Reconstruction in South Carolina. 311
all the leading- Republicans. We shall show directly what power- ful opposition he had to encounter. It was first of all necessary to secure the powerful aid of the government. At the approaching election it was certain that the South generally would vote for Til- den, and though South Carolina was largely given over to the negroes, it was certain that Tilden would make a very respectable show of votes. With the Republicans the great end of policy was to secure the election of Hayes ; and nothing pleased them more than a tale of outrages against negroes, which was eagerly sought after, invented if no better could be had, and published broadcast over the Union, to demonstrate the semi-savage and rebellious con- duct oi the Southern people. Chamberlain himself, as we shall shortly see, entered without scruple into this business. The Secre- tary of War had directed that all the troops not wanted to meet the Indian troubles should be sent to the .Southern States, and on Sep- tember 4 a circular was issued by the Attorney-General, directing all the marshals in the Southern States to take charge of the ap- proaching elections. Both Chamberlain and Patterson were in the Attorney-General's office that day, and expressed the opinion that it would be impossible without this aid to have a fair election. It is a curious coincidence that on that very day a telegram was sent to the Governor's office in Columbia, praying aid against some lawless negroes who had for more than a week stopped entirely all work on the rice-field of Combahee. This telegram was never answered. The Governor was in Washington, providing for Republican votes at the next election. In comparison with this object the riots and law- lessness of the southern district were insignificant.
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
It was about the middle of September before the Republican convention met to nominate State officers. The prospect of the Governor for nomination appeared very gloomy. The better por- tion of the party was disgusted with his pretended zeal for reform ; some of the worst because they feared that this zeal was real ; all denounced him as a traitor to his party and a flatterer of the whites. Elliot could not forgive him' for withholding Whipper's commission, and declared that he had documents in his possession which, if produced, would send the Governor to the penitentiary. Amid this storm of denunciation, it seemed that Chamberlain must be overwhelmed. He was saved by Patterson, whom he had not long
