint- ment by the ruin of their country. It was a body of grave, sober and venerable men, selected from every pursuit in life, and distinguished, most of them, in their respective spheres, by every quality which can command confidence and respect. It embraced the wisdom, moderation and integrity of the bench ; the learning and prudence of the bar; and the eloquence and learning of the pulpit. It contained retired planters, scholars and gentlemen, who stood aloof from the turmoil and ambition of public life, and were devotincT an elegrant leisure to the culture of their minds, and to quiet and unobtrusive schemes of Christian philanthro[)y. There were men in that convention utterly incapable of low and selfish schemes, who, in the calm serenity of their judg- ments, were as unmoved by the waves of popular passion and excitement, as the everlasting granite by the billows that roll against it. There were men there who would listen to no voice but the voice of reason ; and would bow to no authority but what they believed to be the authority of God. There 22 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. were men there who would not be controlled by ' uncertain opinion,' nor be betrayed into * sudden counsels;' men who would act from nothing, in the noble language of Milton, * but from mature wisdom, deliberate virtue, and the dear affection of the public good.' That convention, in the character of its mem- bers, deserves every syllable of the glowing panegyric which Milton pronounced upon the immortal Parlia- ment of Great Britain which taught the nations of the earth that resistance to tyrants was obedience to God. Were it not invidious, we might single out names, which, wherever they are known, are re- garded as synonymous with purity, probity, magna- nimity and honor. It was a noble body, and all their proceedings were in harmony with their high charac- ter. In the midst of intense agitation and excitement, they were calm, cool, collected and self-possessed. They deliberated without passion, and concluded without rashness. They sat with closed doors, that the tumult of the population might not invade the sobriety of their minds. If a stranger could have passed from the stirring scenes with which the streets of Charleston were alive, into the calm and quiet sanctuary of this venerable council, he would have been impressed with the awe and veneration which subdued the rude Gaul, when he first beheld, in sena- torial dignity, the Conscript-Fathers of Rome. That in such a body there was not a single vote against the Ordinance of Secession; that there was not only no dissent, but the assent was cordial and thorough- going, is a strong presumption that the measure was INTRODUCTORY. 23 justified by the clearest and sternest necessities of justice and of right. That such an assembly should have inaugurated a radical revolution in all the exter- nal relations of the State, in the face of acknowledged dangers, and at the risk of enormous sacrifices, and should have done it gravely, soberly, dispassionately, deliberately, and yet have done it without cause, transcends all the measures of probability,. Whatever else may be said of it, it certainly must be admitted that this solemn act of South Carolina was well con- sidered.'' i874. CHAPTER SECOND. AFTER THE WAR. It is impossible to conceive of a more gloomy and cheerless welcome than that which awaited the Con- federate soldier returning to his home in South Caro- lina. If it was in the broad track of Sherman across the State, two chimneys alone, in most cases, would mark the place of his once happy dwelling ; or, if his house was spared, his famished family could only welcome him to a shelter, a forlorn picture of desola- tion. If his house was gone, the returned soldier would have to travel many a weary mile in search of his loved ones, who had been compelled to seek for food and shelter elsewhere. There was no hope of hospitality in the immediate vicinity, where every morsel was prized far more than gold had been in former years. And when his house was spared, he would have to listen to harrowing accounts of officers and privates of the invading army indulging themselves in such acts of cruelty and barbarism as seemed to belong to another age, and another country. The " standing order," in the whole march across the State, was to pillage and burn to the ground every abandoned dwelling ; but, if occupied, then to pillage, but not to burn. AFTER THE WAR. 2$ ExiLiio discc ojnnes. The indignant wife would have to tell of the rude entering of rough and boisterous squads. Some would go to the out-buildings to learn from the servants the circumstances of the family — the first question always being as to the probability of any hid treasure. If they found cause to suspect that money had actually been secreted, how the soldier's heart would fire at the dastardly means resorted to to extort confession. Pistols ready cocked were held to the head of the defenceless wife, or the aged father would be taken to some convenient place, what- ever its character, and hung by the neck, until life was nearly extinct. If these failed, then he would be whipped until, either their purpose was gained, or the victim deprived of consciousness. In the meantime, other parties would be equally busy. The smoke- house would soon be broken open, and the family carriage, with horses attached, stood ready for the un- usual freight. Hams, sides of bacon, corn, flour, all the supplies so carefully guarded, and economically used, would be piled in the carriage, till the load would reach the roof, then horses and carriage, with supplies, would disappear, the horses going at a furious rate. While some would be busy killing the cattle and poul- try of every kind, another party would swagger into the dwelling and ransack it from cellar to garret. After breaking into every place that had a lock, and throwing out of the windows whatever their friends below could put to any possible use, they would call the servants in, to help themselves to whatever might strike their fancies. Then returning to the room where 26 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. they had left the whole family, of wife, daughters and children, cowering in one corner, they would utter the coarsest abuse of husband and brothers, and gloat over their terror and their tears. Not satisfied yet, with this, their manly revenge, they would lead in the servant girls, all dressed in the finest they could find in their young mistress's wardrobes, and dance with them over carpets, soon to be ripped into suita- ble breadths for saddle-cloths. The piano, which fur- nished the jingle for the dance, would afterwards be disjointed by their bayonets, and the fragments thrown out of the window. On leaving the house, if they found anything that could be of any possible use to the family, they would most wantonly destroy it — sometimes emptying barrels of sorghum into the watering troughs, and, ripping open feather-beds and pillows, discharge their contents into this, and with their bayonets stir the whole into a thorough mixture. If any domestic animal was left, it was shot down, and rendered unfit for food. It required many hours for this immense army to march by, but when the last squad of bummers de- parted there would be absolutely nothing left which could contribute to food or any other family comfort. The servants, of course, were all enticed to follow the army, and, for days, such families would subsist on selected parts of the animals so wantonly killed and cut to pieces, and on corn scattered on the ground where the cavalry horses had been last fed — there were no hogs left now, to dispute possession of such relics. AFTER THE WAR. 27 Such was the tale of desolation for the returned soldier, if his home had been anywhere in that wide belt so thoroughly ploughed by Sherman, from the Georgia line, near Savannah, to the North Carolina line. If his home had been in Columbia, his heart would be wrung by the recital of those terrible and horrible scenes of that stormy February night, of which the world has already heard so much. A whole city burned to the ground, including the State House and other public buildings, and all in half a night, was no very wonderful feat for so large a body of incen- diaries. This treat had been promised his army, by Sherman, all through his weary march through Georgia, and his men enjoyed it, as only such an army could be expected to do. None but those who witnessed their bacchanalian orgies can fully appre- ciate them, and form a just conception how nearly those clothed in human forms can personate devils- incarnate. If he had once lived in ease and luxuiy in those favored sea islands, or if his home had o-nce been m the midst of the culture, wealth and refinement of Beaufort and its vicinity, a heart-sickening account of ruin and poverty awaited him. He would hear how the fall of Port Royal, early in the war, left them exposed to the inroads of enemies, just a little less barbarous than Sherman's bummers. These did not use the torch as their favorite weapon, but were very little behind them \\\ the cowardly revenge of insult- ing the vanquished. They were told to stay at home ■ZS A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. but on condition of full equality with their former slaves. In this, too, all possible collision must be avoided, as they were bound to favor the "wards of the nation." Of course, in this early stage of the war, with the whole State before them, and yet con- fident of final success, these natives would submit to no such humiliating conditions, and nearly all that section of country was abandoned to negroes and cam.p-foUowers. Their exodus was a sad one, and the consequences were deplorable and lasting. Those who could afford it, chartered steamers and removed their families and furniture to Charleston for refuge. Others, and much the greater part, left their all behind them, and escaped with their families alone. Those who had removed to Charleston fared no better. The great fire which followed soon after, and swept diagonally across the city, from the Cooper to the Ashley, and over the quarter where they had just domiciled, consumed in one night the accumulations of long years of labor and economy. The sufferings of these people were more deplorable than those of any other section of the State. Their estates thus abandoned were seized by their negro slaves and by strangers, and in most cases have passed entirely from their possession. What from dividing them out by military order, and from selling for United States taxes, the titles even have passed into other hands, and they are left destitute. Impoverished and ruined in fortune, they even now can be found scat- tered over the State, in circumstances of great desti- tution. AFTER THE WAR. 29 And what was their crime? Simply their living in the neighborhood of the first post that fell into the hands of the enemy in open war. Was this civilized warfare, to seize and appropriate to government officials whole areas of the territory, and all the pri- vate property, merely because the military post near them had fallen ? We will have to look far back into the annals of the past to find any precedent for this course, and only succeed when on the confines of the dark ages. When the returned soldier had once seen his premises, fenceless, and grown up in weeds, the doors and blinds of his house all gone, used up for fire-wood, the portraits of his ancestors taking the places of fire-screens, and even their tombstones, in Beaufort, applied to other and meaner purposes, his heart would sink too low to rise again to any hope of restoring the past. But when he would find the- whole vicinity given up to a motley gang, and misce- genation and open concubinage the prevailing habits of the new settlers, his impulse was to put his family and all he held dear, as far as possible from this moral pestilence. It could be his home no longer! And poor old Charleston, the once proud metropo- lis of the State, the seat of elegance and refinement,, and of a hospitality so world-wide in its fame ! Like all her sons, the returned soldier had cherished a filial affection for his native city, unknown to a migratory people. When he had gone forth as a hopeful volunteer, and all through the hardships,, fightings and privations of a long war, the most 30 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. cheering picture before liim was, old Charleston restored to her commercial importance. Though he knew that the course of events before the war had caused her to subside into a mere dependency on her northern rivals, still he knew that it had not always been so. There had been a time when she held proud rank with these same rivals, and her commerce, too, had whitened foreign seas. He knew that about the time of tb.e Revolution she had had six large ship-yards in active operation; and as early as between 1740 and 1779, ^^^^ had built twenty-five square-rigged vessels, besides very many coasters for the West India trade and that of the Atlantic coast. Under new and brighter auspices, why might not prosperity not only be restored to her, but be greatly enhanced? The Southern Confederacy once estab- lished, why might not this ancient city become the New York of the New Republic? These had been his day-dreams for four long years, but what was his awaking? Her wharves either torn up, or rotted down from disuse, her princely mansions, which had been venera- ted for generations, all ragged from bursting shells, and shattered in the unprecedented bombardment of those long and weary years, her streets covered with coatings of grass, and her public squares so grown up in weeds that the wild beasts from the country found ample shelter there through the demolished enclosures. But grand even in ruins, proudly had she defied all the enemy's engines of destruction for more than AFTER THE WAR. 31 two long years, and only fell when her citizen soldiers marched out to defend more vital points. It was some days before the evacuation was even known to the enemy, and then he marched in, only to triumph over women and children, in their battered dwellings and blackened walls. But here, too, they assumed all their peculiar ''rights of the conquerors," and we have the same sickening tales of private property seized for government use, or no known use at all, and of private rights insulted and outraged by the elevation of the slave to the position of master. Just here, the writer would pause to notice some most ungenerous flings against the energy and enter- prise of this stricken city, graced by those modern cant phrases of " Bourbonism," ** old fogyism/' "fos- silized," &c., and all this accompanied by glowing contrasts, pictured in the cases of Chicago and Boston. That while these two great cities had built up their waste places, as if by magic, the traces of the fire which occurred in Charleston more than tliir- teen years ago are still manifest in the vacant lots and crumbling walls which mark its progress. These carpers should remember that the business of Charleston was not only paralyzed by the war, but was "dead, twice dead, plucked up by the roots !" Savannah and some of her other Southern nei$jhbors were revived by the return of some of their strongest firms, with increased capitals, who had removed to places of safety at the beginning of hostilities ; but there was no such recuperation for this old city. Her merchants and business men stood in their own 32 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. lot through the whole strife, and were all prostra- ted together. They, therefore, had to begin, as the phrase is, from the stump. Even in these circum- stances, the enterprise and grit of her citizens would soon have restored a measure of prosperity, if they could have had a fair field for their development. But, just then, she was turned over to African rule, both State and municipal ; and what people could have flourished under such insatiate and incessant draining? Sampson, shorn of his locks, was not more completely in the- hands o^ /lis Philistines. But to come back to our returned soldier. Even in the most favored sections of the State, scenes of desolation and decay awaited him. Four long years of rigid blockade from without, and of extortion and rapacity from heartless " speculators " from within, had blackened all the picture his imagination had painted of home, and, worst of all, his rights of citizen- ship were all gone. The old State was peopled by negroes and " paroled prisoners of war," without even the forms of civilized government. Her court- houses were all closed, her Governor was himself a prisoner in the Dry Tortugas, and even municipal government of incorporated towns was all suspended. It afforded a striking evidence of the law-abiding character of her citizens, that, in this complete inter- regnum of all constituted authority, which continued for so many months, there should be so ^q\v infrac- tions of the public peace; and that all things should go on as orderly and peacefully as they did. The negroes had not yet been tampered with, and AFTER THE WAR. -^^ were as obedient and faithful as they had been durin- the war. The whole history of the State, durinir this short period, was a practical illustration of the power of public opinion in maintaining order, and in pre- serving the peace of the community. Sometim^es a small garrison of colored troops would be marched to some point in the interior, and then a series of petty annoyances would begin and expand. The little "Lieutenant commanding" would be judge, jury and sheriff, in his little " Military Court," and fines were almost exclusively his penalties. How near these fines ever got to the United States treasury has never been ascertained, and probably never will be. All^ the cases, it may be safely said, were of colored plaintiffs against white defendants, on charges of '' assault and battery." The negroes would be put up to all manner of insolence by their brethren in uni- form and their friends, and when a blow, or other punishment, would thus be provoked, the culprit would soon be seized by an armed squad, and taken to headquarters (Lieutenant commanding), whether by day or by night, and irrespective of distance or state of health. This petty tyranny was excessively annoying, particularly as these fines, varying fi'om twenty to one hundred dollars, had to be promptly met, when there was no money in the country. Heir-looms and old family plate had in most in- stances to be sacrificed, and the " Court," too often, became the purchaser. And following hard upon these intolerable annoy^ ances, came the " Freedman's Bureau," emer^incr from 34 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. its embryo state on the Sea Islands, and spreading its filthy meshes all over the State. These were, at first, mere swindling machines in the hands of sharp- ers. Afterwards party contrivances were superadded for the political bondage of the black man, far more galling than those world-abused " chains of slavery." These man-traps furnished appropriate schooling for that rapacious crew who afterwards revelled in the treasury of the State. Here Scott and his congenial colleagues received that impervious coating over everything like conscience, which fitted him and them for the open robbing of public funds. By way of gossiping postscript to this chapter, it may be remarked that these colored garrisons, so pro- fusely scattered over the State, rejoiced in the high- sounding titles of " 57th," '' 59th," &c., •* Massachu- setts Regiments," and some explanation seems neces- sary for the fact that Massachusetts Regiments were so exclusively selected to march over South Carolina soil, after the surrender. In the malarial resfions near Port Roval, includincr most of the Sea Islands, the slaves employed in the culture of rice and cotton constituted the very lowest type of the African race in the State. They were for the most part the immediate descendants of the latest importations of native Africans brought to our shores, in New England vessels, up to 1808 — the limit fixed in the constitution to the " slave trade." These were generally worked in large gangs, having but little intercourse with the whites. For example. Governor Aiken owned more than one thousand of them, on AFTER THE WAR. 35 his Island of Jehossee, and with the exception of his overseer, his physician, and the methodist preacher, they seldom saw a white man from one Christmas to another. Now, these were the fields from which Massa- chusetts swelled the numbers of her regiments, with the rank and file, who could not even speak her ver- nacular. The officers of these regiments may have belonged, and probably did belong, to the " cod fish aristocracy," but all the privates were the genuine Cudjoes and Cuffees of this class — familiarly known as " Gullah negroes." Their language was an unintelligible jargon to these officers, and nothing short of the " bounty- cash " could have induced them to undertake the drill- ing of these thick-skulled, semi-savage soldiers. These garrison commands afforded appropriate training for the richer spoils of the Freedman's Bureau, into which these self-sacrificing patriots so quickly retired, on the cessation of hostilities ; and to which they so tenaciously clung, as long as there was a dollar of congressional appropriation in their treasu- ries. 1874- CHAPTER THIRD. RECONSTRUCTION. The first ray of hope that dawned on the dark pic- ture given in the last chapter, was the announcement of President Johnson's ** Policy " of restoring the Con- federate States to the Union, on their complying with certain conditions precedent. In pursuance of this policy, the Hon. B. F. Perry, a thorough Union man, all before and through the war, but highly respected, and honored by his fellow-citizens, for his high char- acter, unswerving integrity, and his honesty of pur- pose, was appointed " Provisional Governor '' by the President. And now, in 1865, for the first time, the forms of Government were, once more, assumed. A convention of the people was called to alter and amend the constitution. Just then began that system of " dirt eating," whereby her own citizens have been made to bring degradation on the State. In complying with the "conditions'" emanating from Washington, many of the old land-marks of the past, hallowed by the most sacred associations, were re- moved by our own people. Those who have felt the power of W. H. Seward, still Secretary of State, at Washington, could easily discern "the hand of Joab" in these requirements, though they came ostensibly RECONSTRUCTION. 37 from the President. At last, the State, in this funda- mental law, was made to abolish slav^ery — or, rather, to recogni.ze abolition, and to declare that the institu- tion should never again exist within her borders. Under this constitution, the courts were re- opened. a Legislature elected, as also members of Congress and U. S. Senators. All the conditions were fully com- plied with, and the State fully equipped for a new de- parture. Her citizens once more began to breathe freely, and hopes for the future began, at last, to loom up before them. Unfortunately, all this was soon clouded in impene- trable darkness; and, after* a bitter experience of ten long years, no light has yet dawned upon us. In December, 1865, Congress convened in regular ses- sion, and, in a very short time, President Johnson's policy was wholly ignored by them, and all his meas- ures and plans were upset by the famous " Recon- struction Acts," by which the State was promptly remanded to her previous condition of *' conquered territory." As all the measures already adopted were acceptable to the majority, the forms of government were not absolutely abolished — nor was there any necessity for this. Under the military government, so promptly introduced, the Commanding General was, in fact, t\ie Governor; the order> from head- quarters were, in effect, the legislature ; the military tribunals were, really, the judiciary; and the Freed- man's Bureau was a very acceptable substitute for all municipal authority in cities and towns. To give some plausible pretext for this over-riding 38 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. of all the forms of civil government, certain measures were proposed to the legislature for adoption, where- by odium, disfranchisement and public disg-race were to be heaped upon her former leaders, both in the cabinet and in the field. Of course, South Carolina rejected these almost unanimously, failing by a sin- gle vote of entire unanimity — and, immediately, a howl of disloyalty was raised against her, from one part of the country to the other. Her sons could not vote for such measures, consistently with their man- hood, nor could they have retained any sense of self- respect, had they acquiesced. Their course, in thus resisting these dishonorable and dishonoring requisi- tions, was anticipated by their political oppressors, and exactly answered their purposes. Still, these citizens, not yet indoctrinated into the omnipotence of the American Congress, were buoyed up by the delusive hope that President Johnson's policy would yet prevail. They were induced to be- lieve that these Reconstruction Acts were unconsti- tutional, and that the executive and judiciary departments of government would yet check the madness of Congress, under the " old flag " which they had resumed. But the President was without a party, and the salaries and tenure of office of the Supreme Court depended upon the votes of Congress. Not yet believing all this, they really pursuaded themselves that this second " Congressional Recon- struction " would prove a sham. When, therefore, anotJicr convention of the State was called under these Acts, to make another Constitution, it was RECONSTRUCTION. ^g regarded merely as a farce by our wisest and gravest men. None of the bona fide citizens of the State took any part whatever in the elections for delegates to this convention, and the scenes enacted at the polls by the sable voters, were, everywhere, looked upon as exhibitions for mirth and laughter. But the ^' farce " went on, however, in strict conformity to these un- precedented acts ; and a convention was elected, of every hue, and from every clime; from the glossy blackness of the native African, to the pale-faced Sabbath-school teacher from Massachusetts— all fa- miliarly known as the " Ring-streaked and slriped," in the slang language of the day. It was a fatal mistake in thus unanimously holding back in these, the first elections held under Recon- struction. The pestiferous body of '' carpet-baggers " were thus permitted to come boldly to the front, and occupy an open, undisputed field. They thus' had ample room and verge enough for introducing all their low and despicable, but eminently successful, ap- pliances of party machinery. The Freedman's Bu- reau had prepared the way for them, in their separate church organizations and separate schools, a!' of which were soon diverted into the channels of politics. But their most powerful engine was the "Union- League," which bound the unhappy voter hand and foot. By its secret rules he was not only to vote with unquestioning obedience to party-dictation, but any effort at independent action on his part would bring down upon him the wrath and condign punishment o{ his own race. Many rites were introduced which ap- 40 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. pealed directly to his superstitious fears ; and the use of the ballot, so new to him, beame inextricably entangled with his religion. He was not only taught that it was liis truest policy to vote against his former master on every occasion, but a solemn obligation to God, who had emancipated him — always remember- ing that God had used the Radical party as his chosen instruments for this great end. This is nozv the fanatical faith of the whole race, and renders them deaf to all appeals and arguments. He was not safe from the vengeance of his own race if he continued outside the League, and once in, his identity was lost, and he became a mere pawn on the political chess-board, to be moved by a higher intel- ligence. This accounts for the apparent anomaly that, when he gets into straits or troubles, or needs advice about his business, he will come to his former owner with all the humility and confidence of the olden time ; he will work for him, and with him, as cheerfully, if not as faithfully, for wages, as he ever did under the former system ; but as soon as the sub- ject of politics is broached, he becomes as silent and / solemn as a tombstone. That'xs a subject with which /^'^ Old Massa " has iiotJiiug to do; it is sacred between him and his God — but, thiough the Radical party. Matters might have been very different, had the whites realized the situation from the first, and while they had the influence over this class, founded on the intercourse, dependence and confidence of long years in the past, they might then have taught their negro fellow-citizens to look upon these vile carpet-baggers RECONSTRUCTION. a^ as they had been trained to regard the intermeddh'ng aboht.onists of former years— as those seeking to sub- vert all things, and bringing desolation and ruin in their train. Immediately after the war, there was no animosity between the races. The negroes had behaved ad- mirably during those four long years-when almost all domestic interests had been left mainly to their care and management— and the whites felt o-rate- ful to them. The negro was. in no way, responsible for his emancipation, nor was that generation of whites responsible for his past servitude. Both par- ties had been born under the institution of slavery and there were no heart-burnings nor feelings of re- venge, until these were sown in their hearts by designing scoundrels. If these carpet-baggers had been starved out, as they easily might have been, and the two races left to themselves, there would have been a continuance of that harmony which had re- sulted from mutual dependence and mutual good will. But supposing the policy of " fighting the devil with fire" had been thus early adopted, and everv one of these votes had been bought up, as might easily have been done. We m?zu see that, in the last decade, the State would have saved immensely in money— to say nothing of the prevention of incalculable rascality- even if these votes had been paid, each, twice his assessed value, as recorded in the mite bcllum tax- books. To outsiders, it may seem marvellous that so few 42 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. of these unprincipled carpet-baggers — adventurers, " who left their country for their country's good " — should so soon and so long lord it over a people who had, but recently, filled the world with admiration for their unparalleled military record. The explanation simply is, these miscreants were backed by the whole army and navy of the United States, and these re- puted "Rebels" had sworn allegiance to the govern- ment, and obedience to all its laws, and constituted authorities. The government was in the hands of the war party, who were determined to retain their prodigious power, by every means to which they could resort. These Confederate States had been the backbone of the ^ Democratic party, and this was to be broken, at any ^ and every sacrifice. They could be politically revo- lutionized by creating a new body of voters, and con- solidating them into //^r/r party ranks. They did not have the constitutional two-thirds majority to effect this fundamental change in the supreme law of the land, therefore these States must be forced to vote for their own degradation. This was done by the oppro- brious measures of disfranchising large classes of the whites — enfranchising the whole body of the blacks — and making the adoption of their constitutional amendments a condition precedent -to their readmis- sion into the Union. The slave thus elevated to political equality with his former owner, must be edu- cated and trained for the purposes of the party. / There has always been a dread of the influence of L^the former master, and this must be overcome by any RECONSTRUCTION. 43 and every means. Hence, these thick-skinned and heartless, but hungry and zealous partizans, known as carpet-baggers, were the very instruments they needed for this cruel work of sowing suspicion, enmity, and even deadly hate, between the two races. Assured of the protection and unstinted aid from Washington, there was no limit to their unblushing audacity and unscrupulous rapacity. In addition to unlimited military protection, the majority in Congress stood ready to give the forms of law to whatever they re- quired for the good of the party. Is it wonderful that they can so securely and so completely triumph over the natives, bound by obligations the most sa- cred to passive acquiescence, and then, under the ban of " paroled rebels and traitors ? " There was danger that this cruel policy would alienate the masses at home ; and the gain of political strength at the South, be more than counterbalanced by the defection and disgust of friends at the North. Hence, the necessity, from time to time, to " fire the Northern heart," and rekindle the hate generated by four years of bloody strife. This was effected by encouraging the carpet-baggers to fresh provoca- tions, more aggravating than human nature could bear, and then to magnify any effort at resistance, or any natural expression of indignation into " Southern- formed of all that was going on. That within the three days, limited by law, he had opened and counted the ballot boxes, which had been safely brought to him from his house, and had taken the result of the count safely to Columbia. What a picture is here presented to the imagina- tion of the patriot! Remember, we were, at this time, approaching tlie first " Centennial of American Inde- pendence," and that this scene is laid near the heart of South Carolina, one of the " old thirteen." That the cardinal principle established by this " independ- ence," is the sovereignty of the people. But let us creep up to that little copse of wood, and what do we see ? There, at the mouth of a large hollow log, where his own conduct had driven him for refuge from an outraged people, sits this old de- graded negro trader, with the suffrages of some three thousand of the "sovereign people," sealed, in several boxes, before him. He is, at one and the same time, a candidate for the votes of these people, and sole Commissioner of Elections to take charge of them. He was, a day or two before, the chief manipulator of these voters themselves, and now had the sole right to count out the votes and record the result. His managers of elections who should have assisted him, had all fled to parts unknown ; but he was equal to the occasion. Not wishing to be troubled with hand- ling so many small bits of paper, he pulls out of his side pocket a greasy memorandum book, writes down a few figures to satisfy his congenial " powers that be," and the work is done ! The political fate of a JOE CREWS. 6j whole county is thus fixed for two years to come. Can Dahomey or even Louisiana exceed this in broad farce ? Joe did not let the public know how he got out of the county, but Capt. Estes, of the United States In- fantry, gave all the particulars to the writer of this narrative. Capt. Estes had reached Laurens with a small garrison, the fourth day after the riot, and had taken quarters for himself and men in the abandoned depot of the Laurens Railroad. On Sunday night, October 30th, Joe presented himself at head-quarters, and de- manded protection from the United States forces, and safe transportation beyond the limits of Laurens County. Joe was looking very seedy and haggard, and the Captain's sympathy was soon enlisted. He told him to return about five o'clock in the morning^ and, if he would implicitly obey all orders, he would soon take him to a place of safety. Joe came, long before the hour fixed, and rendered himself so dis- gusting by his boasts and threats, that the captain determined to have a little innocent revenge. The conveyance was to be a square-bodied hand- car, and the passengers, all told — two men at the crank, two armed soldiers, one on each side of the captain ; and Joe was to be wrapped in canvas and deposited in the bottom of the car, to represent a quarter of beef This arrangement was literally carried out; and they had not proceeded many miles before sounds of distress were heard from the canvas. In answer to his inquiry, Joe told the captain he 68 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. would certainly die, if he continued to breathe the same air much longer. Estes reminded him of his promise, and assured him that he would no longer be responsible for his safety, if he- ventured even to cut the sack. As the sounds of distress still continued, the captain cut a small slit just where his mouth was, and gave him partial relief With this small supply of oxygen, Joe began again to swagger, though lying in sackcloth and red clay. But the captain could easily silence him by asking his men if they did not notice some suspicious-look- ing groups of men, apparently watching them from a distance. This would so stir Joe's blood, that the oxygen would not serve the increased circulation, and sounds of distress were again mumbled through the crevice. Sometimes the captain would order a sudden halt, and, while he whispered to his men that he believed the enemy was about to rush upon them, he declared he could hear Joe's heart beating distinctly. After one of these sudden halts, they all left the car, with Joe lying there alone, and, after a few minutes, the captain heard a feeble call from the car. Upon his assuring Joe that there was no immediate danger, and that they had only stopped to pick a kw black- benHes, Joe actually arose to a sitting position, with the exclamation, " D — n your blackberries, when a man's life is in danger." The captain simply ordered him dozu/i again, with the alternative of desertion to his fate ; and instantly Joe was again metamorphosed into a quarter of beef The captain avers that he JOE CREWS. 6g could see traces of perspiration even through the sack, and really expected to find his braggadocio spirit com- pletely wilted, after thirty odd miles of such experi- ence. He was greatly mistaken, however ; for, no sooner was Joe fairly on his feet once more, than he began to harrangue listening groups of admirers at his land- ing place, in Newberry, in a strain that ancient Pistol might have envied. Pistol when relieved of the pres- ence of the infuriated Welshman, whose leek he had just been forced to eat, cried out, " All hell shall stir for this !" Joe was for stirring up the whole army and navy of the United States — a threat more terrible to /lis audience. Pistol could show a '* bloody cocks- comb," as some excuse for his blustering, while Joe's skin was wholly intact, though saturated in every part with sweat and moisture. Such was the exit of this famous " Colonel of Mili- tia ; " and it may be added, that his face was not again seen in Laurens County for more than two years afterwards. The little irregularity in the counting of the bal- lots could easily be slurred over, in Columbia, as his returns were to be made to those of the same politi- cal family. The pretended counting mi/st have been done by Crews alone, as all the managers were scat- tered to the four winds, and the boxes were left at his house. P^ven his infamous coadjutor, " the Hon. Senator Owens," had made his exit, and shed /lis perspiration, under a load of wheat-straw, in a wagon bound for Greenville. This was an aristocratic method 70 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. of transportation, as most of the others felt con- strained to burrow all the day-time, and only sneak softly away at night, like other beasts of prey. Nothing has heretofore been said of this Owens, mainly because he always seemed to give the lead to Joe, and one such character is enough for one book. But those who knew them both, among their appro- priate associates, regarded Owens as the meaner of the two. They contrast them somewhat in the fol- lowing manner : Joe had audacity ; Owens is a sneak ! Joe was the highwayman, who, when his victims were all dis- armed, could breathe forth great swelling words ; Owens is the assassin, who deals the deadly blow from behind, and slinks off into the darkness of night. *' To give the devil his due," Joe has been known to perform some acts of real kindness, and even of charity ; but, from universal testimony, no such sentiments " have ever approached the head or heart" of Owens. Joe made no pretensions; Owens can be a genuine Uriah Heape, in humility, while talking to such white men as can stomach him. From statements made by those who ought to know him best in Columbia, he was more malignant and fiendish against those of his own race, in the Laurens troubles, than Joe ever was, and was really responsible for most of the outrageous treatment of innocent citi- zens, though he managed to keep " behind the cur- tains " all the time. As to their war record, Joe stayed at home and cheated on a private scale ; Owens deserted to the enemy, early in the war, and cheated both the army and Confederacy. JOE CREWS. 71 It is a disgusting task to unearth so vile a charac- ter as this of Owens, from the sinks and sewers of his moral prostitution ; and, for the future, the reader is assured, that his memory will be left there to rot, as far as this narrative is concerned. The mortifying part of the task is to confess, that the leprosy of his example has tainted others, who were weak in prin- ciple, but strong in covetousness. They saw that, in his case— " Plait sin in gold, And the strong lance of Justice, hurtless, breaks." And they soon yearned for the same kind of armor. 'Tis true, they soon found that they had to stoop lower, and delve deeper in pollution than they ever dreamed of; but what miner, when fairly under ground, regards such sacrifices, when blinded by the prospect of the shining reward ? Still more mortifying is it to confess, that most of these, both leaders and followers, are native South Carolinians. The consoling thought is, that this base apostacy is confined to no period nor clime. " In the days of innocency," even in the contracted garden, planted by God himself, the beguiling serpent was found, a ready tool for the " father of lies;" and in these degenerate times, in the midst of demoralization and misrule, is it to wondered at that he is rather the tempted than the tempter? We can only the more admire that manhood and integrity, landmarks of a former civilization, which, in the midst of wrecked fortunes and blasted hopes, can add fresh dignity to 72 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. words long familiar, but never so fully felt before — ** All is lost, save honor ! " The friends of Joe Crews (if he had any) must ex- cuse the writer for sometimes designating him as " Joe" and sometimes as " Crews." The fact is, like Napoleon Bonaparte, he had distinguished both names, and was as well known by the one as by the other. At the time of which we are writing his in- fluence seemed really potential with the motley crew who were managing the ship of State; and some of his statements, personal to the writer, have reached even beyond their filthy purlieus, and, in this con- nection, seem to call for some notice on his part. If this serves no other purpose, it will, at least, show the license of these times, when fabrications the most monstrous could be established by any amount of *' legal '^ but venal evidence; and will also illustrate Joe's accuracy and ingenuity in reporting facts, and in making charges. The Female College is next door to the residence of Mrs. Crews ; and sometime after the row was over, it was reported to the president that Mrs. C. was in her porch, surrounded by her children, and that they all seemed to be in great distress. He at once went over, and invited her to come over to the College with her family, if they felt uneasy where they were, and he would give them the same protection he was able to give his own family. Mrs. C. thanked him cor- dially, but remarked that, as she had never done any harm in the town, she did not believe that any one would injure either herself or her children. The JOE CREWS. 73 president confirmed her in this opinion, and returned to his own home. Now, the version given by Joe is, that Maj. Leland, President of Laurens Female College, deliberately resorted to this device to get the family out of the liouse in order that it might be robbed, or burned, or both ! A little later in the day, when the sheriff's " posse '' was drawn up in line in front of Mrs. C.'s house, waiting for the wagons to come for the arms stored in the barn-armory, this same gentlemen was standing near the gate as a spectator. The officer in command of the " posse," requested him to step up to the house, and assure Mrs. C. that neither her front nor back yard would be trespassed upon, as the only object of the visit was the barn, which was separated from the front yard by a wide lane. In complying with this request, Mrs. C. handed him a bright-barrelled Springfield rifle, requesting him to take it, as it belonged to the State, and had been left there a day or two before, by an old colored man. He at first declined to take anything from the house, but as she insisted that it would be a relief to her if he would do so, he brought it as far as the gate. There he met the Rev. Mr. Kisler, and jocularly re- marking that /lis would be the safest hands for such a piece, he handed it to him. In justice to Mr. K., it should be remarked, that he was seen to deposit the gun in the first of the wagons that arrived. Joe's version of this is, that Maj. L. visited Mrs. C.'s house a second time, and at night, and took 74 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. therefrom a pet fowling-piece of his, valued at seventy- five dollars, notwithstanding the entreaties and pleas of Mrs. C. to the contrary. These misrepresentations of his motives and con- duct, did not strike the party aimed at very pleasantly. He was complaining of them once in the presence of a pious, but pleasantly sarcastic lady friend, who remarked that he deserved this treatment for flying 'directly in the face of a plain injunction of scripture. In vain did he search his memory for any text con- demning kindness and charity ; and, on calling trium- phantly for one, he was silenced by the reply, " Did not our Saviour Himself say, * cast not your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot, and turn again and rend you ? ' " There were other fabrications of Joe's which are too absurd to be recorded. But to those of us who resided in Laurens, in those dark days, they loomed up in very threatening proportions, when we knew with what facility, any charge, however absurd and ridiculous could be substantiated by any number of sworn witnesses. In fact, the charge on which the writer zvas finally arrested and imprisoned for five long weeks, did not have even the semblance of foundation which might be claimed for these. CHAPTER SIXTH. LAURENS — AFTER THE RIOT. The old adage, that after a storm comes a calm, was not verified very promptly in Laurens. For days and weeks, after the events recorded in a previous chapter, the public mind was kept at fever heat of excitement. Rumors of parties organized to burn the town at night, and other diabolical schemes of the scattered leaders, were well calculated to cause continued apprehension and anxiety. Patrols were detailed to watch every night, and in every part of the corporate limits, and every head of a family was expected to guard his own premises. Then came a rumor that Gov. Scott had decided to send a regi- ment of his colored- militia to garrison the county. There was some truth in this, but the prompt and spirited veto of the whites in Columbia, soon made him abandon the scheme. Then there were other rumors of the immediate proclamation of martial law by the President, and of wholesale arrests by United States Marshals, which produced wide-spread con- sternation and alarm. No one on retiring to bed at night, had any assurance that he would be found there the next morning. In fact, this state of uncertainty and uneasiness would have become intolerable, if long continued. But gradually these rumors subsided by their own yd A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, limitations. It was found that these leaders were more effectually demoralized than was at first supposed ; and that they were more engaged in securing their own safety, than in plotting mischief against others. Scott found that there was a spirit aroused over the whole State, from the unblushing abuse of the feallot-box in the recent election, with which it would be dangerous to tamper, and was disposed to remain quiet enough. As to the United States authorities, they had so often been deceived by the " cry of wolf from these same parties, that they contented themselves with sending a small garrison, with officers competent to inquire into the matters for themselves. There were still two fruitful sources of trouble and annoyance; and as long as these, continued, there could be no hope of lasting peace and quiet. These were the ** public arms," and the " State constabulary force/' It is true that most of these arms were in the custody of the sheriff; but very many more were in the hands of the colored militia, issued to them before the riot ; and our friends in the country felt no little anxiety on this account. As for the constabulary force, they began to appear, one after another, and to give every indication of resuming their former practices. In view of these facts, the citizens of Laurens appointed a committee of three, to wait on the Governer, in Columbia, make a report of these public nuisances, and to urge upon him to remove or abate them if possible. The citizens selected the three they thought above all suspicion of complicity with LAUKEiNS — AFTER THE RIOT. 7/ rowdyism, viz: Dr. J. W. Simpson, the patriarch of the town, S. R. Todd, Sr., the oldest and most sub- stantial merchant of the place, and J. A. Leland, President of the Female College. Capt. Estes, of the United States garrison, kindly consented to accom- pany this committee to Columbia, mainly to testify to the readiness with which the whites had given up, and were still willing to deliver to the proper authority, all the public arms in their possession. He was also willing to assure the Governor that, while a United States Marshal alone, or accompanied bv one or more United States soldiers, could ride through the length and breadth of the county with perfect impunity, whether by day or night, his con- stabulary were forced to prowl about like wolves, with about the same chance of safety if detected in indulging their instincts. Through the kind offices of Captain Estes, an interview with the committee was accorded by Scott the very night of their arrival, and in his own parlor. Dr. Simpson, the chairman, read to him a care- fully prepared paper, tracing the recent disturbances to the unfortunate arming of the militia, and the mis- chievous intermeddling and reckless course of the State constabulary ; and urging the withdrawal and removal of both these causes of irritation, in behalf of public peace and order. The committee found Scott apparently ready to accede to any proposition that would insure quiet. He had just been re-elected by an overwhelming majority, and, as far as he was concerned, there was yS A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. no further need of all this political machinery. But it was necessary to try to conciliate the tax-payers of the State, whose sense of justice and fair dealing had been so grossly outraged by the means resorted to in the recent canvass. Whatever may have been the motives actuating him, he certainly did agree to both propositions, as promptly as his impediment of utter- ance would permit. He then and there authorized Capt. Estes to call in the State arms, and ship them to Columbia. He also promised the committee that his constabulary force would speedily be recalled — which promise he actually fulfilled a short time after- wards. But Scott's conciliation could reach as low down as it ever aspired upwards ; for, at the very time he was giving the committee a private audience, he had Joe Crews shut up in an adjoining chamber, with the door ajar, that he might hear every syllable uttered ! The truth of this is founded on Joe's own statement, con- firmed — for all his statements required confirmation — by the fact that Capt. Estes left him closeted with Scott when he returned to conduct the committee to the Governor's mansion. What use Joe made of this characteristic strategy will appear in the sequel. He certainly could testify to the time-honored adage, that eaves-droppers never hear any good of themselves. These fruitful sources of annoyance and irritation being thus happily removed, the village and county of Laurens became as quiet and orderly as any other community in the State. The leaders were anxiously LAURENS — AFTER THE RIOT. 79 looking for some developments which they could magnify into " outrages/' and thus keep up the notoriety they had already given the county, but they were never gratified. Attempts were thus made to distort some acts of sales-day rowdyism, but they always failed in these efforts at perversion, as it was easy to show that, in these, neither politics nor race was involved, but that they were the natural fruits of very mean whisky. No efforts at investigating or arresting were made for months after the 20th of October, simply because there was no need tor political capital of that sort just then. The previous course of the party, all over the State, had made it notorious that they cared nothing for these outrages and murders, in themselves con- sidered, particularly when they were confined to the colored race ; but when they could be made to sub- serve their party purposes, they could raise a howl which would reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Lakes to the Gulf. How else can we account for the fact, now a part of history, that the high crimes of " conspiracy" and " murder," alleged to have been perpetrated, not only in Laurens, but in the counties of York, Union, Spartanburg, Chester, etc., in the Fall of 1870, were ignored and unnoticed by the constituted authorities, till the Spring of 1872. The policy is patent to the comprehension of a child. The elections were over in the Fall of 1870, but another State election was to take place in 1872, and law and justice, to say nothing of the dignity of the State, must be kept in abeyance till then. Besides, 80 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. a Presidential election was to be hotly contested the same Fall, and this fortunate coincidence would add amazingly to the deep strategy of postponement. With such a capital of crimes and outrages whereby to " fire the Northern heart," there was no end to the aid and comfort they might expect from the au- thorities at Washington. The results of this policy more than realized their highest hopes, as we shall soon see. About three months after the occurrence of the 20th October, there was a mere interlude in this mat- ter of arresting, but from the character and circum- stances of the parties selected for forcible seizure, public opinion at once assigned mercenary, and not political motives for the choice. These parties were: Dr. D. A. Richardson, prac- ticing physician, and Intendant of the town, Col. Jones, Sheriff of the county, democrat ; Col. Mose- ley, landlord of the only hotel in the place ; Col. R. P. Todd, a prominent member of the bar ; S. D. Gar- lington, apothecary and druggist ; Capt. Hugh L. Farley, who, with Col. Todd and Mr. Garlington, represented some of the oldest and most respectable families in the county, and Mr. George Copeland, the wealthiest merchant in Clinton. It was thought that these gentlemen, with the pros- pect of the penitentiary immediately before them, would " pay out" handsomely, either directly, or through their friends, should the opportunity be offered. It is always a risk to attribute motives, but in this case, public sentiment was, and still is, so unani- LAURENS — AFTER THE RIOT. 8 1 mous in this charge of black-mailmg, that nothing can change it. These gentlemen were arrested by the State con- stabulary, and taken directly to Columbia, some time in January, 1871. The Richland Court was soon after in session, but the grand and petit juries had not yet been sufficiently manipulated for such trials as these. Those in charge of the prosecution, or rather, the legal representatives of the persecution, selected Dr. Richardson's case to go before the grand jury. What are commonly known as the Ku-Klux Acts of Congress had not then been passed, so he was indicted under the " Enforcement Act." The grand jury promptly threw this indictment overboard, by bringing in a verdict of " no bill." The Doctor thought he was free ; but another warrant was ready for his arrest before he could leave the court-room. ** No bills" were made out against the others, but they were excessively annoyed and harrassed for several weeks. They were many times haled from the jail to the court-house, to appear before the examining magistrate; every time amid the jeers, taunts and curses of a large crowd of colored spectators. As the magistrate would release one on insufficient evidence, Hubbard, the Chief Constable, with his congenial gang, stood ready to re-arrest him on some new war- rant. This course was well calculated to extort black- mail, but it signally failed. Worn out at length by this kind of persecution these prisoners determined to make one final effort, and, through their counsel, to apply for the writ of 82 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. habeas corpus. This was still practicable, as martial law had not yet been proclaimed. Fortunately for them, Judge Vernon, a part of whose circuit was Laurens County, was within reach, and they decided to make their application to him. As this Judge had always proved upright and honest, and would, under no circumstances make his high office subservient to mere party purposes, he had himself become odious to the authorities, a stumbling block which must be moved out of their way, Accordingly, his impeach- ment was already determined upon, mainly, on the charge of intemperance, and a resolution to that effect was already before the Legislature, then in session. Without hesitation, Judge Vernon determined to give the prisoners a hearing, through their counsel, and took his seat in the court-house, in Columbia, where the prosecution, as well as the counsel for the prisoners could be heard. In the midst of the pro- ceedings, a dandified colored attache of the Legisla- ture walked in, and proceeding up to the bench, there deposited a written notification, that the " resolution of impeachment" had just been passed, and the day fixed for his trial. The Judge merely glanced at the paper to learn its contents, and, without pause, proceeded with the cases. After a patient hearing, he admitted them all to bail in the sum of five thousand dollars each. Of course there was no loss of time in executing these bonds, nor was there any trouble about sureties, as the generous citizens of Columbia came forward in LAURENS AFTER THE RIOT. 83 crowds, and voluntarily offered any number of the best names there. And now it was amusing to witness the various exits of these gentlemen from Columbia. They knew that fresh warrants would await them at all the rail- road stations, and that the constabulary would accom- pany all the outward bound trains. So each deter- mined to find a route for himself, and on horseback, with the understanding that no two should travel the same road. Like a covey of partridges, suddenly flushed, they scattered to all the points of the com- pass, and after a few days, they reappeared in Laurens, dropping in one after the other, and from all possi- ble directions. But the strangest part of the story is, that though these heavy bonds were conditioned on their appear- ance at the Circuit Court of the United States, to be holden at Greenville Court-house, on the following spring, not one of them was then summoned, nor were their bonds forfeited. And, though one or more of their number were re-arrested in the general on- slaught on Laurens, in 1872, still not one of them has ever been brought to trial, while others subse- quently arrested, have been tried. All this seems wholly unaccountable, excepting on the black mail theory. The name of Judge T. O. P. Vernon, must not pass out of this narration, without some tribute to his noble self-sacrifice on this occasion. There were few more promising young men than " Tom " Vernon, when he returned to his native 5 84 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. county of Spartanburg, as a graduate from the Uni- versity of Georgia, at Athens. Every celebration of the *' Battle of Cowpens," every Fourth of July occa- sion, every public reception of distinguished visitors — in fine, every occasion calling for the orator or the ready speaker within reach, claimed his name as most prominent on the list. He had not been long at the bar, before the Legislature elected him " Commis- sioner in Equity," for his native district, which office he held for many years. Forced out against his will, as a candidate for Congress, he carried his own dis- trict almost unanimously, though unsuccessful in the congressional district. He also served as Judge of the Inferior Court, es- tablished soon after the war, in the first or Johnsonian reconstruction. After the second, and now existing reconstruction, he, unfortunately, permitted himself to be elected Judge of one of the Circuits, sheltering himself under the examples set by Orr and Thomas, natives, who had already taken other Circuits. Very soon after- wards, his unswerving integrity checked many of the local schemes of the party, and he became obnoxious to cliques and rings. They soon determined to get rid of him, and on a charge of "intemperance," his im- peachment was already determined upon. His habits were no worse than those of many of his associates on the Bench, and certainly no worse since his election than before. He knew enough of the party to be as- sured, that a little yielding on his part, and a few pledges for the future, would cause all these clouds LAURENS — AFTER THE RIOT. 85 to vanish into thin air. In the cases then before him, he knew, that remanding these Laurens prisoners to jail, would reinstate him with the party; and, on the other hand, his releasing them would be equivalent to signing his own deposition. He nobly decided on self-sacrifice in behalf of principle ; and to disappoint their triumph and revenge, he resigned his commis- sion before the day fixed for his trial. CHAPTER SEVENTH. MARTIAL LAW IN LAURENS. About the close of the year 1870, and the begin- ning of the next, the attention of the whole countn was called to this naughty word — Ku Klux — by ito appearance in an important State paper, no less dig- nified than the "Annual Message'^ of the President of these United States. Upon this subject, it would be supposed, that the writer would be good authority, from what the reader will learn of his career in the sequel of this narrative. But he must confess, at the outset, that he has no per- sonal knowledge of the mystic organization what- ever — never having attended any of their meetings — never having witnessed any of their exhibitions — never having been associated with them in any way, or in any place, excepting in — the common jail. That such secret conclaves did exist in certain counties in South Carolina, and that they were some- times guilty of flagrant acts of lawlessness and out- rage, cannot be denied ; but the writer has good reason to know that these very acts were nowhere else more regretted than among all the respectable classes, in the very communities where they occurred. There had been a time, in the history of this State, when the existence of such conclaves would have been a moral impossibility. The higher law of pub- MARTIAL LAW IN LAURENS. 8/ lie Opinion would have crushed them out at their very inception. But in these days, the times seemed sadly out of joint, and lawlessness and outrage became the order of the day, much more on the part of the op- pressor than the oppressed ; and to discountenance one set was only to encourage the other. - There is no doubt, that what afterwards became \[the Ku-Klux," were, in their origin, simply organ- isations for self-defence — similar to those in Laurens, just before the outbreak on October 20th, 1870. When all immediate danger of actual conflict was over, from the disarming of the militia and the with- drawal of the constabulary force, the more prudent and respectable withdrew from them, and they fell into the hands and under the control of those lawless and reckless spirits, to be found in almost every community — particularly after a protracted and dis- astrous war. They have now run their career, and are heartily denounced by both friend and foe ; but in the same category, may not something be said of the *' Freed- man's Bureau," the "Union League," and even those United States garrisons so often prostituted to the vilest and most reckless purposes ? Take Major Merrill, in York County, as a notable instance, who degraded the uniform he wore, by such acts of cruelty and tyranny towards unprotected and helpless fami- lies, as the lowest Ku-Klux would have blushed to have acknowledged against the most obnoxious negro. The chief difference between them would be, that while the K. K. would try to justify himself, on the S8 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. ground of self-defence, the gallant Major could only smirk at hi^ superiors, and utter the overpowering argument, " t/iere is money in it ! " Bad as they were, the Ku-Klux became terribly magnified in their proportions, and their outrages were amazingly multipled by those '' wicked who flee when no man pursueth/' Their fame had so spread abroad in the land, that they were not only specially noticed in the President's message, but be- came the subject of grave deliberation in Congress. Early in 1871, the very strong legislation, known as the " Ku-Klux Acts," was already maturing at Washington, and rumors came thick and fast, that martial law was to be proclaimed in certain counties in South Carolina, including Laurens, of course. Under this feeling of uneasiness and apprehen,sion, a public meeting was called at the court-house, and a committee was appointed to go on to Washington. This committee was instructed to wait on the Presi- dent, and make such representations of the true state of things, as to cause ours to be excepted from the list of the proscribed counties. Three of this committee, Hon. W. D. Simpson, chairman, R. S. Goodgion and J. A. Leland, promptly proceeded on their mission. But they soon found that the political machinery at the National Capital, was far too complex for them. There were rings and cliques, and " wheels within wheels," very available and exciting to the initiated, but exceedingly perplexing and disgusting to plain, blunt men. One of their num-ber, Mr. Goodgion, armed with the truth and righteousness of his cause. MARTIAL LAW IX LAURENS. 89 even ventured to call upon B. F. Butler, at his lodg- ings, to appeal to his former States Rights princi- ples, and his more recent professions as a vindicator of the rights of the oppressed. But he found the Massachusetts Representative as deaf as an adder to all such appeals, but showing so much of its venom, that he never repeated the call. Throu^ih the kind attention of Senator Robertson, of their State, a private interview with the President was secured at an early date. Gen. Grant received them courteously and listened with commendable patience to the written statement read to him by Col. Simpson ; but gave no evidence of the im- pression made upon his mind, one way or the other. His reticence may have been characteristic or politic, but it was most discouraging to the Committee, who had come so far for an interchange of information. They were prepared to give information or particu- lars which could not be embodied in a written docu- ment, and to be subjected to the closest cross-exami- nation ; but there was nothing of the kind. After the reading of the " statement," the President took pos- session of it and the accompanying documents, and simply saying that he would see to it that they should get before the Committee of Congress, at that very time engaged in considering the disturbances at the South, he politely bowed us out to make room for others. These gentlemen left Washington with the pro- found impression that their visit had accomplished no good result. This impress;ion became a conviction. 90 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. when martial law was proclaimed ; as Laurens was assigned a conspicuous place among the first of the counties thus distinguished. By a proclamation of the President the " writ of habeas corpus'' was suspended in seven of the coun- ties of South Carolina early in 1872, and Laurens was about the first on the list. Though long anticipated, when the crisis did come there was much of dismay and consternation. No one could feel safe when thus turned over to the ten- der mercies of these unscrupulous leaders. As there was no legal protection, no appeal to any tribunal, State or Federal, those who knew themselves to be obnoxious to Crews & Co., suddenly retired to parts unknown. Judge J. L. Orr is reported to have said that he had thought the people of Laurens unjustly perse- cuted, until he heard of several of her prominent citi- zens running away from legal process, and, as he had never known an innocent man to run away from a threat, he was forced to change his mind, and lay aside all sympathy. Col. Orr's opinion was worth very little with us, one way or the other, but even he would not have ven- tured that remark if he had lived at Laurens. No one was safe, whatever his position or previous character; and it had already been shown that prominent citizens could be hurried to jail, and that there was no limit to the number of false witnesses who were ready to swear to any statement put into their mouths, for money. MARTIAL LAW IN LAURENS. 9I The sweeping arrests, afterwards made, showed that these men acted wisely; and if the whole white pop- ulation could only have afforded a general exodus at that time, it would have prevented many weary months of heart-ache to some of her best families, and would have saved our great government one of its foulest blots. It is a slander on these gentlemen, as well as on all the others arrested in Laurens County, to class them with the Ku-Klux. As before asserted in these pages, these organizations never gained a foothold in this county, through all the exciting events of reconstruc- tion. The severe lesson taught our colored fellow- citizens on the 20th of October, 1870, had proved most salutary. They then found out, that however forbear- ing and long-sufferingthe white man had shown himself to be, there was a limit beyond which they could only go at the peril of their lives ; pass that limit, and he would not only resist, but he would kill. Besides this argument, which the dullest brain among them could comprehend, they had been left alone, by these party- leaders, for nearly two years ; and experience has shown, that, whenever this has been the case, there has been no trouble, nor bad blood between the races. For a long time, therefore, the venerable town of Laurens had been as quiet and orderly as any New England village, in the time of the Puritans. Judge then of the surprise and consternation of her citizens at what happened to them on the 31st of March, 1872. On that quiet Sabbath morning, just as the sun was 92 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. rising, two formidable military bands, from opposite points of the compass, suddenly burst upon that de- voted place. From the east, came a captain with a strong detachment of U. S. Infantry, who had marched all night from Newberry, some thirty-two miles dis- tant. From the west, came a lieutenant with a body of U. S. Cavalry, who had also traveled all night from Union, some thirty-five miles off. Soon every road leading from the village was se- curely guarded, and the work of arresting began most energetically. With two "Assistant United States Marshals," — Hubbard, accompanied by infantry, and Hendrix, accompanied by cavlary, — the whole town was soon ransacked from cellar to garret, and they made short work of it. Now, why this sudden invasion of a peaceful com- munity, with the same parade and dash as would have been expected if these people had been then engaged in acts of rebellion, or of flagrant insurrection? Can it be believed in this age and country, that all this wd.'i m^A'tXy {qx political effect? And yet, this seems the only solution. Every thing was too civil and quiet in Laurens, in view of the State and Presiden- tial elections, in the fall, and something had to be done to fire the colored heart, and to draw the party lines more sharply ; and, besides, many of their schemes could, much better, be carried out, with some of these white leaders securely shut up in the four walls of a jail. All the warrants of arrest were nearly identical. The charge was " conspiracy and murder," in that, on MARTIAL LAW IN LAURENS. 93 the 20th October, 1870 (some fifteen months previous), each one was a participant in the riot, on the day after the election ; and had murdered several colored citizens, whose names were given. Soon the major- ity of the adult male population of the town, then present, were arrested ; and, at first, shut up in the court-house. As soon as this congregation, without reference to sects, was assembled in this unusual place, and by such forcible means, we were marched, in procession, through Main street, to the residence of the Honorable Joseph Crews. The marching through the streets, we could under- stand ; it being, simply, an exhibition for the edifica- tion of the colored population. But why should we be domiciled in Joe's house? It would seem, either that he wished his sable constituents to see clearly that it was Jiis work, or that he was ambitious of hav- ing some of the best citizens of the place under his roof, for once, at any rate, who never would have gone there voluntarily. In confirmation of this last surmise, it may, seriously, be remarked, that Joe, like the whole batch of carpet-baggers and scalawags, was exceedingly sensitive on this subject of social posi- tion. He found that, with all his ill-gotten wealth and political power, he was still looked upon as on the same level with the worst of his sable constitu- ents, and his ambition, in this regard, even overcame his malignant revenge. For, it is a notorious fact, that he offered exemption from arrest to any who would sign a document certifying to his respectability and social position, up to the time of the war; and 94 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. that there were found men who signed this paper — thus securing for themselves inglorious ease at home, but at the sacrifice of all self-respect. But to return to our narrative. Thus huddled to- gether in Joe's unfurnished parlor, we still constituted the greater part of the Presbyterian congregation, in- cluding two ruling elders. We, therefore, invited the Rev. John G. Law to preach the afternoon sermon to us — which he did, most acceptably. John iii, i6. About sunset, the order came to transfer us to the common jail; and we were again marched in proces- sion down Main street, and the whole party — some twenty odd — were consigned to dungeons. We found in the jail about an equal number of the citizens of Clinton, who had been brought up that morning by the United States infantry, on their march from Newberry. The first night in jail was rather a gloomy one to most of the party; as the transition from comfortable homes to cells from which negro convicts had been but recently removed, was rather sudden and abrupt. A io-w, however, illustrated their faith by their resig- nation and contentment under the strange providence which had brought them there. The writer's personal experience in these new and strange circumstances can be best learned from a journal, kept regularly during his imprisonment, and from which most of what follows in this narrative will be freely taken. ** March 31st, 1870. I rose early, dressed for church, and was reviewing my lesson for my Bible- MARTIAL LAW IN LAURENS. 95 class, when United States Marshal Hendrix rode up to the college, accompanied by two mounted men. On entering the room, he held out a warrant, en- dorsed " United States versus J. A. Leland; conspiracy and murder ! '' Of course, I could only submit, but asked the privilege of eating breakfast before setting out on so novel a campaign. This was granted, and one of the soldiers was detailed to remain with me. After a hearty, but solitary breakfast, I merely bowed ^' good-morning " to my household ; and, pipe in mouth, sallied forth, followed by my guard, with his piece at a shoulder. Each window towards the gate was filled with the heads of the young ladies of the college — witnessing this strange exit of their presi- J ^ »- A. Jjl >fC >fi ^ 5fC "April 1st. ***** When ushered into the dun- geons, last night, there were three or four of us to each cell, and no preparation for sleeping. The floors were very hard and very dirty, and no provision for ventilation. Our immediate predecessors having been negro- convicts who had been confined for months, we had very sensible evidence of their influence on the atmosphere ; and one of the party amused us with a seranade, emphasizing the lines : * You may break, you may ruin the vase, if you will, But the scent of the roses will hang round it still ' "Our families and friends have sent us abundant sup- plies for breakfast, this morning, and, thus 'strength- ened in the inner man,' we feel defiant. The Clinton roll, added to ours, swells our numbers to some forty, 96 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. including two ruling elders, three physicians, and the others mainly merchants and farmers. ***** " April 2d. * * * * Yesterday, friend T de- veloped a new trait in his character, or rather, was transformed into a new man. Ordinarily, a very quiet, sober citizen ; his friends regarded him as over- modest and retiring. But, on yesterday, he procured two or more bottles of spirits, of different kinds, and was very pressing for all to drink with him. He had the floor most of the afternoon, and was very violent, and even eloquent, in speech and gesture — using, sometimes, all four limbs — and all were amazed at the change that had come over him. This morning, I saw him sitting on alow box, with his elbows on his knees, and his head pressed be- tween the palms of both hands — the picture of de- spair ! In answer to my question, he had a long confession ; the substance of which was, that this had been his first experience in tippling, and, by the help of God, it would be his last. That he had often seen those in trouble made, apparently, very happy by in- dulging in drink; and, he thought, if any one ever needed a solace of that kind, it was himself, on yes- terday. But he had tried the experiment fully, and found that he had to pay for a few hours of delirium, by long hours of throbbing temples, and such mortification and self-reproach as overwhelmed him." The writer selects the above extract for the benefit of temperance men. Friend T was as good as his word, and, from that day, has never been known to MARTIAL LAW IN LAURENS. 97 touch ardent spirits, even when prescribed by a physician. " April 3d. We are under marching orders to-day. That detestable little Yankee Lieutenant of Cavalry, McDougal, had ordered us all to set out on foot for Union C. H., and only to take such baggage as we might be willing to strap to our backs. Our friends, however, have procured road wagons for our use, and, with difficulty, have obtained the consent of thi-s petty tyrant for us to use them. We had been trans- ferred from the cells to the common halls of the jail, after the first twenty-four hours, and have had free intercourse with our friends from the outside. Rev. Mr. Riley, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, visited us on yesterday, and presenting us with a bible, re- quested us to promise that we would use it morning and evening, at "family worship." This promise was cheerfully and unanimously given." And it was faithfully kept too. Whatever the sur- rounding circumstances might be, every morning and evening found us assembled for worship, with that bible. No " family " has ever been more punctual, as there was no possibility of dodging. That bible is now deposited in the Presbyterian Church in Laurens, on the table under the pulpit, as a memorial of the troublous past. CHAPTER EIGHTH. JOURNAL OF A PRISONER. As all the facts connected with our jail experience must be gathered from the journal already mentioned they may come fresher to the reader's notice, if quoted directly from its pages. The writer will, therefore, make free use of it in what is to follow. " Union Jail, April 4th. Yesterday we had a most unpleasant wagon ride of thirty-five miles, through a cold, drizzling rain, to the common hall of this jail, which we reached long after night-fall. Our over- coats, etc., were completely saturated, and the jailor could furnish us with no dry blankets, as he said all of his had been burned up in efforts to stay the re- cent fire in this town. We had no lights, and only the fragments of our noon-day lunch. Yet we had our first '^family prayers;" the acting chaplain re- peating the 23d Psalm from memory, with the bible in his hands, and singing the hymn beginning, * There is a fountain filled with blood.' Good Capt. Mc. afterwards declared, that while these exercises were going on, for the first time since his arrest, he 'felt a flood of light and comfort flowing into his soul.'^^ With floors covered with several coats of tobacco juice, and with such moist bed-clothes as our bundles furnished, we did not enjoy our night's rest. Our JOURNAL OF A PRISONER. 99 kind friends in Union, Col. Young at their head, have provided for us a bountiful breakfast, spread just in front of the jail, and which we can see through the bars; but as we are to take the train for Columbia, and it is nearly time for the whistle to blow, we begin to fear that our gallant little lieutenant intends to cheat us out of this creature-comfort too. Columbia, April 5th. The apprehension expressed in the record of yesterday was too well-founded; as we were kept under lock and key until the firs', whistle blew, and then hurried by the well-filled breakfast table without a chance to touch it. But we were only in a fitter plight to appreciate Mrs. Elkin's kind- ness at Alston. When we stopped there, all of us were crowded into her little reception room, where she soon presented herself with a two gallon coffee pot, quite full, and with the necessary trimmings. This Christian charity warmed our hearts as well as bodies, and we will not soon forget it. Here West gave the first symptoms of that pneumonia, from which he is now suffering so intensely. That cold wagon ride from Laurens was too much for his feeble frame. We re ached this jail about sunset on yesterday, and were marched here from the depot some half a mile, " two," and two, Newgate fashion." The pro- cession was a gloomy one ; thirty-six hungry and jaded men encumbered with all the baggage we had. and moving through the middle of the street with a mob of negros of all ages and of both sexes, cursing and jeering at us from both side-walks. There was 100 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. some delay at the door of the jail, until some negro convicts could be moved from the lower corridor of cells, to make room for us, when we were ushered into their places, and assigned six to a cell. Again supperless and without lights, we had our family worship, and, gloomily enough, passed our first night in Columbia. West becoming seriously ill, the jailor summoned the jail physician, who turned out to be Dr. Talley^ whom had I known from his boyhood. From West's critical condition, he ordered him to be transferred to the second floor, where there were two adjoining rooms, with windows and fire-places, intended for officer's quarters. He also detailed me to nurse him with such assistants as I might deem necessary, and for whom I would become responsible. This was carried out this morning by placing West in the smaller of the two rooms, and in my calling for eigJit assistants, including all of our number who were fat and infirm. I would have called for more if accom- modation could have been furnished them, as the doctor, in his kindness, had not restricted me in that respect. Our Presbyterian friends first found us out this morning, and as we had a case of '' sick, and in prison," the ladies were about the first to *' minister to us," and our back rations were soon abundantly made up. April 6th. From our experience on yesterday, I would most heartily recommend to any Ruling El- der who may be sent to jail, to select the institution JOURNAL OF A PRISONER. IQI in Columbia, particularly if he has a father's reputa- tion to fall back upon. No Moderator of a Synod could have received more attention, nor could he have fared better than I did on yesterday. Not only " the Elders who were in that city,'' but the " mothers in Israel," and, outside of all church ties, representatives from almost every class of the old regime kept drop- ping in upon us. Thus our Laurens delegation soon found themselves transformed from Ku-Klux prison- ers, ordered about by dirty little turn-keys, or dirtier little Lieutenants, into something like moral heroes or certainly into martyrs, in the eyes of those whose opinions we most valued, and the transition was a most grateful one." * * * * Here follows the record of days and weeks of un- wearied kindness and liberalty on the part of our Columbia friends. During all owx four iveeks sojourn in their midst we never ate one morsel of jail rations, and our larder was kept constantly supplied with the best the market could afford. We knew that hams, turkeys, roast-pigs, fish, oysters, etc., were more fre- quently on our board than on the table of any hotel in Columbia, and our gratitude was in proportion. When it was ascertained that our stay was to be pro- tracted, the ladies organized regularly for this work. Some would collect contributions, mainly from the merchants on Main street. Others would purchase and see to the preparation of the supplies, and a third party would see to their safe delivery at head quar- ters. Mrs. John B. Adger was supervisor and treas- urer, and at the close of our term in Columbia, she 102 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. wanted the writer to accept, for distribution, in cash, the forty-five dollars surplus, then in her hands. This was declined, with many thanks, as we were then going to equally hospitable friends in Charleston. More than a year afterwards, when the writer had left Laurens, mainly on account of these very troubles, and was seeking a new home, with very limited means, Mrs. A. handed him this identical amount, as the representative of those for whom it was intended, Mrs. Dr. Woodrow was the most constant of all our lady visitors. The Dr. would leave her at our door when he rode to deliver his lectures in the College, and call for her on his return home. Her bright face, sparkling wit, and cheery talks, became a necessity to us, and if ever she was prevented from dropping in, the day seemed lost. Her name has become a household word in all that section of country, from which the prisoners came, and in the heart-gratitude of those loving ones whom she may never see in the flesh ; she already has her reward. Mrs. Clara Leland, the step-mother of the writer, was as indefatigable as her other engagements would permit, and, had circumstances required it, would have shown the same self-sacrificing devotion to the son which she had already illustrated in the case of the afflicted father. As to the sick man. West, the attentions of the ladies were unremitting. Mrs. Adger, particularly, became very much interested, and furnished his sick- JOURNAL OF A PRISONER. IO3 room with new bedstead, bedding, bed-clothes, and many other conveniences. When his wife came down to see him, she sent her back with a large trunk of clothing for herself and her children. West, himself, soon began to convalesce under the tender nursing he received, backed by the constant attention of Dr. Talley. In three weeks he was strong enough to return home, and was presented by Mrs. A. with all the furniture of his sick chamber and the ex- penses of himself and family home. We will throw the mantle of charity over his subsequent career, which is an act of great forbearauce on the part of a fellow-prisoner. There were others of the c^ood ladies of Columbia as Mrs. Howe, Mrs. Peck, Mrs. Plumer, Mrs. Mc- Master, and others, whose alms and prayers we had constantly, but whose nerves shrunk from such a jail. Mrs. Howe and Mrs. Peck did venture once, however, and the effect on the latter I will not soon forget. She had been the life-long friend of my sainted mother, and her wild, distracted look is before me even now. ''John Leland ! ^x^ yoii in this horrid place?" Then glancing across the passage at the long row of assas- sin-looking negro convicts, and at the bars and bolts all around her, she choked down and said no more. I doubt whether an actual visit to the " Spirits in Prison" could have affected her more. But that mother s arm around my neck, and that warm mother's kiss meant more than all she could have said ; and I went " in the strength thereof for forty days," at least. Other lady friends were frequently with us, 104 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. but a simple record of their names must suffice just here. We kept a register in our " Bible," and now have the autographs of Mrs. C. D. Melton, Mrs. George Symers, Mrs. Preston Hix, Mrs. LeConte, Mrs. Goodwyn, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Boatwright, Mrs. Thornvvell, Jr., Mrs. McCormick, Mrs. Horace Le- land, Mrs. N. W. Edmunds, (the writer's only surviv- ing sister ; she and Mrs. Horace Leland did not reside in Columbia), Miss Percival, Miss Gussie Wal- tour, Miss Pickling, Miss May and Miss Smith. Of the numerous sympathizers of the sterner sex, probably Dr. Plumer, and his son-in-law, Mr. S. S. Brvan, were the most constant. The latter was a Pennsylvanian, yet, though his powers of locomotion were very feeble, hardly a day would pass without his kind sympathy and pleasant words. Dr. Plumer brought two tin pails on his first visit, the one with a gallon of tea, ready sweetened, and the other of chicken soup. As there were more of our number complaining besides the sick man, these proved very acceptable. Every day after that, Sundays excepted, his rockaway would be seen at our gate ; and bal- anced by the same tin-pails, with precisely the same quantity of tea and soup, his venerable form could be seen ascending our stairs. Where he obtained such a constant supply of chickens, in a market so varia- ble as' that of Columbia, was a puzzle to all of us ; but they never fell short in legs or wings . One day, there was an extra newspaper bundle under one arm, and on opening it before me, (I can hear his deep tones now), " We don't want you to give up too much, at JOURNAL OF A PRISONER. IO5 once!'' Saying this, he displayed a goodly pile of hanks of the finest Virginia smoking tobacco ! A very sensible present it was, as it reminded me so often of the kind donor every day, and caused me to bless him so early every following day. Rev. Drs. Howe, J. Leighton Wilson, Jos. R. Wilson, Adger, Smyth, Girardeau, and Rev. Messrs. Green, Man- ning Brown, Wm. Martin and J. H. Thornwell, were frequently with us. From such a list, we had no difficulty in getting two sermons every Sunday, and very excellent lectures at our family prayers. The Theological Students also frequently came round, and conducted evening worship for us. Dr. Plumer distributed some of his own books, and Dr. Adger saw to it, that every one who needed it should be supplied with a neat copy of the New Testament and Psalms, bound together. Eternity alone will develop all the fruits of these high religious privileges ; but the writer knows of three cases, where they were most signally blessed. One of tiiese was a gentleman of high standing, who, before his imprisonment, seldom attended church, and was rather sceptical in his views. A few weeks after his liberation, he appeared before the session of the Presbyterian Church in Laurens, on a profession of faith, and has since become a Ruling Elder and one of the pillars of the church. Whether such re- sults as these did not compensate a thousand fold for all our troubles, is a home question, materially modi- fying the cry of " martyrdom." Our " fellow-citizens," who honored us by their I06 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. visits, constitute a very formidable list. Among them can be mentined, Col. Thomas, Dr. Miot, Dr. Smith, Gen. Preston, Col. McMaster, Col. Palmer, W. H. Trescott, R. L. Bryan, J. H. Kinard, and many others. Col. Thomas and Dr. Miot were the most constant and regular of these, and their matinee visits were always anticipated with much pleasure. The writer can safely assert, that at no previous visit to Colum- bia, and for the same length of time, had he ever seen so many of his friends, and so often. General Preston's notions of spiritual comfort dif- fered somewhat from the D. D.'s. His remark to us was, •' well, gentlemen, we are all in jail in South Carolina ; the only difference is, you are under shel- ter, and those of us who are on the outside, have to dodge the storm as best we can." Soon after he left, he sent us a five gallon keg of lager beer. For want of something better, we drew it off in water buckets, and thus distributed it up and down stairs. Never has lager beer been served in more generous bum- pers, and never was a keg more expeditiously de- spatched. And as to the quantities imbibed, some found they had deceived themselves, while trying to deceive their neighbors. Neither were all efforts at entertainment on one side. Capt. McCarley, the oldest of our number, was the greatest ladies' man we had. Ben Ballou, with his whistling, accompanied by the guitar, would outdo the mock-bird itself at its own notes. And the irrepressible Sim. Pearson was the life of the whole party in practical jokes, and a cheerfulness that JOURNAL OF A PRISONER. 10/ nothing could interrupt. He had spent some months in a Northern prison during the war, and his jail ex- perience was invaluable to us. A very energetic, industrious farmer at home, he made the most of the small area he now had, for physical efforts. He was sweeping the floor constantly, while daylight lasted, and if any stray newspaper fell in his way, it was sure to go into the fire. He said he had not read one of them since the war, and he never intended to read one again. Once he was seen with his head bowed almost between his knees, as he sat on the edge of his bunk. Some one, rallying him on having the " blues," he said : '' I was just thinking that my poor wife had been bothering me, all spring, to let her have the horses for just three hours to go and see her mother, and I always answered her that I could not possibly spare them. Now, just to think, she has had them for three weeks, to go just where she pleases !" Then with one or more perpendicular leaps, followed by successive somersaults, without regard to the impenetrability of his neighbors, he would scatter his cares to the winds. The only memorial he kept of his farm, was a small onion-set, planted in a matcJi-box filled with earth, and kept con- stantly on the mantel-piece. Mrs. Woodrow fell heir to this, at last, and took it with her on her three years' sojourn in Europe. Now that she has returned home, she has the same box with the same earth in it, and waiting for Sim. to renew his crop. When Mayor McKenzie presented us with a box of assorted candy, Sim. became confectioner with some mercantile devices not known to the outer world. 6 CHAPTER NINTH. JOURNAL CONTINUED. To resume the Journal, so long suspended : "April 8th. After having been allowed more than a week to become acquainted with our new quarters, we were summoned to-day, for the first time, before the United States Commissioner. It looks somewhat strangely, to be arrested under a warrant, requiring our immediate presence before the Commissioner, and then to be left in jail for ten days, before any call is made. But we must remember, this is Recon- struction. " We were marched in procession with one assistant U. S. Marslial at the head, and another in the rear, nearly the whole length of Main street, down to the State House. Of course this exhibition was much enjoyed by the * lewd fellows of the baser sort,' black and white, who so constantly infest the streets of Columbia. The room occupied by the Commissioner was well supplied with chairs, but these were all filled by greasy wenches, who sat there to enjoy the spectacle of white men brought to grief The Com- missioner himself (Boozer) is a poor creature, a mere tool of Joe Crews, without whose instructions he says nothing in these cases. Joe was sitting by his side and looking more like a culprit than any of those be- fore him. We were asked when we would be ready JOURNAL CONTINUED. ICQ for a liearing before the Commissioner? As spokes- man for the party I answered, ' just iioi<.\ and just here, as we are anxious to learn what has brought us from our homes at this busy season, to the jail in Columbia.' After a whisper from Joe, Boozer re- plied, ' but the government is not ready, and can't be for a week or more.' With tliis encouraging in- formation we were marched back in the same order, having contributed something to iX'x^fccs of these offi- cials. Marshals and Commissioner. No other motive could be seen for the parade." Before making the next extract, it may be well to premise what was exactly the participation of the writer in the riot of 1870, for which his warrant stated he had been arrested. As already mentioned in this narrative, the exer- cises of the Female College had been resumed on that day, at nine o'clock, A. M., the writer was there at his post. He continued teaching his classes till two P. M., the usual hour of closing, perfectly uncon- scious of what was going on on the public square. The college is a quarter of a mile distant from the scene of action, and the wind was blowing so vio- lently towards the square that he did not even hear the guns. At two o'clock parents sent to request him to retain their daughters at the college, as there was much excitement " down street." On learning the true state of the case and that per- fect quiet had been restored, he formed into a squad the young ladies living beyond the square, and marched at their head past the scene of disturbance. no A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. This was the only bellicose act on his part during that eventful day, and the young ladies are ready to testify that no negro — man, woman or child — was seen by them on their whole line of march. As the riot had taken place at 1 1 A. M., in all probability there was not another citizen of Laurens who knew less of it than the writer, until he was informed of it some three hours after it was all over. Now for the FARCE IN THE COURT HOUSE. *^ April 1 8th, At four o'clock this afternoon we were all marched to the court-house, and there we found Boozer sitting in the Clerk's chair, with Joe Crews by his side, and the house packed with colored spectators of both sexes. Col. W. D. Simpson and Mr. Jaeger had kindly offered their professional ser- vices as counsel, and we v/ere soon all seated within the bar. Boozer made short work of the Clinton prisoners. A single witness, very black, and with a very loud voice, one of whose names was ' Fergu- son,' testified against the whole batch, and on his single oath, all eighteen were remanded to jail for trial. Seldom, even in these ridiculous pretensions to the forms of law, had there been a more outrage- ous case of fahe swearing than in this man Fergu- son. To hav^e seen all, he swore to having seen, in one dark night, and at points miles apart, he must have exceeded the owl in night vision, and a Salem witch in powers of locomotion. " The Laurens C. H. prisoners were taken up sepa- JOURNAL CONTINUED. Ill rately, and some estimate of the testimony against each can be formed from what was sworn to in my case. The first witness was a boy named George Allen, (or ' Mr. y^//-in/ as the prosecuting attorney, Dunbar, called him). He swore that Major Leland was on the ground from breakfast time till dinner, and that he was shootii>g and ' cussin and swearin' all the morning. That he himself saw him shoot sev- eral times, and heard him ' cuss.' Col. Simpson made him repeat some of the oaths distinctly, so that the Commissioner might take them down in writing, and they were so ridiculous and original that I could not refrain from laughing, and the little rascal joined me in the laugh more than once. " The seeond witness, ' Lame Peter/ said nothing about the oaths, but made me shoot almost as often as ' Mr. All-in' did. "The third witness, * Young,' (for there were three of them) was much more moderate as to the number of shots, but made me shoot in a very novel way. He said he saw me stand at the public well and shoot down an alley, near the armory, where William (somebody) was killed. Now to do this, my bullet must have gone along one side of a triangle, and then turn, sharply, at an angle not very obtuse. Col. Simpson calling the attention of the ' Court' to this fact, Lahew, or Lehay, or some such name, belonging to the ' constabulary,' was called, and Jic made oath that it could easily be done! "Here the ' government' closed, and Mr. Jaeger was about to make a speech in my behalf, when I 112 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. begged him to desist. That such evidence would disgrace a sombre Court in Dahomey, and was un- worthy of serious notice. That the ' Court' had already announced that he was bound to believe every statement, under oath, however absurd or im- possible, and not to admit any evidence whatever on the part of the prisoner. Under such circumstances, that it would be a waste of breath and time to make any argument. As we were talking on this point, the Commissioner announced that, as it was late, he would suspend the matter just then, and resume to- morrow, at ten o'clock. " While the last witness was speaking, a storm of wind struck the court-house, of sufficient violence to throw down a half finished building on Market street. It seemed as though the very elements strove to drown the voice of the perjurer. " We were marched back to jail through a driving rain, and went immediately to our evening worship. We alluded to the false witnesses who had risen up against us, in humble imitation of Him who once prayed : ' Father, forgive them ; they know not what they do.' "April 19th. A messenger came in this morning to announce that Boozer had been taken suddenly sick, and that there would be no court to-day. I under- stand, perfectly, the object in these delays. Joe is more anxious for money than revenge ; and he is hoping, at every stage in these proceedings, to have a goodly pile of greenbacks offered by my friends for my release. But he will find that ' hope deferred maketh the heart sick/ if he has any heart. JOURNAL CONTINUED. I I 3 ** Soon after the exciting events, above recorded, the writer was forcibly reminded how precarious a thing human reputation is, and how the truth of history may be distorted. " Sam. B. was regarded among us as a ' good fel- low,' but he had a very had habit of profane swearing. . Something had happened which greatly excited him, and he was pouring out a perfect cascade of his choicest oaths, Stepping up behind him, and tapping him on the shoulder, I reminded him of our promise * to run this machine,' without cursing or whiskey. At once, changing his tone, he replied, with his pecu- liar smile, ' Well, Major, you can say anything to me, and I am always glad to listen. But in this thing o{ profane szveariiig, you ought to be a little cautious. What you know of my swearing is only hearsay, but, in your case, it is a matter of record ! ' " April 20th. Again we were paraded before the commissioner, and both Col. Simpson and Mr. Jaeger made earnest speeches in my behalf. But they soon after found out what kind of a head they were trying to impress. He actually announced that his office compelled him to believe all evidence given under oath, even if it involved physical and moral impossi- bilities. Under such a ruling, of course, our counsel declined to take any further part in the proceedings, and from that time on, there was such swearing against the rest of our number, as must have made the angels weep. "At the close of this judicial farce, the prosecuting attorney (Dunbar) moved that Major Leland be bailed 114 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. out till the November term of court, and the others be remanded for trial at the present term. But — on a whisper from Joe — the commissioner decided to remand all of us." So the word now is, " On to Charleston," where the United States Circuit Court is now sitting. ^'April 22d. Yesterday (Sunday) was a day of very unusual privilege to me. Without my knowledge, my good friend, Capt. McCarley, had got the deputy jailor to promise, not only to let me attend the Pres- byterian Church, but to go with me himself, instead of sending a United States soldier as my guard. It was the last day of the session of Presbytery, and, as usual, the * Communion Sunday.' I had the pleas- ure of hearing an excellent sermon from my cousin. Rev. Charles Vedder, D. D., (Psalm xcii. 12), and when the communicants were invited forward, I hastened to reach the very seat my sainted mother had occupied, on such occasions, for more than a generation. But when I saw her life-long friends — Mrs. Peck, Mrs. McFie, and Mrs. Howe — come forward, and take the seats nearest me, on the right, on the left, and immedi- ately opposite, my heart swelled ; and, for the first time since my arrest, my eyes began to overflow. I learned more of what is meant by * the communion of saints,' at that table, than I had ever known before, and my tears were not such as we hastily brush away. I never expect to experience such feelings again, unless when summoned to sit close by that sainted mother at the * Marriage Supper of the Lamb.' " It was a novel sight to see a ruling elder, at the JOURNAL CONTINUED. II5 church served, for so many years, by his venerated father, sitting at the communion-table under the guard of a deputy jailor, and to be taken back to a murder- er's cell, as soon as he should be dismissed ! But his brethren seemed to view the matter in their own way, by their manner of crowding around him, as soon as the services were over. The Deputy himself was much impressed, and called out, " Do, Maj. L., go and take dinner with any one of your friends, and come back to the jail when it it suits you ! " But I told him " it was not so denominated in the bond," and I would go straight back with him. On our walk back to the jail, he expressed himself as much pleased with all he had seen and heard. 1 then remarked that as he had gone to the morning service, on my account, I would be glad to go to the evening service on Jiis. To this he readily assented, and called for me last night, accompanied by his wife ; and we heard an excellent •sermon from Rev. Dr. Joseph R. Wilson. Yesterday was the second time I had passed the gate since the rainy afternoon of our arrival ; and I was surprised to see the trees all clothed in green. When I last saw them, they were under bare poles, stript for the storms of March. "April 23d. As I found myself in a straight and narrow lane, leading directly to the Albany Peniten- tiary, I began to look around for some human aid, as the command is to watcJi as well as pray. Under this ' suspension of the habeas corpus,^ there was no tribunal. State or Federal, to which I could appeal. I then remembered my old friend Stephen J. Field, once I l6 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. my classmate at Williams College, Mass., now Asso- ciate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, from California. I had renewed my acquain- tance with him, most pleasantly, in my recent visit to Washington ; when, as one of a committee, I had gone thereto intercede with the President, to prevent these very judicial outrages that have now come upon us. Judge Field had invited Col. Simpson and myself to dine with him, on that occasion, and, on parting at the close of a very pleasant evening, he had made me promise to call on him, if ever I thought he could serve me. "On yesterday, I thought the time had come, and I wrote him a long Iliad of woes, beginning with my arrest, and ending with the scene in the court-house. I told him, that, just at this time, the road to the Pen- itentiary was very short and direct, in this latitude. That under the direction of any prominent radical or scalawag, the magistrate was bound to issue his war- rant; then, the United States Commissioner was bound to remand for trial ; then, the packed grand jury was bound to find a ' True Bill ; ' then, the equally packed petit jury was bound to find a verdict of * guilty ; ' and the judge was not only bound to send to the Albany Penetintiary, but was the very old Bond himself! That I had already taken two of these five steps, and I would look to him to block the lane in some way, or have me thrown over the fence.'' * * * * (This letter secured the release of all of us a very short time afterwards.) " April 24th. Some ten days ago, Hubbard, the JOURNAL CONTINUED. 11/ Marshal, selected one of the Ch'nton prisoners, Mark by name, and placed him in solitary confine- ment, among the negro convicts, restricting his ra- tions to bread and water. This Mark was an ignorant, weak foreigner, who had located at Clinton but a short time before his arrest. Every day, Hubbard would take him to the Commissioner's ofifice, and, in a few hours afterwards, would bring him back to his cell. As all communication was cut off on our side, we could only conjecture the object of all this. Yes- terday, however, he was released, and confessed that he had been starved into swearing some statements against his Clinton friends, but will not divulge what it is. *' We conjectured, all along, that this was the object, as many ' swift witnesses ' had been manufactured in the same way, in the cases from York County. Select the proper subject, terrify him with threats, and re- duce him to the very verge of starvation ; tJien offer him his liberty and a small pecuniary reward, and such creatures as Mark are ready to swear to any- thing prescribed. Now^ the rumor is, that the Clin- ton prisoners are to be taken to Charleston, at once. "April 25th. And they were taken down that very afternoon. About 4 o'clock P. M., the word came for all them to get ready for the night train at 7 P. M., and soon afterwards we heard the rattling of Jiand-cuffs, thrown out in the passage below. Dr. Craig and Sim. Pearson, of my mess, at first thought that only a few would be subjected to that indignity, but both of them were soon summoned down to join I I 8 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. the procession. Sim. called for an artist, to. have the scene photographed, and, failing in this, he insisted that a chain should be put around his neck, and the other end given to that very black witness, Ferguson, mounted on a very white mule. He thought this would cap the climax to all the Ku-Klux shows yet exhibited in Columbia, and he was willing to take the leading part. '* Unfortunately, just at this time, Dr. Plumer, Mrs. Woodrow, and Miss Gussie W. entered the passage, and witnessed the process of hand-cuffiing these eighteen gentlemen. Mrs. W., who had heretofore enlivened us with her wit and exhaustless humor, came running up to my room, nearly convulsed, her sobs almost tearing her little frame to shivers. In vain did I threaten to szvitcli her, for proving such a cry-baby at last; for a time she was past all rallying. Miss Gussie took her stand at the window, in my room, to see the procession pass out of the gate. As the leaders first appeared, she swayed herself back- wards, till, I thought, her spine must crack, and bring- ing both clenched fists down on the window-sill with all her force, and, as though there were no bones in them, she hissed out, * Oh, that I could smite you all to the centre of the earth !' Then turning to us, her eyes actually sparkling light, she exclaimed, ' Mrs. Woodrow, is there a God in heaven, who can look on this, and not smite these wretches — not open the earth beneath their feet and swallow them all ? I aui bad, I feel very bad now, and I fear this sight will make me an infidel !' Old Capt. McCarley, sitting next to JOURNAL CONTINUED. II9 nie, whispered, ' Major, that girl is an angel !' Mrs. W., overhearing this, raUied enough to whisper be- hind her hand, ' Fallen angel ! ' " Even a scene like this did not disturb Dr. Plumer's equanimity, and, even here, he could litter exactly the right words, at the right time. Glancing through the window at the procession, and coming to my side, he said, solemnly, " Major Leland, remember, that all the time our Saviour was upon earth, he was a citizen of a subjugated country / " * ^^ :h ^u >ic Our Clinton friends behaved like men, and we were not ashamed of them in any particular. " April 26th. I have, once or twice, mentioned * negro convicts' in this Journal, as faring very roughly. But there is a notable exception, in the person of a dandified imported negro, from Beaufort, I think, who has been sentenced to so many months imprisonment, for stuffing ballot-boxes, making false returns, etc. His apartments are near ours, and fur- nished in a style to do credit to a first-class hotel. He has there several of the ' members chairs,' and two of the veritable ' $'^ spittoons,' from the State House. He sometimes takes his meals in his quar- ters, but, generally, he is out on the streets from early in the morning till late at night. Says he is reading law with one of the sable practitioners — Elliott, perhaps. Take either one of our friends, in his cell down stairs, and this fellow in his room up- stairs, and we have a very good illustration of the state of things outside too, particularly as the white man is only under a 'charge,^ and 'malicious,' at that, and the negro is already tried and convicted f 120 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. "April 27th. Our roll is dwindling very fast. Since the Clinton men left, in a body, our village prisoners have become much reduced in force. Called before the Commissioner very often — fees, $2 each for each hearing — they have successively been allowed bail till the November term, until our number is reduced X.Q four. These are Capt. McCarley, Dr. McCoy, Dr. Black, and myself Even with this small number, we are still separated, Drs. McCoy and Black being still confined to the corridors down stairs. Beverly Potter was the last to leave us to-day. I miss him very much. I regard him as true a man as ever went to a Ku-Klux jail, or kept out of it, either. His good- ness of heart is unfailing. When that poor creature, West, was so ill, and the ladies could not be with him at night. Potter sat by his bed-side three nights in succession, watching over him, and nursing him as faithfully as ever mother watched and nursed her offsprmg. In the mess, he was always making sacri- fices for the benefit of others, even in the culinary department. He was rather prolix in telling a story, but I wish he was here to-night to tell me another." CHAPTER TENTH. JOURNAL CONCLUDED. " April 28th. We heard from the Clinton delegation to-day, and they informed us that they had rather a rough time of it going down. After they had been paraded through the streets of Columbia, in hand- cuffs, they were locked up in the same car, with the colored witnesses against them, including the famous * Ferguson.' Arriv^ed in Charleston, they were marched a mile and a half through the streets to the ' House of Correction,' formerly known as the * Suear-House.' But kind friends were awaitinsf their arrival, and they were faring now even more sumptuously than they had done in Columbia. " Under the inspiration of this letter, I immediately sat down, and penned the following doggerel lines, addressed to Sim. Pearson. Its insertion here is only excusable on the same ground that Dr. Johnson pro- fessed himself pleased with the dancing-dog — ' not that the dog danced so well, but that the dog could dance at all :^ '^ My dear friend Simeon, I have the opinion, Tour motto is now grown bigger 5 ** Whatever is, is right!" " Let it come Jay or night, From heaven, earth or hell, man or nigger." When I saw you hand-cuff'd, I thought noiv he is bluff 'd, No chance, now, to show the "Old Rebel;" But, as if led out to dance, You seemed seeking this chance To spite both Joe Crews and the debble. 122 A VOICE FROM SOU I H CAROLINA. In this right down hard luck, I admired your pluck, And will publish it home and abroad 5 Let man do his worst, Though with rage he may burst, " Old Sim" mocks them, with strength fresh from Go'l. I have missed you, my friend, In my snug little den ; Though friends have heen kinder than ever 5 I miss all your capers. Your burning my papers, Your cooking and sweeping, so clever, Friend Craig, too, I need My newspapers to read, He gone, I can't make an impression, I'm afraid he'll grow bold. With no Captain to scold, Each sin, and each little transgression. Now, the Captain and I Can go under the sky, And sit in the sun, when he shines | Though we know 'tis still jail, And we cannot give bail, None hear from us murmurs or whines. . Still our lady-friends come, Each fresh from her home, To cheer us in this long confinement j We love their sweet smiles, We admire their wiles. To cheat us all back to refinement. We had ice-cream to-day, A large churn, without pay, Sent by these same ladies, God bless them ! Each ate his own dish up, And even friend Bishop Was so full that he wished to caress them. West went oft to day, Quite bright and so gay; With a trunk from these same ladies' bounty ; Rich gifts and some pelf For his wife, chicks and self; (He's made money by serving his country). JOURNAL CONCLUDED. I 23 Now, Simeon, my friend, Where ivill this all end ? "That's not on us tioiu /" You say with a bow ; Well, I believe you are right, So, "old fell," good night ! Don't kick up a row, Nor get •' under cow." April 30th. The Captain and I have had to apolo- gise to our friends, both ladies and gentlemen, for trespassing on their kindness and hos-j^itality so long, quoting the language of Charles II. on his death-bed, that he was an unconscionable long time in dying, and he hoped his friends would excuse him, as he would never do so again. Their reply was that they had had their jail visits as a part of the programme for each day, for so many weeks, that they would feel at a loss when we left, and would miss the excite- ment and the stimulus to patriotism and good works. The Captain and I, " true yoke fellows,^' are the only occupants of our large room. From the morn- ing of our arrest to this pleasant afternoon we have never been out of the reach of each other's voices, excepting when I went to Church, through his kind- ness. I can safely say that in all these days, nights and weeks no unpleasant word, act, or look has ever passed between us. Neither one of us is remarkably good-natured at home, but our temperaments seem to be exactly fitted to one another in jail. It is astonishincf how human nature can accommo- date itself to any change of circumstances, however violent the transition may at first appear. Here I have been in jail for one whole month, on a charge of 124 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. "conspiracy and murder," and am constrained to look back upon this time as one of the most pleasant visits I have ever paid to Columbia, Physically, I have been very comfortable. Could rise as early in the morning as I pleased, and, from the abundance of hydrant water, could indulge my amphibious propen- sity for bathing, to the top of my bent. From the generous supplies of loving hearts, I could have my meals at any hour to suit my purposes, and our old family servant, Polly, a distinguished laundress, kept my " chest" well supplied. Socially, morally and in- tellectually, the list of names, already given in these pages, the books and papers they so constantly fur- nished us, and the sweet and frequent correspondence with loved ones at home, and with old College friends and former pupils^ both in and out of the State, all show that there was little danger of time hanging heavily on our hands. And then our religious privileges, not only in lis- tening to some of the best sermons we have ever heard, but in holding sweet converse with these emi- nently gifted and godly men. With all these resources within, how contemptu- ously could we look down upon the pigmy tribe of Radicals and scalawags, who were trying to convince themselves that they were persecuting and degrading us. Joe Crews, sometimes comes sneaking along the passages, but any stranger would take him for the culprit, nor would he miss it, either. I forgot to record, in the proper place, that we were assured in a mysterious way, when we first arrived, JOURNAL CONCLUDED. 125 that by paying ^250 each, we could all be released. In response, we passed a unanimous resolution, that we would not pay one cent more than the law might force out of us. Charleston, May 1st. I was interrupted, in my moralizing in Columbia jail, yesterday afternoon, by the entrance of Mrs. Woodrow, Mrs. Clara Leland and Mrs. Hix, who informed us that we were to be taken to Charleston, on the night train, and that they had come to see us off Mrs. W. had brought wreaths for our wrists, should we be handcuffed, and they were talking quite bravely of what they had pre- pared to say to the officials, when the time came. I told them we had no doubt they felt so then, but when the time did come, they would find themselves much more demoralized than when spiders and bugs fell on them. I had almost to force them to their carriage, when the time approached, and it was none too soon. Mrs. W. presented the Captain and myself each with a rose-bud,* to be worn in our button- holes, charging us to keep them as long as she would the " match-box," which she then and there appro- priated. Immediately after they left us, there was a clanking of steel in the passage below; and on being sum- moned down, we saw the tableau of Drs. McCoy and Black, bound together by " hooks of steel," and standing as immovable as statues. Soon one of these bracelets was adjusted to my left wrist, but when they ■^ Both of us have our rose-buds still — 1878. 126 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. attempted the Captain, it could not meet. A second and a third pair were tried, with Hke results. A fourth experiment caused the clasping, but only by tight squeezing. The fact is, the Captain had the wrist of " a son of Anack," and that saved us. I pledged myself to the Marshal, that I would hold his hand in mine, all the way to the depot, if he would only release him from the danger of strangulation, and this seemed to touch whatever there was of hu- manity in him, for he immediately released us all, saying, " If I can't handcuff one, I wont handcuff any." On our march to the depot, we recognized the car- riage of our friends, near a corner where we had to pass. As we came to the nearest point, Capt. Mc. waved botJi hands, in token of the absence of hand- cuffs, and three white handkerchiefs, enthusiastically tossed from the windows of the carriage, was the last we saw of these loving hearts, in our jail campaign. We, too, were locked up with our colored wit- nesses, in the same car; the design, evidently, being lo give them an opportunity to triumph over, and insult us, if they pleased. In this, how^ever, they were disappointed. These poor creatures believed that they were engaged in a money speculation. They were receiving a handsome per diem, and what seemed to them, large sums for repeating, under oath, what had been put into their mouths ; and this, they thought, was the easiest way of earning money they had ever tried. They felt no animosity against the prisoners. In fact, they tried to entertain us with JOURNAL CONCLUDED. 12/ their songs and stories, and, at the different stations, were always ready to wait on us, in purchasing sup- plies, whenever called on. Arrived in Charleston, we, too, were marched through the streets, and conducted to the common jail. Here, as in every other change of base, our experience was rather rough, at first. The jailor, re- ceiving us as " Ku-Klux prisoners from the up-coun- try," had us conducted to his most secure stronghold. This was the third story of his " tower," a cylindrical structure, with cells, on each story, opening on a nar- row circular passage — like the holes in a circular mouse-trap. In this passage I am now pencilling these lines, in no very enviable frame of mind. May 2d. The United States jailor at the " Sugar- liouse " claimed us as Ids guests, on yesterday after- noon, and, as our board had cost him very little, so far, was glad to transfer us to these more liberal quar- ters. Here we are again with our Clinton friends, a laree hall being: assi^rned for our exclusive use. Our friends were enthusiastic on the subject of Charleston hospitality. Abundant meals were furnished, twice a day, in large hamper baskets, and facilities afforded for spreading a regular table. At night, a lady sur- prised me with a basketofjt'/j:-mz/;j-, sent, ready-boiled; and I had to dissect and eat more than a half dozen, before I could satisfy the curiosity of my up-country friends. When I would take off the back of a she- crab, unusually fat, some one would cry out, " Oh, Major, throw that one away ; ifs rotten .-'" They called my breaking into the house of a live oyster, '.' eating them ivitJi the bark on!^ 128 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. Hams and turkeys always did taste better to me, in that latitude, than elsewhere ; particularly when flanked with rice, rightly boiled — potatoes, where the " bark" scarcely adhered, and such vegetables as can only be found in Charleston market. I am not much of an epicure, but my jail experience has given a wonderful zest to such creature-comforts. W. D. Porter, Dr. Whitefoord Smith, Rev. Charles Vedder, Rev. W. B. Yates, George H. Walter, Capt. F. W. Dawson, John E. Carew, Dr. Parker, and W. Aiken Kelly, with others, spent the evening with us, and it turned out a very pleasant reception. Dr. Smith handed me a letter from Rev. Thos. G. Herbert, an old friend, and " Presiding Elder of the Spartanburg District." I knew this good brother was living on "short commons," with his limited salary, and large family; and when I found a ^5 note enclosed, I was affected with a very choking sensation. I had received many highly prized letters, filled with noble Christian sentiments and sympathy ; but it was left for this good Methodist brother to superadd all his living — for that day, at least. It is not as fashionable here for ladies to visit the jail, as it was in Columbia, but a very pleasant com- pany did come round this morning, attracted by the sight of a ruling elder among jail-birds. Mrs. M. A. Snowden, Mrs. Hibben Leland, and Mrs. Chapin, did form a very pleasant family-group, and made me feel at home again. But I ought to feel very uneasy, as the morning papers announce that the grand jury have found "true JOURNAL CONCLUDED. 1 29 bills" against the whole batch of us, for " Conspiracy and MurdcrV They probably took up our cases in the gross, without looking at the names at all, as they reported one name, the owner of which is now quiet- ly at home, never having been even arrested. The docket is all clear, and our cases come next. Hon. W. D. Porter,* our lawyer, has been indefatigable in our behalf; and, as he seems confident, I am de- termined " not to cross the bridge, before I come to it." May 3d. Our Laurens C. H. delegation, of four, have only been in Charleston two days and two nights, when it was announced to us, this morning, that Judge Bond had decided to adjourn the court, and admit us all to bail in the sum of $5000 each ! Sweet has been the sympathy of friends, during these weary weeks of helplessness, and their un- wearied kindness and attentions have deeply im- pressed our hearts ; but now the cry is Liberty and Home. Loud are the encomiums and thanks heaped upon my highly respected friend of happier days, the Hon. W. D. Porter; but, without saying anything about it, /"see the hand of Joab" in all this, and my heart is welling with gratitude to the earlier friend of my halcyon days, my old classmate in Williams College, then called " Steve Field," but now, " the Hon. Stephen J. Field, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States." * Mr Porter had no bill against me for professional services ; but he has the life-long gratitude of many loving hearts. 130 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. But from the lowest depths of a heart, now ahnost dissolving in gratitude, come overwhelming thanks- giving and praise to that God " who ruleth in the affairs of men," and *' who turneth the hearts of men even as the rivers of water are turned." We were soon in procession for the court-house, to execute our bonds. There were some ladies with us, even at this early hour, and Mrs. Chapin was noticed to snap some implement in her pocket, which sounded like the loud clicking of the pistol-lock. Being asked what it meant, she replied, "just let one of those dar- kies on the opposite side of the street dare to hoot at these gentlemen, and I will show you what I will do !" They did not hoot however, and we had a quick and joyous march. My good cousin Vedder had already prepared my bond, with Messrs. Robert Adger and J. A. Enslow as sureties, and I had only to step to the clerk's desk and sign, when I was once \Xio\'& free. But I stuck to my comrades till the hist bond was signed ; neither did it require much time, as the court-room was soon filled with willing securities. I am now busy packing up for home, and jot down these last lines, in this strange, eventful story. I must call on friend Vedder, and " Miss Ammie," now under the same roof, and on George H. Walter, on my way to the railroad, and then ! Now, that it is over, I greatly prize this chapter in my history ; for I have learned much I never knew before. Without affectation or cant, I have seen and tasted the goodness and loving-kindness of a covenant JOURNAL CONCLUDED. I3I God, always faithful to all his promises. I have ex- perienced the transforming influence of his presence on all things and every scene, however dark and mys- terious. From the beginning, and all through this strange episode in my life, I have felt a large share of that confidence which inspired David to write that precious Psalm, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." My body has been in the power of my persecutors, but the me at which they seemed to aim was as far beyond their reach, and as safe, as the highest archangel in heaven ; for I felt that I was protected by the same power, and comforted with the same love. The following lines express, very beauti- fully, my feelings, on closing this part of my Journal : " Thy Presence has a wondrous power, The sharpest thorn becomes a flower, And yields a rich perfume. Whate'er looked dark and sad before, With happy light shines silvered o'er, There's no such thing as gloom ! Thou knowest I have a cross to bear, The needed stroke thou wilt not spare, To keep me near Thy side ; But when I see the chastening rod, In Thy pierced hand my Lord, my God, I feel so satisfied." Over the joyous return home, the curtain must now drop, and the reader left to his own imagination. It will be noticed, that very little is said about home and its loved ones, in the foregoing pages. This has not been owing to any lack of materials, as a much larger collection could have been made from that 132 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. source. But these are among the sanctities of h'fe, " wherewith the stranger intermeddleth not." In this connection, a single allusion to a now sainted daughter — my daughter Rebecca — may be pardoned. She left us^ not long afterwards, and her early death was, no doubt, hastened by the shock of my arrest, and the long weeks of anxiety and apprehension which followed. Her correspondence, during this trying time, is treasured as the choicest legacy she could have left us. The writer learned to reverence his own child, who taught him much of that " wisdom that Cometh down from on high." Her rapid ripen- ing for heaven was the theme of all who were brought in contact with her ; and the writer can now thank God that she has been removed to " where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." During these five weeks, the exercises of the col- lege had gone on vvithout interruption, through the kind offices of the Rev. Mr. Riley, J. Wistar Simp- son, Esq., S. R. Todd, Jr., W. W, Kennedy, and Miss Janie Kilgore, who, either together or in turn, had attended to the exercises of all the classes. But an extra United States Court had been called for August, and every interest in that county was in such a chaotic condition, that the writer thought it due, both to himself and the college, for him to with- draw. As to the United Stated Court, there had been silence the most profound, as to his " case," ever since his discharge, under bail, in Charleston, May 3d, 1872. 1876. CHAPTER ELEVENTH. RECENT RECONSTRUCTION. The details so far recorded, are those which grew out of the poh'tical persecution in Laurens County- alone. In all the other counties where the writ of Jiabcas corpus had been so arbitrarily suspended, the same reign of terror prevailed, and the trampling in the dust of all rights, social as well as civil. In York County particularly, tales of horror are yet to be told, well calculated to mantle with shame the brow of any honest supporter of the present Ad- ministration. There the brute Merrill, holding a commission in the United States army, and backed by bayonets, was allowed unrestricted license to bully, oppress and degrade a defenceless people for months together. An inordinate greed for money, and a Nero-like delight in human torture, were, too evidently, the predominating characteristics of this ^* Major in the United States Infantry." None of the sanctities of Home — Anglo-Saxon in its name and institution — none of the safeguards of character — un- impeachable for honor and integrity — not even the sacredness of the pulpit, were any obstacles to his petty tyranny. Of his two ** Assistant United States Marshals," it is enough to say, that one of them acted as Jack Ketch in the judicial murder of Mrs. Suratt, and the other was a congenial comrade of his. 134 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. But these tales must be told by sonie of the suffer- ers themselves. They owe it to posterity to publish to the world whatbefel our down-trodden State under the infamous " Ku Klux" and " Enforcement" Acts. Four years have rolled around since the occur- rences detailed in the last chapter, and time has brought about some of his revenges. The black Ku-Klux cloud has disappeared beyond our horizon, and the infamous Merrill, after follow- ing it to the otJicr Dahomey, Louisiana, now finds himself called upon to account for some of his ill- gotten gains, before an investigating committee of Congress. Joe Crews, equally infamous in Laurens, has gone to Jiis final account. One morning, in the summer of 1875, he started very early from Laurens, in his bug- gy ; was waylaid at a small creek, some four miles from the village ; and was brought back, with six buckshot in different parts of his body. He lingered for a few days — died — and ivas buried. No political significance is given to this horrid as- sassination, as he had long been shorn of all power from the withdrawal of all United States garrisons' from Laurens. Public opinion has settled down into the conviction, that it was merely an act of private revenge, most probably at the hands of some of his own party — some of the same dregs to which he ap- propriately belonged. He was only of the scum, brought to the surface, in the boiling of the political cauldron, and it is astonishing how soon his memory has rotted. KFXENT RECONSTRUCTION. I 35 But the old " State " is still " prostrate." The in- cubus of the ballot, in the hands of her former slaves, and manipulated by unscrupulous and thieving car- pet-baggers, still holds the true citizen of the State helpless, and almost hopeless. In 1870, the first effort was made at political con- ciliation, by uniting upon Judge Carpenter, at that time regarded as trusworthy, in opposition to Scott, who had been nominated by the extreme Radicals, for a second term as Governor. The result was a defeat by over thirty thousand ! To show what kind of material we have to contend WMth in these carpet-baggers, it is only necessary to cite this single case of Carpenter. He was nominated by a ^' bolting faction " of his party, who made pre- tensions of contending for " honest fjovernment." Carpenter himself was loud and vehement in denoun- cing the abuses under the Scott administration, and the Conservative party rallied to his support with great unanimity. Now, in this canvass of 1876, Carpenter is the ac- knowledged leader of the Whipper, Moses, and Elliott faction — the very worst of the band he was pledged to bring to grief In 1872, Tomlinson, who seems really to be the least objectionable of the fraternity, was selected to oppose the notorious F. J. Moses, the younger. In this case also, Tomlinson was the nominee of a party of " Bolters," and the Conservatives put forth their whole strength in his behalf But the defeat was equally decisive. 136 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. Again, in 1874, a third attempt of the same kind was made, in the nomination of Judge Green, a native Repubhcan, in opposition to Chamberlain, the regu- lar nominee of the Radical party ; and this time the majority was reduced to some ten thousand. In this Centennial campaign of 1876, the Conserva- tives seem no longer disposed to conciliate and com- promise, by selecting the less of two evils, held out by the opposite party, but to make '^ straight-out " Democratic nominations. They have faithfully tried the compromise policy for three successive adminis- trations, and have signally failed in accomplishing any good. Now, they propose to reverse the experi- ment, and to invite all friends of good government, of whatever party, " race, or previous condition," to come over to their platform, and join in one earnest effort to redeem the State. The experiment has already been carried out to a successful issue in Mississippi and Arkansas, and why may not these happy results be also felt in South Carolina? To any one with the wish and capacity to appreciate her present condition, no blacker picture could be drawn of any government in Christendom. Scott left the Treasury unbarred, but there was some pretension to honesty and decency, in all the glaring rascality of his administration. But the spend-thrift thief, Moses, threw the Treasury doors wide open, and bribery and corruption were organized into a fixed department of the government, under his rule. The remnants of the Treasury were plundered in the broad light of day, and the votes of the Legislature RECENT RECONSTRUCTION. I 37 had their fixed market value, according to the im- portance of the measure to be passed, and the offices to be filled. Even the seat in the United States Sen- ate, once filled by our Calhoun, was notoriously put up to the highest bidder, and one Patterson, a refugee from Pennsylvania, won it through his henchman, WortJiington, a stranger in a strange land. Such was the infamous record of the Moses ad- ministration, that his own party, bad as it was, had to repudiate him. To keep up even the semblance of decency, they were forced to adopt pledges of future reform, in the last canvass — mere bnituni fiilnicii — to be entirely ignored as soon as their lease of power should be renewed. But the standard bearer, D. H. Chamberlain, had sagacity enough to see that their party had well nigh run its course. The very small majority, comparatively, by which he had been elected, and the case of Mississippi so suddenly and com- pletely redeemed, opened his eyes fully to the feeble tenure by which he himself held his office. He, therefore, deliberately adopted the role of Re- former. The sham platform erected by his party gave him a plausible pretext, and his insidious use of the English language in all his public documents, gave strong hopes of sincerity and wise statesman- ship. In view of these, and some demonstrations of decision and firmness in carrying out his " reform- measures," the Conservatives of the State were dis- posed to rally most earnestly to his support. In doing so they had to ignore the greater part of this man's political career. A mere adventurer from 138 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, Massachusetts, he had turned up, soon after the war, on one of the Sea Islands, near Charleston, where his violent counsels to the Freedmen, as to the vindictive course towards their former masters, had exasperated the native citizens against him, and thus made him one of the shining lights of Radicalism. His legal attainments, unquestionably great, soon brought him prominently before the Freedman's Bureau, and at the Reconstruction Constitutional Convention, he was se- lected as Attorney-General, under the first, or Scott administration. The State Treasury was then virgin soil for the Radical spoiler, and the havoc they made of the time-honored name and credit of the State, has already been fully delineated in these pages. Chamberlain, as Attorney-General, was, ex- officio, a member of the Financial Board, and, whether he participated or not, he must, evidently, have been cognizant oi all these enormous frauds by which the Treasury was so soon and so completely depleted. So far from any official denunciation of the course of his associates, we find him really upholding them. In Scott's canvass for re-election, Chamberlain took the stump, and, by an array of figures, attempted to prove that what are now known as the " Kimpton frauds," were the highest strokes of financial diplo- macy. Although all these antecedents were fresh in the memories of our tortured people, yet, the fact that a Radical Governor should talk kindly of the whites, and actually condescend to promise them some '* Re- forms," touched their hearts, and led them to try, KECENT RECONSTRUCTION. I 39 most earnestly, to forget the past. Our newspapers were filled with eulogiums on his wise statesmanship and Roman firmness. Our most distinguished citi- zens were open in their official calls and conferences at the Executive office, and our Literary Institutions were vying with one another in calling on him for addresses at their scholastic anniversaries. What stronger proofs are needed of the hopeless condition of a once proud people, than such acts as these — thus taking to their bosoms, and cheering to the echo, a Governor from Massachusetts who had only promised not to steal himself, and to use every effort to put a stop to the stealings of his friends ! Whether these promises and protestations were sincere or not, it became evident that he could not control his party, and that the course of the State was steadily downward. The Legislature, still lavish in expenditure, prolonged its two sessions to an average of four months each, instead of the four weeks promised. The tax bill and the appropria- tion bill, those vital subjects of legislation, were characterized by that wastefulness and extravagance which would have shocked our fathers in the palmiest days of prosperity. But, above all, this party made an exhibition of their utter disregard to anything like decency, in attempting to elevate to the Bench, by the votes of a large majority, two of the most corrupt scoundrels from the lowest of their own ranks — Ex-Governor Frank Moses and General Bill Whipper ! Frank Moses had gone into bankruptcy, immediately after leaving the gubernatorial chair, 140 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. which he had so notoriously disgraced, even as Scott's successor. He had become the veriest social outcast, and had no money to purchase votes, unless his more prudent father had hoarded for him some of his ill-gotten gains. The negro, Whipper, had long since gambled away all his stealings ; and Attorney- General Melton had published, over his official sig- nature, that he had not brought action against him for some large embezzlement because he was noto- riously insolvent. The Radical majority in the Legislature, therefore, did not even have the excuse of bribery^ in making these creatures "Judges of the Circuit Court." The only solution of their course must be, that they in- tended this action as an open defiance to Governor Chamberlain, and to the moral sense of the whole State. They had the poiver, and they were deter- mined to show that they could and would use this power as they pleased. Probably no single act of the party in power has ever so thoroughly aroused our people to a more full appreciation of their degradation, and to the im- minent danger which threatened even their civiliza- tion. Indignation meetings were, simultaneously, called all over the State, and the unanimous sentiment of these meetings has been, that this crowning out- rage sJiall nei'cr be consuiiDiiatcd. Bill Whipper's circuit was to have embraced the Commercial Emporium of the State, and the staid old city was electrified in every fibre. She knew that upon the proper interpretation and enforcement of the RECENT RECONSTRUCTION. I4I law, depended, not only her commercial prosperity, but the lives and property of her citizens. She knew that this ignorant negro was scarcely fit to be admit- ted to a gentleman's kitchen, and her resolve was at once taken. Her utterances were not loud, but deep, and portended a storm. It requires no prophet, nor the son of a prophet, to announce, that this creature will ;/6'z^t'r take his seat on the Bench in Charleston. The time, fixed by law, for a new judge to take his seat is in August, and the matter must be postponed till then. Governor Chamberlain has done all in his power to stay the evil by refusing to sign the com- missions of both of them, but they do not regard this as any final action. Moses' Circuit was to have included Sumter, where he has been fully known from his earliest infancy. The full length portrait drawn of him by his own neighbors would entitle him to a conspicuous place in any future illustrated edition of Dante's Inferno. This spontaneous uprising of a whole people, goaded almost to desperation by this outrage on all law, order, and civilization itself, deliberately perpe- trated by the Radical party, " met and sitting in Gen- eral Assembly," for a time seemed to have inspired some awe in their reckless ranks. But no serious effort has been made to undo the mischief. They have " thrown one tub to the whale," in the impeach- ment and conviction of one of their imbecile judges, whose term was about to expire, and whose successor had already been elected. Montgomery Moses, uncle of Frank, and brother of Chief Justice Franklin J. 142 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. Moses, was the unfortunate victim selected. He be- longed to that class of the judiciary familiarly called ** old grannies," and was equally worthless and harm- less. His chief trouble seemed to have been impe- cuniosity, and when he attempted to imitate the modern South Carolina office-holder in " pickings and stealings," he bungled so much that his tracks could be distinctly traced. He kept up some sem- blance to honesty by borroiving from funds in charge of the court, without any intention of returning the same; and this so disgusted his brigand associates, that the whole pack turned upon /^/?;/, when they found they were expected to do somethifig. It was a clear illustration of Judge Butler's story of the bully, who, when kicked and cuffed about by men whom he had insulted, declared that he could whip somebody, and went \\oxx\q and ivhipped his zvife- \ CHAPTER TWELFTH. CENTENNIAL SENTIMENTS. If there is any truth in the old adage, that " the darkest hour always precedes the dawn," then may South Carolina now begin to indulge some hope. She has been brought low — very low — and even in the eyes of those who so bitterly condemned her for in- augurating Secession, her punishment must seem out of all proportion to her offense. The sufferings and atrocities of those four long years of war — beginning with the fall of Port Royal, and ending with the burning of Columbia — are yet to be written, with all their terrible details. Her property in slaves, which constituted the great bulk of her wealth, and which had descended from father to son for more than two centuries, was made to vanish into thin air by the breath of a proclamation. But worse than this, than these, than all, are her writhings under the humilia- tion, the spoliation, and the unremitting efforts at degradation, for the last ten years. Military rule, backed by an unscrupulous majority in Congress, occasioned forebodings of evil, the most fearful; but what pen can adequately describe the reality ? A sovereign State trampled in the dust, with the bayonet of the conqueror ever at her throat, is a fit tableau of — Reconstruction ! But if " the mills of the gods grind slowly, they grind exceeding fine." In very many cases there 144 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. would be "no answer" to the long roll-call of her oppressors ; and time is still busy in unmasking the chief agents in this horrid drama, in all their true colors and deformity. Take the President of this great Republic himself. Elevated to a position where he might have made a name for himself, for all time to come, as " saviour o( his country," he has demonstrated that he has never had the intellect, nor the soul of the statesman or patriot. He cared nothing for his country, and his only care for the Republican party was, through it, to secure for himself an indefinite lease of power. It was a matter of indifference to him how the success of this party was to be secured, and what means might be resorted to. Whether the rights of indi- viduals, of whole communities, or of sovereign States were to be sacrificed, it gave him no concern. Suc- cess, at any and every cost, has been his watchword from the first to the last. And the most mortifying fact to every American is, that an inordinate greed for gold has been the crovernincf motive throuo^h his whole administration. The head being thus corrupt, can the student of his- tory wonder at the wide-spread demoralization of the whole body politic, for the last eight years at least ? A hurling from power seems hardly a sufficient retribution for the imprint oi Graiitisui on our institu- tions in these degenerate days. He has prostituted his high office to the undermining of the great politi- cal fabric of the fathers ; to trampling on the time- honored rights of the great Anglo Saxon race ; and CENTENNIAL SENTIMENTS. 145 even to protecting and shielding official rapacity and dishonesty, when about to be exposed to an indig- nant people. There was something grand in the gigantic strides of the first of all the Caesars, when grasping for power ; but the equally gigantic strides of this modern imita- tator have been made in pursuit of — the almighty dollar ! With the change of a single word, we, too, might adopt the indignant denunciation of Cato, in these burning words : " Oh, Fortius, is there not some chosen curse, Some hidden thunder, in the stores of Heaven, Red with uncommon wrath, to blast the wretch Who owes his [money) to his country's ruin ! '' At one time the approach of the centennial year seemed to have been the harbinger to the *' dawn." Certainly hopes were inspired in bosoms long es- tranged from any emotion of the kind, and some indications of fraternal feelings began to develop. The review of the scenes and events of the first " great rebellion " on this continent seemed to have opened the Northern mind to a new light, and to have in- spired their breasts with a charity equally new. They began to question one another whether these Southern brethren, however mistaken, may not have been actuated by the same sense of right, and resist- ance to wrongs, which characterized the fathers in 1776. From their standpoint may not these breth- ren have regarded their liberty, based, as they deemed it to be, upon their ideas of States' Rights and State Severeignty, as having been as much im- 146 A VOJCE FKOiM SOUTH CAROLINA. perilled at the later date as in " the times that tried men's souls ?" Would not these Northern brethren, in the same circumstances, have acted precisely as they did ? These wholesome questions began to be freely asked and considered, and promised to bring forth peaceable fruits. Such terms as " Wicked Rebellion^ '' Rule or Ruin Policy," and a long list of ugly words engrafted upon their vernacular, by a life-long dis- cussion of slavery, began gradually to fall into disuse. The questions formerly at issue began to lose their moral character, and to be viewed in their more ap- propriate political aspect. A great point was gained, when they began to utter the charitable sentiment, " Well, we are bound to admit that they tlwugJit they zvere rig] it!' In the case of South Carolina, particularly, public opinion began to tone down wonderfully. This re- view brought her prominently forward as one of the leading Colonies of the " Old Thirteen." Though the favorite Colony of the Crown, her magnanimity in so promptly throwing herself on the side of her oppressed sisters was still conspicuous after the lapse of an hundred years. Her lavish expenditure of blood and treasure in the great cause she had es- poused, was calculated to arouse sentiments of vener- ation and gratitude, particularly on the part of those younger sisters who had become prosperous and great under the very " independence" to which she had so largely contributed. Even her old ally Massachusetts, seemed to have CENTENNIAL SENTIMENTS. 147 been drawn very near to her once more. These ancient Commonwealths have lono- been reo;arded as representatives of their respective sections Gradu- ally, from viewing the same objects from opposite standpoints, they had been driven very far apart — in fact to opposite points of the diameter. The first great obstruction between them was the '' tariff question," and Massachusetts being on the side of it nearest the sun, could see nothing in it but what was bright, wholesome and life-giving, while South Caro- lina, from her cheerless side, saw all that was gloomy, impoverishing and destructive. This, though at one time so threatening, suddenly dissolved into empty eras before some bigf, swellinsr words of Nullification. But there was another mutual eclipse, and though the obstacle this time was at first no bigger than a man's hand, it graduall}^ developed into proportions the most portentous and awe-inspiring. This time South Carolina was on the sunny side, and she could only see in the clear beneficent light of slavery an institution recognized by God himself, under both dis- pensations, and guaranteed by the fundamental law of the land. From her standpoint, Massachusetts could only see blackness of darkness, imperfectly veiling " the sum of all villainies," and the " ragged edges of despair'' around the sulphurous pits. Gunpowder, not gas,' was now the word, and, unfortunately for the country, rifles of the most varied patterns were manu- factured in the largest abundance on her soil. After some preliminary skirmishing in Kansas and Ne- 148 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. braska, and afterwards in the " John Brown Raid,'^ the grand crashing came at last, resulting in an explosion which shook the Continent to its foun- dations. However terrible the catastrophe, the obstacle was gone forever, and now that the turmoil and din are over, and the smoke almost blown away, these grim old antagonists can look one another once more in the face, and to their mutual surprise they began to see lineaments of real brotherhood. Each seemed almost ready to acknowledge that the same spirit — the spirit of the olden time — has all along been actuating them both, and had their standpoints been interchanged, each might have acted the part of the other. At any rate, Massachusetts did not regard her pro- gramme for the grand centennial celebrations of her Concord, Lexington, and, particularly, of her Bunker Hill, complete, until she had assigned a conspicuous place to the old Palmetto State. Armed men, from Charleston, were received by the citizens and soldiers of Boston, with the highest con- sideration and enthusiasm. The " citizen soldiers " of our " Washington Light Infantry," were welcomed, even at the railroad depot, by such a crowd as they had never seen before. At first they were a little ner- vous, not knowing what spirit might actuate this vast assembly ; but, when a wide passage was spontane- ously made for them through its very midst, and hats were waved, and cheers were given, as from one throat, they then felt what it all meant ; and many a CENTENNIAL SENTIMENTS. 149 manly e}'e was seen to swim in tears. All along their march the side-walks were crowded by eager specta- tors, and the beauty as well as the " solid men " of this old metropolis turned out, in full force, to cheer and welcome them. Bouquets, oranges, ba- nanas, etc., came flying fast from fair hands, which, those expert at the base ball, were not slow in catch- ing and storing away. The only criticism on this showering of favors was, that the most soldierly-look- ing of the company received more than their due pro- portion. The participants themselves have already given the public glowing accounts of this ever-to-be-remem- bered visit. From the first moment they touched the soil of Massachusetts, to the hour of their departure,, the most cordial welcome, the most hearty greetings, the most generous hospitality, and the highest con- sideration awaited them ; even to the " post of honor," on the day of the Bunker Hill pageant. How, then,, could they feel like "strangers, in a strange land?"' It was a Jioiiie reception, and they were proud to feel at home. And, when they heard the patriotic, liberal sentiments of Gen. Bartlett and others of these North- ern men, responded to by the ex-Confederate, Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee — who was cheered to the echo by enthusiastic crowds — is to be wondered at, that they should, for the time, forget all about State lines, and only remember their country, their zvhole country, and nothing but their country? The tidings from Bunker Hill soon spread over the land, and produced a profound impression ; and 150 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. the magnanimous, whole-souled sentiments there ut- tered found a response in every generous bosom. It was seen that even extremists could meet at the graves of their revolutionary sires ; could there look one another in the eye, and find that they were brethren after all. And if Massachusetts and South Carolina could so easily and heartily coalesce, who would dare, thereafter, to preach the '^ Gospel of Hate ? '' Alas, for our unhappy land ! This " dawn," so auspiciously heralded in by the centennial era, is now suddenly overcast in gloom. Party spirit, and, worst of all, sectional party spirit, seems now stronger than patriotism ; and the call of the mere political party leader more potent than the voice of the Christian statesman. Already, in the halls of Congress, have those lead- ers stirred up a war of words to check this tidal wave of good feeling and reconciliation, so opposed to their selfish party interests, and to open afresh the wounds, just beginning to heal. From the beginning the '* father of his country " warned his fellow-citizens, and their posterity, against causing party lines to coincide with geographical lines ; and intelligent foreign writers have pointed to this deadly sectional hate, thus engendered, as the hidden rock on which our glorious institutions are yet to founder. Will these reckless political leaders succeed in car- rying out their selfish schemes ? Is there common sense enough in the country to CENTENNIAL SENTIMENTS. I5I see throLigli the transparent purposes of these poh'ti- cal brawlers ? Is there patriotism enough in tlie country to post- pone mere party triumph to the glory of the Re- united States ? As the once famous " Tom " Ritchie used to say, in days of yore, " N'oiis ve irons!' POSTSCRIPT CHAPTER FIRST. Hampton's campaign. The foregoing chapter was intended as the last of this " little book," but the financial embarrassments and business stagnation with our selected publisher were such, that our MS. has been lying quietly by us for more than a year, with the hope of finding a new one. In the meantime, history has been progressing, and startling events have developed material enough for a much larger book, and one of a very different char- acter. The centennial year has come and gone ; the exciting, critical and astounding Presidential election has given a new and unique chapter to American politics ; and the dark cloud, which has so long brooded over our State, has suddenly been rifted, and Wade Hampton is Governor of South Carolina ! These events, closely linked together as they have been, are on too magnificent a scale for mere human agency ; and South Carolina has had her " Thanks- giving Day " for this signal deliverance from more than Egyptian bondage. But we must proceed in some order; necessarily condensing into a brief abstract, subjects which may yet call forth volumes. The grand Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia was, in every sense, worthy of the occasion, and its success has surpassed the wildest dreams of its most HAMPTONS CAMPAIGN. I 53 sanguine advocates. It has been national in its char- acter, and its influence for good will tell on all our people for all time to come. Representatives from every part of our broad land were brought into famil- iar contact for weeks and months together, and ties were renewed between those great families of States which had been weakened by long estrangement, and which the great civil war had well nigh sundered. As nearly ail the peoples of the earth were represented there, if not by personal representatives, yet by spec- imens of their skill, art and industries, the favorable occasion served greatly to enlarge our views ; to throw down and uproot the prejudices of centuries, and to show that, for cultivated skill, and enterprising industry, " the field is the world." The Presidential election, too, is much too grave a theme to be discussed in mere postscript chapters. Forty millions of people, distributed over thirty-eight different States, have as much interest in that wild contest, and its anomalous close, as the writer has, and he may well leave the discussion for abler pens, and wiser heads. His '* Voice," were he to attempt it, would be like the war-cry of the disembodied Greeks, at the approach of ^-Eneas. This much may be allowed : The " counting in " of President Hayes was the climax in a series of bold steps in political " progress," for which the party now in power has acquired a world-wide notoriety. Starting in i860 as a strictly sectional party, it de- fied and brought on a strictly sectional war. Since then it has exercised a sectional domination, on which 154 ■ .A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. all the arbitrary powers of the Old World have gazed with amazement. It has created " States " out of ancient commonwealths, with constitutions framed at its own bidding, and utterly repugnant to those governed. It has manipulated the sacred right of the " ballot '' to suit its own purposes : and, now that this ballot has made one effort at independent action, this party unblushingly reverses its decisions, by changing sixteen electoral votes to secure a majority of one ! This, too, in the face of a popular majority of more than 300,000! As a single, original act of usurpation, its frightful er,ormity would have shocked the whole American people ; but being, as it is, the last of a series, it seems to be viewed in different lights, accorcfmg as the eye has or has not become accustomed to startling visions. There was one decision by this mighty vote, how- ever, which even this reckless party could not ignore. Throughout the length and breadth of the land it was proclaimed, in thunder tones, that this vile op- pression of American citizens MUST cease! Accord- ingly, one of the first acts of the Hayes Administration, was to withdraw Federal bayonets from the legislative halls of sovereign States, and thus make way for State officers, selected by their own people. Thus the Governors elected by the people were allowed to take their seats ; and Louisiana hailed her Nicholls as Chief Magistrate, and South Carolina, her Wade Hampton ! Mr. Hayes accomplished as much for us, in this deliverance, as Tilden himself could have done, and HAMPTONS CAMPAIGN. 155 without that hue and cry which would have followed the action of a Democratic Executive. So that Hayes' inauguration has proved a blessing in disguise to our down-trodden people, and we certainly owe him no grudge. In a succinct resume of the memorable events of 1876, it would delight the writer to linger long around Fort Moultrie, and give some of the details of the centennial celebration of South Carolina's Thermopylae. Here her y6>//r hundred, without hope of retreat, held their station in what General Charles Lee called a " slaughter-pen," fully determined to do or die. They did not suffer the fate of Sparta's tJiree hundred, but, on the contrary, gradually drove back the combined fleet of the ** Mistress of the Sea." Are they to be honored by their posterity the less on this account ? In the midst of desponding fears, and while groan- ing under grievous wrongs, the ancient city of Charles- ton put on her gala dress, and invited the whole coun- try to a participation in this glorying in the past. The whole State responded, because this great battle, fought before the " Declaration," was her first act of sovereignty and independence. Whatever her pres- ent sufferings and attempted degradation, the past was secure, and belonged to her and her children. Massachusetts responded nobly to the call, and from under the shadow of Bunker Hill monument, the choice of her military companies were sent to give the right hand of fellowship, and to participate fully in all the honors of the occasion. The grand 8 156 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. ovation given our military the year before, in sight of Bunker Hill, could not be reciprocated in our im- poverished condition, but the same spirit and the same heart were there. In the beautiful *' Moultrie Monument," which now adorns White Point Garden, in Charleston, and from her Battery looks out upon Sullivan's Island and old ocean, Boston has an undivided share — contributed with all the frankness of manly and Christian chiv- alry. But while these exhibitions of our higher and no- bler nature were thus called forth by memories of the past, the grim demon of hate, with all its relentless venom, was still abroad in the land. The cue given by politicians of the Blaine school, in Congress, was taken up by unscrupulous demagogues at widely sep- arated points, in the heated Presidential contest then going on. The " bloody shirt " was waved most furiously, particularly in the Northwest, and any Southern " outrage " was eagerly watched for to re- kindle the failing embers. The local incendiaries, particularly the emissaries of the carpet-bag authori- ties, were most active in fomenting a strife of races. In South Carolina they thought they had made a case, in what they were pleased to call the " Ham- burg Horror." Hamburg had once been a thriving business mart, but the railroad had sapped it of all prosperity. The buildings had been almost wholly abandoned by the whites, and, of course, they became the harbors for dissolute and vagrant negroes, and a sure retreat for escaped convicts from every part of Hampton's campaign. 157 the State. The charter being still in existence, they had the whole municipal control. This was regarded by the Radical authorities as the most combustible point in the State, and arms were furnished, and em- issaries sent among them to stir up trouble. Need we go on to the sequel so often repeated among our long-suffering people ? Negroes, with arms in their hands, offer some in- sults and indignities to high-spirited young men. This, of course, is resented. Others flock to the scene, the lines are drawn, and the negroes retire to fortify themselves in an abandoned building. The first blood shed was that of a white man ; shot through the head, while standing with his comrades on the defensive. This highly exasperated the whole com- munity, far and near ; the more restless spirits were soon on the ground, and in the lead, and that night the negroes were made to suffer. The telegraph wires throughout the land were busy all the next day, in flashing this terrible '* out- rage " to the remotest hamlet. Fortunately for the cause of truth, the Circuit Court was soon after in session, and those who were denounced as the " bloody rioters," voluntarily gave themselves up, and demanded a trial, even before a Radical Judge. But it was no part of the programme to have the truth come out, so the whole matter was postponed to the next court, rt//^/ ///(i'/ never liave bceti tried! \j The next horror was the " Ellenton Riots," inspired by the same parties, and with the same objects in view. A white woman had been most inhumanly as- 158 A VOICE FROM' SOUTH CAROLINA. saulted and maltreated by a negro, who was after- wards recognized by a little child. An arrest was, of course, attempted, but in due course of law, yet, such was the spirit then among the negroes, that they felt bound to aid one of their own number, against the whites, rl^ht or wronij. Small bodies uniting- became formidable in their proportions, and the organizations on the part of the whites, also greatly exceeded the usual "'posse cojiiitatus!' The feeling spread from neighborhood to neighborhood^ and from community to community, till that whole section of country seemed to be under arms. Just at the crisis, threat- ening an immediate conflict, a detachment of United States soldiers appeared on the ground, and by their intervention both sides agreed to disband and go home quietly. The parties arrested, on the part of the whites (there were none on the part of the blacks), also in- sisted on immediate trial, but they, too, were " post- poned." However, early in the present year, their case lias been heard. Corbin, familiarly called " Ku-Klux Korbin," the malignant United States District Attor- ney, had selected those he regarded as the worst cases on the list, had filled all the negro boarding-houses in Charleston, with an unlimited number of colored " witnesses," had manipulated the juries, both grand and petit ; and yet, after all his efforts in their trial, he could only secure a ''mistrial" — ^jury failing to agree ! Of course, that settled the whole matter, and we HAMPTONS CAMPAIGN. I 59 will hear no more of the " EUenton Rioters/' in the courts at least. But these offsets from " Centennial fraternizing, '^ have led us to anticipate the regular course of events. Chamberlain was still playing his bold game of apparently conciliating a people whom he both hated and feared, and, at the same time, retaining the confi- dence and control of his own party. In the face of the election of Moses and Whipper to the bench, he had positively refused to commission them. About the same time, and in allusion to this election, he had said, in response to an invitation to the anniversary of the New England Society, in Charleston, that " the civilization of both the Huguenot and Cavalier was in imminent danger." . He had denounced Elliott, his colored Attorney-General, in the most bitter and opprobrious terms ; and, in those pen-pictures, in which he so eminently excels, was representing him- self as in the van of " Reform," sword drawn, and scabbard thrown away ! And our confidi ng people were disposed to believe him, attributing his villainr ous appointments and conniving with thieves and rogues, to necessity, '\x\ carrying out his policy ! Even in May, 1876, when the first Democratic Convention met, he had the trembling confidence of a majority of the members. Col. M. C. Butler and Gen. Gary, both from Edgefield, denounced him and his policy in no measured terms, and insisted, even then, on a " straightout " Democratic nomination for State officers ; but the majority were still hoping for " Reform," from the great High Priest of Radicalism. The summer passed l6o A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. over, the bomb-shells of *^ Hamburg " and '^Ellenton" had been exploded, the military grip on the State was becoming stronger and tighter, and all " Reform " was still in abeyance. The question now was, must the old State, Samson-like, in being both captive and blind, but " make sport ^' in the presence of her ex- ulting enemies, her own people aiding and abetting? A very different spirit prevailed in the Democratic Convention which re-assembled in August. The conviction was now forced upon her citizens, that if South Carolina was ever to be redeemed, it was to be done by her own people, under their own leaders. All temporizing and compromizing was then boldly thrown aside. The S ate was ranged squarely under the Democratic banner, and her own sons, well tried and true, were nominated for her highest offices. This, of course, was an immediate checkmate to Chamberlain's deep-laid and long-plotted scheme. But, in the emergency he was — Jiimsclf ! With a reckless boldness which his friends have dignified with the name of courage, but which seems more appropriate to the character of the detected assassin, he, at once, threw off the mask, and openly took his stand at the head of the worst elements of his party. At the Radical Convention, soon after assembled, he claimed and received their nomination, as their ac- knowledged chief, and, arm-in-arm with Elliott^ he deposited his vote, nominating the latter for re- election. The nomination of Gen. Wade Hampton for Gov^- ernpr, sent a thrill like electricity through the State, Hampton's campaign. i6i and revived hopes, long drooping and well nigh dead. The mere possibility of having this favorite son of the State at the head of affairs, stirred the hearts of all her people, and awakened emotions of patriotism long deemed crushed out. Hampton, himself, seemed inspired for the occasion. Busily occupied in efforts to recover something from the ruins of his once magnificent estates, he at once threw aside all private matters, and boldly entered upon a campaign unequalled in the annals of Repub- lics. All the State officers were arrayed against him, with their " election machinery " arranged and per- fected through a whole decade of unbroken success. The Radical State census called for more than 30,- 000 majority of colored votes. The administration at Washington was ready and anxious to furnish all the resources of the army and navy to uphold this nondescript government, in order to secure the elec- toral vote of the State, in the exceedingly close con- test, then going on, for President of the United States. This state of things would have appalled any per- sonal aspirant for office ; but Hampton seems, from the first, to have thrown aside the personal, and to have regarded himself as the embodiment of the "Forlorn Hope" of South Carolina. All public gatherings, all strife of words, and particularly all public speaking were averse to his natural tastes; but, with a self-sacrifice worthy the cause, he plunged headlong into the midst of all these, and with a con- sciousness that there could be no respite till the end. I 62 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. Beginning in the mountains, where the news of his nomination first reached him, he made appoint- ments to meet his constituents, successively, at all the important points of the State, from the mountains to the sea-board. His opponents, and particularly Chamberlain, were invited to meet him at all these places, with an assurance of protection and safe con- duct. These appointments left but few intervals for " rest days," through the whole campaign, and, what is very remarkable, he never failed to be present, and, personally, to address his fellow-citizens. The very elements seemed to favor him, for no occasion was marred by foul weather, and all the rains occurred in the intervals of his appointments. Within sight of those everlasting hills, which look down upon the memorable battle-fields of " Cow- pens " and " King's Mountain," he first raised his clarion voice for Redemption and Home Rule. An enthusiasm was at once enkindled, which drew out unprecedented crowds to his first appointment. It was feared that this unanimity would be confined to that section of the State — always Democratic, and, comparatively exempt from the heel of the oppres- sor. But as Hampton approaclied the middle country, the crowds became even greater, and the enthusiasm almost reached delirium. Each county had one or more of its " Hampton's Days," and each of these '* days " vied with its predecessor, not only in num- bers, but in decorations and pageantry. There was one potent influence in inspiring and urging forward this wild excitement and jubilant Hampton's campaign. 163 greeting, which Hampton never failed to acknowledge pubhcly, and with choking gratitude, — and that was the zvonien of the State ! They prepared the -way for liim, wherever he went, for he found them everywhere the same. However gloomy and despondent their husbands and brothers may have become, they had never " despaired of the Republic," but were as un- yielding and defiant, even in the darkest days of oppression, as when the Confederate flag waved over Fort Sumter, or on the hill-tops of Bull Run. The candid historian must record, that if it had not been t''or the women of the State, her early redemption from Radical rule would have been impossible, for Hampton himself has said as much. It was the privilege of the writer to attend several of these " ovations," and he can assert that nothing like them had ever been witnessed in this State, even in her palmiest days. Before the war, she had always been so unanimous in Federal politics, that political campaigns were comparatively unknown, and no mere local contest had ever so stirred the public heait. But where was Chamberlain all this while ? Invi- tation after invitation had appeared in the papers, calling upon him to meet Hampton at some of these places most convenient to him, but he clung to his Executive hole in Columbia, sending forth his meshes, spider-like, all over the State, to entrap a hated people. To thwart the growing enthusiasm, he naturally looked to the bayonet, which had placed him where 164 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. he was, and still retained him there. He was most ardently desirous to have martial law proclaimed, but that was in the power of the'President, and from the course of the Federal canvass, then eoincT on. the President himself would have to plead a strong case. To force some such emergency, his counsellors inau- gurated the "strike" among the half civilized blacks of the low country rice-fields, but under the " Peace Policy," inculcated by Hampton, all these efforts failed. The only effect was to damage a few indi- viduals, and to bring down untold want and suffering on these deluded creatures themselves. He next thought of striking at the " chivalry" of the State, by calling for the disbanding and disarming of all the rifle clubs, and volunteer military orgniza- tions throught the State, By specious representations made to Washington, he did induce the President to issue a Proclamation to that effect. It so happened that the writer was present when this was first announced to Hampton, which was on the great " Hampton Day," at Sumtei" C. H. The speaking was all over, and the General was quietly dining with a private party, at a friend's house. Sitting nearest his hostess, he was interrupted in the midst of a remark to her by the " telegraph boy," handing him a dispatch, with the request that he would read it at once. He did so, and quietly folding the note, he finished the remark he was makinsf to Mrs. F., and no one would or did suppose, from his manner, that there was anything of importance in its contents. But when Col. Haskel requested him to throw it Hampton's campaign. 165 across the table, one glance from him brought out the exclamation : " Here it is, true enough ! The President has disbanded all the white companies, and threatens us with martial law !'' The countenances around the table wore very different expressions from Hampton's schooled features, and we could not but admire that Roman self-control so often manifested lately. By his advice^ which was as effective as a ukase from the Court of St. Petersburg, among the Rus- sians, this order from Washington was promptly obeyed, and fully carried out, and Mr. Chamberlain was again checkmated. It was an anomaly to see a late dashing " Lieutenant- General of Cavalry" so suddenly and so sternly act- ing the apostle of William Penn, in his peace policy; but South Carolina, at that time, witnessed that met- amorphosis. And she, to-day, rejoices in a victory, unequalled in her annals, achieved by legal methods alone, and by tactics unqualifiedly Quaker. The truth is, there was not then, nor had there ever been in South Carolina, any one man who could have car- ried out that policy but General Hampton himself. Even John C. Calhoun would have signally failed. Hampton's war record had caused him to be regard- ed as the personification of the chivalry and manhood of the State, and when he counselled yielding, even General Gary had to subside. POSTSCRIPT CHAPTER SECOND. REDEMPTION AND HOME RULE. The election came on, at last, and Chamberlain had his United States soldiers and marshals distributed throughout the State, to his entire satisfaction. But l/io the surprise of friend and foe. Wade Hampton had ^ a clear majority of over twelve hundred votes ! In the strong Radical precincts in Charleston, Colleton and Beaufort Countie<=i, such untold frauds had been practiced that the most sanguine had begun to de- spair of success ; and when it was found that the election was safe, in spite of all these frauds, ** the people rejoiced with exceeding great joy." But the shout of triumph soon subsided, when that omnipo- tent Radical '* Returning Board" was summoned to "canvass the votes." By the simple device of ** counting out " the two counties of Laurens and Edgefield, which had gone Democratic by large ma- jorities, it was attempted to reverse the result, and ** count in " Chamberlain and his crew. In vain did the Supreme Court attempt to restrain this Board, in its usurpation of power. After several attempts on the part of the court had been success- fully foiled, an order of court was finally passed for them to bring all the election returns into court the next day. But that night, under the inspiration of Corbin, the Board formally declared Chamberlain and >, REDEMPTION AND HOxME RULE. 1 6/ crew elected, issued the usual certificates, and then adjourned sine die. A short time afterwards the court had them allw arrested, imposed a fine of *$ 1,500 each, and had them all committed to jail, in default of payment. But the notorious Judge Bond, of the U. S. Circuit Court, was soon on the ground, summoned by telegraph. He at once released them on writs of -habeas corpus, at Chambers, and, not long afterwards, made their discharge final ! An expression had escaped from Hampton's heart, through his unguarded lips, which served to quiet all apprehensions as to the result. It was to the follow- ing effect: *' The people of South Carolina have elected me Governor, and, by the Eternal God, I in- tend to be their Governor ! " The time for the convening of the Legislature now drew nigh, and all eyes were turned to Columbia to see which party would secure the supremacy. The same vote which had made Hampton Governor, se- cured a majority of the House of Representatives. There were senators enough holding over to give that body to the Radicals by a small majority. A sliort time before the day of meeting. Chamber- lain had procured an order from President Grant to have a Company of United States Infantry quartered in the State House. This was effected at midnight, and the next morning, the citizens found access to the halls of their fathers, debarred by armed senti- nels wearing the United States uniform, and posted at every door ! 1 68 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. On the day of the meeting of the Legislature, a large crowd of every color and condition was assem- bled on the open area, in front of the State House, and even the broad steps leading to the main door- way were crowded. The officer in command had announced that only those bearing certificates from the Returning Board could be admitted. The ex- citement became intense, until Hampton himself ap- peared on the steps. He had just been refused admittance, but was as calm as a summer's morning. He only uttered a few words, to the effect that the handful of United States soldiers before them repre- sented a power it would be madness to resist. That he felt tliat place was not a proper one for him, and, therefore, was going to his office. His advice was, for all who felt as he did, to follow him down the street. As he advanced to the gate, the whole crowd silently melted away into a solemn procession, fol- lowing his lead. His Excellency's *' office," was a suit of two rooms over one of the stores on Main street, and furnished as his room on the Campus had been in College days, excepting the cot bedstead. The members elect had all been admitted into their hall, excepting the two delegations from Laurens and Edgefield. The Radical members were sworn in, and, although without a quorum, proceeded to //organize by the election of Mackey, of Charleston, as Speaker. The Democratic members then with- drew to " Carolina Hall,'' and organized the true House of Representatives, by electing Gen. Wallace, REDEMPTION AND HOME RULE. 1 69 of Union, their speaker. There were several defec- tions from the Mackey to the Wallace House, which soon secured the Constitutional quorum, beyond all cavil. As the admissions into the State House had gradually become more relaxed, Gen. Wallace pri- vately informed his members that he intended to occupy the Speaker's chair, at the Capital, on the next adjournment of the Mackey House. This was quietly effected, Wallace occupying the chair, with all his members present. At his regular time, Mackey came in and demanded the chair, and, on being per- emptorily refused, he ordered a common chair to be placed as near to Wallace as the impenetrability of matter would permit. Here he took his seat, and calljd his pretended House to order. Then was presented the unprecedented spectacle of two Houses of Representatives, organized and sitting in the same hall. The Radical House, almost exclusively colored, occupied the left of the Speaker, and the Democrats the right, separated by the broad middle aisle. It was somewhat confusing to a spectator to listen to two calls for the " yeas and nays," going on sim- ultaneously ; but more so in a double debate, when there was a greater contest of lungs than brains. Yet all this continued for more than four days — day and night. The session of each succeeding day was re- sumed precisely at the moment of adjournment at the preceding day, keeping each speaker in his seat con- tinuously. It was a question of endurance only ; for, . with the United States soldiers down stairs, and within easy call, there was no idea oi force. I/O A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. It was hard service for these gentlemen to be thus shut up with these unwashed " wards of the nation," sending forth a stifling, native perfume, when the piercing cold without prevented necessary ventilation. Sleeping, too, on dirty floors, each with a single blan- ket, would read well in a story of martyrdom, but their heads and frames ached nevertheless. In all this the negroes had the great advantage, as they were just in their element. The perfume served but to stimulate tliem to song and jollity, and a blanket big enough to cover the head was all that each need- ed. On the other hand, in eating and drinking, the whites had the incalculable advantage. While Sambo was munching his hard tack and cheese, he had to gaze wishfully on baskets and boxes of fruit and tempting viands furnished the other side, in profusion, by the rebel-sympathizing merchants of Columbia and Charleston. Even then, accessions were made to the Wallace House, and, as each sable orator would make his speech, take the qualifying oath, and direct his steps to the '' Right," he would be warmly welcomed to a goodly pile of apples, oranges, bananas, etc. After four days of such experience as this. Speaker Wallace was privately informed that an effort would be made to eject the delegations from Laurens and Edgefield, and, if resistance was made, the officer in command of the United States troops had orders to interfere in force. As this would brino- on a direct collision with the General Government, of course, the question was settled very promptly. On motion, the W^allace REDEMPTION AND HOME RULE. I/I House adjourned to their former hall, and this unique contest was ended, without bloodshed. Not long after this, Chamberlain was "inaugurat- ed " before a constitutional Senate and usurping House; Hampton also took the oath of office, in the open air^ and in presence of the constitutional House,, a minority of the Senate, and a large concourse of distinguished citizens. Soon after this, the whole Legislature, real and fictitious, adjourned sine die. Hampton, after his inauguration, made a demand on Chamberlain for the Executive office, papers, etc., but as Chamberlain had this office, as well as his pri-- vate residence, strictly guarded by U. S. troops, he sent back a peremptory refusal. The Supreme Court had been reduced almost to a state of anarchy. The Chief Justice, still in doubt as to which would prove the winning side, in the Presi- dential contest, was vacillating and non-commital in all his official acts. In this condition of things, he was suddenly stricken down with paralysis, and soon afterwards was called to his final account. Associate Justice Willard had, from the first, set his face, like a flint, against all the revolutionary schemes and dis- honest practices of his party, and was firm and im- movable on the side of right and justice. Ass.-]\x?,- tice Wright, the colored representative of this body, was everything in turn, and nothing at last. Agree- ing to one decision when sober, and retracting when drunk, he has managed to forfeit all respect, even from the decent representatives of his own race. The result of all their decisions was the recogni- 1/2 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. tion of the body presided over by General Wallace, as the true House of Representatives, and the legal election of the Democratic Executive officers. The election of Governor, was, of course, a question for the Legislature, and this had already been practically decided. Hope was reviving in every faithful bosom, and the day of redemption seemed really drawing near. The old State pride began, once more to develop, as the prospect grew brighter of South Carolina again resuming her position among her sister States But this feeling was cruelly checked by the last official act of President Grant in her case, and a fitting climax to all his previous steps in military tyranny. What was left of the chartered military companies of Charleston, under the lead of the " Washington Light Infantry " had agreed to celebrate Washing- ton's Birthday (22d February), with all the show of military under their control. To aid in this patriotic demonstration the choice volunteer companies of Sa- vannah and Augusta were invited to attend and par- ticipate. But, Chamberlain telegraphed the startling intelligence to Washington City, and forthwith, there came an order from the War Department, perempto- rily forbidding any such military display. Comment is unnecessary. Soon after followed the " counting in " of President Hayes, and his inauguration, which " followed hard upon." But those United States bayonets were still in the State House at Columbia, and Chamberlain was still daily riding to and from the Executive office. REDEMPTION AND HOME RULE. 173 in his close carriage. After weeks of suspense had run into montlis, to the surprise of everybody, Hamp- ton and Chamberlain were both invited to personal interviews with the President, and at the same time. What passed at these interviews, which were sepa- rate, are State secrets, but what the public could ascertain was cheerinp- enough to the friends oi Hampton. His journey to and from Washington was almost a continued ovation at the railroad sta- tions aloncf his route, and at Washin^jton he was treated with the most distinsfuished consideration. His appearance, on his return, in spite of all his prudent reticence, showed that he now felt himself to be the master of the situation. Chamberlain, on the other hand, paid his visit " unknowing and unknown,'' as to the outside world, and came back with a head of the bulrush order. Time alone will bring to light, if ever it is done, all that transpired at Washington during these weeks of intense anxiety. We could learn that several Con- gressmen from the South had ardently espoused the cause of Hampton, and were exerting all the influ- ence they had in his behalf Particularly Senator Gordon, of Georgia, who had, with all his heart, thrown himself into the contest, and was moving all in his power in behalf of South Carolina. No native son of hers could have shown a more lively interest in her redemption, and his eminent and self sacrificing services will always be treasured in the memory of a grateful people. Not long after Hampton's visit there was issued^ 174 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. from the War Department, an order for the United States Infantry, then in charge of the State House, by noon of a certain day to inarch out, and resume their old quarters at the garrison post. This was all — but it was all we wanted. That little paper of some i<^n lines, ordering about two dozen United States enlisted men to march about half a mile, pro- duced a mighty revolution, as peaceful as it was complete, and changed the status of our ancient Commonwealth for all time to come ! The Federal Bayonet was withdrawn from her throat, and she at once arose from her dust and ashes, and is, even now, putting on her beautiful garments. The whole mon- strous fabric of radicalism, which the usurpers proud- ly thought securely pinned together by bayonets, for this generation at least, in a nio?nent came toppling about their ears. The effect produced on this motley crowd was amusing enough to those who saw that their escape was impossible. Homeless and keeper- less, they could find no shelter from the wrath to come ! A second demand from Hampton now promptly brought about the humiliating surrender of Executive office, archives, etc., and Chamberlain was soon after wholly absorbed in boxing up his elegant household furniture, for the steamer in Charleston. A day or two afterwards he followed these boxes himself — but he ivill return. As a culprit, he will yet have to stand before that altar of Justice he has dared so long and so often to defile with his unhallowed touch ; and answer to charges of high crimes and misdemeanors, REDEMPTION AND HOME RULE. 1 75 embracing conspiracies for purposes of fraud and larceny. It required but little effort now for the incumbents to get possession of all the State offices, and soon the State was fully equipped for her new departure. After proclaiming a day of solemn Thanksgiving to Almighty God (which was generally and heartily observed), the Governor summoned the Legislature together in solemn form. This time the inside of the State House presented a very different appearance from that of the preceding winter. After weeks of convict labor expended on her halls, they began to look as if fitted up for the reception of gentlemen. In organizing, there was a little ripple of excite- ment in the Senate chamber, which was soon calmed by the wise course and admirable presence of mind of Col. W. D. Simpson, the new Lieutenant-Governor. His predecessor, Gleaves, had requested, as a special fiivor, to be allowed to call the Senate to order, and then, from his seat as President, to lay aside all badges of office and retire gracefully. This was done ; but a motion was then made for the formal inaugura- tion of the new Lieutenant-Governor. Colonel Simpson saw that this would ignore all his past offi- cial acts, and, stepping forward he declared that no power on earth could force him to take the oath of office a second time. Then, without waiting for the formality of being conducted there by a committee, he boldly marched up and into the President's chair. There was some confusion, but by a few skillful rul- 176 A VOICE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. ings on points of order, he soon quieted matters, and had all the wheels of legislation running smoothly, before the gaping crowd around him could realize the b r i 1 1 i a n t ^^/^Z* de- etat. In the Hall of Representatives, the old roll of the Wallace House was called, to the consternation of the Mackeyites, who found themselves occupying their former seats, but, this time as mere spectators. After the usual preliminary measures were acted on, still without noticing these uneasy legislators, the House quietly adjourned. After they had been suf- ficiently tried in this way, a resolution was introduced to admit the delegations from certain counties, on their purging themselves of contempt for the true House of Representatives, at its preceding session, by apologies the most humble ; and earnestly begging pardon for the same. This way an edifying spectacle for the whole State, and well calculated to benefit the penitents themselves ; though it was well known that their acquiescence was occasioned more by appeals ;from their pockets, than from their consciences. Hamilton, a very shrewd and intelligent negro, from Beaufort, had been the first, publicly, to go over to the Wallace House the winter before. On this occasion he was in his glory, and his appeals for the " mourners to come forward, and seek pardon," were ludicrous enough. In some of the more obdurate cases, he would stand up with them in the aisle, as if he was their sponsor ; while on others, he would imi- tate " the laying on of hands." The whole delegation from Charleston, nineteen in REDEMPTION AND HOME RULE. IJJ number, were permanently excluded, on the ground o{ fraud in their election ; and that old city has sent a full Democratic ticket in their stead — good men and true, — and some of her ablest and longest tried citizens. On one ground and another, the seats of certain senators were vacated, and these were promptly filled by Democrats — the Radicals, as in Charleston, mak- ing no nominations. At last, the sudden disappear- ance of the notorious Whittemore, from that body^ gave the Democrats the majority there also. Whitte- more's seat was declared vacant, and a Democrat has been elected in his place also. The most important action of this session of the Legislature, was the appointment of two able com- mittees to sit during the recess. The first committee: is to investio^ate the financial condition of the State, particularly her bonded debts. The second is to in- quire into and bring to trial, all frauds, high crimes, and misdemeanors perpetrated against the State,, under Radical rule.* It was this last measure that frightened Whittemore- off, and has caused many others to depart abruptly. But it is no part of the committee's duties or purpose to drive the Radicals from the State. So far from it,, they are sending to the highways and hedges, and compelling them to come in. Their proceedings, of course, are private; but, from their success, thus far, and from the character of the tribunal, there is no doubt that their work will be thoroughly done. * See Appendix. 1/8 A VOJCE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. Our narrative now closes in the midst of this most stupendous revolution, and one brought about by- means, apparently, so inadequate. It was the result of prudence, caution and long-suffering patience — qualities in which South Carolina has but recently been indoctrinated — all guided by profound wisdom. The grand result has given Hampton a name above | every other name in the State, and has enthroned him in the hearts of all his true countrymen, and country- i women too. But say to him, " Never had a peo- ple such a chief to follow ! " and his answer would be promptly returned, '" Never had a chief such a people to hold up his hands, and urge him forward i/i liis 02V n way ! " Neither is his fame confined by State lines. Such patriotism and statesmanship as he has recently illus- trated, will captivate and impress all who can appre- ciate such rare qualities, always and everywhere. Take the following tribute from Senator Bayard, than whom none stands higher, in this latitude, among living American statesmen. In an address delivered at Pimlico, he says : " Few figures stand forth upon the canvas of histo- ry so eminent as that of John Hampden, the English country gentleman, whose monument records that, * with ^ per ct 13 75 March. By auctioneer's commission on sale of State works and State- road, and papers, stamps and expenses 206 37 " By cash paid for advertising, Charleston Courier 242 75 By cash paid for advertising, Daily Ncivs 247 05 By cash paid for advertising, Beaufort Times 32 00 " By cash paid for advertising, Beaufort Republican 32 00 " By amount due W. J. Whipper as attorney ;^7>033 ?>?> ;^8,I56 62 Recapitulation. Debtor by receipts ^^6,517 99 Creditor by payments 8,156 62 Due W. J. W ;^i,638 67, Now, J. L. Neagle, Comptroller-General, and asso- ciate with Scott and Chamberlain, as " Sinking Fund Commission," on page 854, testifies that Whipper, as n {( 222 APPENDIX. Secretary of the Commission, was authorized to sell some real estate in Charleston, but ivas never em- ployed as attorney. In the same evidence before the Committee, Neagle gave the particulars of the sale of all the stock held by the State in the Greenville and Columbia Rail- road, in the South Carolina Railroad and South- western Railroad Bank, in the Cheraw and Coalfield Railroad, and in the Blue Ridge Railroad. The last item was ;^ 1,320,000, at one dollar per share. All the unused real estate to which the State held titles, both in Columbia and Charleston, was also sold, and all this, railroads and real estate, under an Act purporting to cover the sale of some perishable rub- bish in and about the State House grounds. The final chapter in this book of frauds, is exclu- sively devoted to the monstrous and unblushing bribery and corruption in the case of JOHN J. PATTERSON AND THE UNITED STATES SENATE. The committee give sixty-five pages of testimony, wherein is clearly set forth the testimony of seventy- five witnesses given under a promise of immunity as " State's evidence." Most of these were members of the Legislature, who received,- in hand paid, the bribes for their votes. The average price was ;^3oo for a vote, though in their final settlements, very few seemed to have realized in full the amounts promised. H. G. Worthington, under a promise of the Collect- orship in Charleston — which appointment he after- wards obtained — was Patterson's indefatigable and APPENDIX. 223 unscrupulous *' right-hand man," throughout the canvass. The other candidates were R. B. Elliott, a colored representative, and R. K. Scott. In favor of Elliott was the fact that he was a representative colored man, and the majority of the Legislature were of that race. Scott had been paving the way for this per- sonal promotion for years back, as Governor, etc. Patterson held no official position whatever, but was only known as an adroit and successful lobbyist. His only chance in the race then was money, and the testimony shows how lavishly he expended it. How much it cost him will probably never be known ; but Senator Nash testifies, under oath, that Patterson told him after the election, that he had expended ;^40,000 in bribes, and that he had been forced to sell all his Blue Ridge Scrip, and mortgage his real estate in Columbia to raise the amount. (Page 918,) On the same point, John A. Barker, member from Edgefield, testified that Patterson told him personally that a certain amount of money — seventy-five thousand dollars, if necessary — was ready on hand to secure his election, and then offered him ^i,coo for his own vote, and ^2,000 additional, if he would secure the votes of two others of his delegation, the money to be paid at the bank as soon as the vote was cast. (Page 879.) Of the seventy-five witnesses examined, sixty tes- tified to direct tenders of bribes — in most cases accepted too — and yet, Mr. Collector Worthington stated, under oath, before the committee, that he had 224 APPENDIX. " no knowledge or information that money was used to secure the election of Patterson, save that he heard rumors of that kind on the streets." (Page 935.) Alarmed at one time, Patterson offered, through Gen, Dennis, to bribe Elliott himself off the field, with ;^ 1 5,000. This is established by the testimony of Elliott himself, who expressed much virtuous in- dignation at the base proposal. AFTER THE ELECTION, earnest efforts were made to bring- Patterson before the courts. He was immediately arrested, under a warrant for bribery, and sent to jail, whence he was promptly released on Habeas Corpus, by Judge Mackey. After a preliminary hearing before a Trial Justice, he was bound over to appear before the next Circuit Court. But Patterson laughed and snapped his finger at all this. Moses, as Governor, had al- ready removed the jury commissioner, and had • appointed Gen. Dennis in his stead. Judge Car- penter, Patterson's intimate friend, had just been elected to the bench, and Columbia belonged to his circuit. As to the juries in prospect. Gen. Dennis himself testified before the Committee : " When listing the juries for the year — grand and petit — I did not allow any name to go into the box in any way inimi- cal to Patterson. In this way there could be no pos- sibility of an enemy being drawn on either panel." (Page 936.) And so his case has stood from that day to this. When the judiciary was reformed in 1876, as well as APPENDIX. 225 the Legislature, a serious effort was made to bring Patterson to trial, on this, as well as some other indict- ments. But a requisition on the proper authorities at Washington was judicially refused. In view of the vast amount of crime and fraud un- earthed by their very protracted and thorough inves- tigation, the Committee recommend that judicial proceedings be at once begun against the most prominent on the foregoing list of thieves and de- faulters. As to the spirit in which this should be done, they say, "and let this be undertaken in no temper of vengeance, not to gratify any morbid sen- timent that would gloat over the sufferings of the criminal, overtaken by the sad consequences of his crime. But let it be done in the spirit of the patriot and the statesman — the spirit of the law, as expressed by the old Roman jurist and orator, '^ ut pcrna ad paiicos, inctiis ad oinncs perveniat ;''^ and as we learn it in the forcible words of the great expositor of the English Common Law, ** the end or final cause of human punishment is not by way of atonement or expiation of the crime committed — for that must be left to the just determination of the Supreme Being — but as a precaution against further offences of the same kind." (Page 886.) The action of the Legislature, under this recom- mendation, caused the Attorney- General to begin proceedings — so far, with the following RESULTS. More than thirty ** True Bills " have been found by Grand Juries of Richland County — not very much 226 APPENDIX. varied in their character — and covering a long list of names. Sometimes five or six names would be embraced under the same indictment, and sometimes the same name would be found several times re- peated. For instance, the name of Cardozo will be found on 7ii7ie separate indictments. With this explanation, only the following names can now be found on the Docket : H. H. Kimpton, D. H. Chamberlain, R. K. Scott, F. J. Moses, N. G. Parker, F. L. Cardozo, Robert Smalls, J. L. Neagle, F. S. Jacobs, (Solomons' Bank,) B. F. Whittemore, Solomon L. Hoge, Y. J. P. Owens, Thos. C. Dunn, R. H. Cleaves, Samuel J. Lee, Josephus Woodruff, A. O. Jones and L. Cass Carpenter. Of these, Parker, L. Cass Carpenter, Cardozo and Smalls, have been tried and convicted, on one indict- ment each ; so far, the other criminals have not been very accessible. Immunity has been granted to very many — mostly members of the Legislature — as in the seventy-five examined in Patterson's case. In other cases, as Woodruff's, Jones', Nash's, and some others, promises of restitution were exacted and complied ivith, and thus the State was relieved of a large amount of indebtedness by the surrender of papers. How much, if any, money was refunded, has never come to light. PERSONALS. Hiram H. Kimpton. — Two indictments in his case — one associating him with Patterson and Parker, for APPENDIX. 227 "conspiracy" to bribe members of the Legislature — and the other simply of ** conspiracy," associating • him with Chamberlain, Parker, Neagle and Leslie. (What single State could have withstood such a con- spiracy as this ?) A requisition on the Governor of Massachusetts was made for Kimpton, not long since, but her constituted authorities could not consent to the abduction of the embodiment of so much native financial ability from the borders of that State. D. H. Chamberlain is also under indictment in the same court; but whether he will ever be tried is doubtful — and, if tried, whether he can be convicted, is still more doubtful. The slang expression of '' running into a hole, and then drawing in the hole after him/' is peculiarly appropriate to his course, all through his carpet-bag career. He has been the Alpha and Omega of Radicalism in South Carolina. Furnishing most of the brain in their first constitu- tional convention, serving as Attorney-General in their first administration, he was among the last of the office-holders to leave the State. A large share- holder in the " Printing Company," in the G. & C. R. R., in Solomons' Bank, and " attorney in fact" for several of the head devils in rascality, — yet he has managed always to keep himself behind the scenes, till his innate cunning would give him the cue. So well did he act his part, that even in 1876, when the " straightout " policy finally prevailed, there were many of our prominent citizens and newspapers who advocated Chamberlain, as the Conservative candidate for Governor. We can only say, that if Patterson II 228 APPENDIX. reached the United States Senate on his peculiar car- pet-bag merits, — on the same ground, Daniel H. Chamberlain ought to be President for life. R. K. Scott's eight years' career has already been very fully given in these pages. He has never been tried, though there are more than one of the indict- ments awaiting him. He has returned to his native Ohio, where old Judge Tucker once said the prevail- ing classes were the white man and the hog. With all his ill-gotten wealth, R. K. S. will never reach the F. F. O's. B. F. Whittemore. — As senator from Darlington, his career in that county was even more diabolical than that of Joe Crews in Laurens. He retained his seat in the Senate, even after Chamberlain had abdicated as Governor. Finding the Investigating Committee hot on his trail, he applied for and received leave of absence to visit his "sick family" in Massachusetts. Pairing with a nicniber of this Investigating Committee in the Senate, he took the train, and has not been seen or heard from since. N. G. Parker. — Tried and convicted in the summer of 1875, under an indictment of " Larceny, and breach of trust, with fraudulent intent." Escaped from jail ; was recaptured, and finally pardoned for that offense on promise to tell all he knew. There are five other indictments against him, and he has departed to parts unknown. L. Cass Carpenter, editor and sympathizing lob- byist, was tried and convicted on an indictment of "Forgery." Pardoned, as to that case, by the Gover- APPENDIX. 229 nor, on a petition carried around the Democratic Legislature by his wife, in person, in which it was asserted that his life would be endangered by his longer incarceration, as his health was very feeble. There are still four other indictments against him, and all for the same crime. Recently, at Washington, and elsewhere, the papers represent him as devoting his spared life to abusing and vilifying those to whose clemency he is indebted for his life. Y. J. P. Owens, senator from Laurens, indicted more than once for " conspiracy to cheat by false tokens," left his country for his country's good, and after wasting his ill-gotten substance in riotous living, died miserably in some northern city, from excessive debauchery. Francis L. Cakdozo. was tried and convicted by a jury of his own race, of " conspiracy." The President and Clerk of the Senate, and the Speaker and Clerk of the House, were associated with him in this indictment, but not in the trial. He was released on bail, pending his appeal for a new trial ; and when this was refused, he returned and gave himself up. He was finally pardoned as to that case ; but there are eight other indictments against him, on the same docket, embracing about all the fraudulent charges known to the judiciary. Is now happy in the Treas- ury Department in Washington, appointed under the Civil Service Reform Policy of President Hayes, for entire proficiency in all financial operations. Robert Smalls, late member of Congress. His political influence was owing, mainly, to his being 230 APPENDIX. head bribe-broker for his Congressional District, He was tried and convicted on an indictment for bribery. His release was precisely similar to Car- dozo's ; and, with him, he is sharing the munificent fruits of President Hayes' Civil Service Reform. S. A. SwAiLS, senator from Williamsburg, and there having the same sway and infamous notoriety, as Whittemore, in Darlington, and Joe Crews, in Lau- rens, was not indicted in Richland, but promised im- munity, if he would vacate his Presidency of the Senate, make restitution, and go and sin no more. (Cleaves, Lieutenant-Governor, and cx-officio Presi- dent of the Senate, had already vacated his seat, and on the same terms). Instead of manifesting any peni- tence, Swails returned to his countv, and became so desperately incendiary in his course, that the citizens very unanimously invited him to leave. After this, getting his carpet-bag filled with grievances and per- secutions, he, too, went to Washington, and sat down with Cardozo and Smalls. Finding his quarters so comfortable, he sent word to his friend, Sam Lee, of Sumter, another local politician of the same complexion and principles, to raise some row at home, and come on for his reward. This, Sam was not slow to do, and to-day, is sitting at the financial fountain of greenbacks. Strange sight, even in these days of political wonders, to behold Cardozo, Smalls, Swails and Lee flying from the penitentiary at home, to the hospitable shelter of the United States Treasury. APPENDIX. 231 As an appropriate base for this column of notorious knaves, it is only necessary to write the name of Franklin J. Moses. It must be borne in mind, that the work of this Committee was confined to a particular class of frauds. Very little inves-tigation was had into the " Bond " question, and none whatever into the infamous " Land Commission," with C. P. Leslie at its head. If the attempt should ever be made to publish all these frauds to the world, in the language of the Evangelist, it might be said, " I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. '^ 9 66