 Aiken was a prominent figure in the Reconstruction-era Democratic party and a leader in efforts to suppress the voting rights of recently emancipated slaves.He publicly called for the assassination of a black state legislator, Benjamin F. Randolph, saying “never to suffer this man Randolph to come into your midst; if he does, give him four feet by six.” On October 16, 1868, Randolph was assassinated by three men in broad daylight.Aiken was detained by state authorities on suspicion of being an accessory-before-the-fact, and freed on $5,000 bond.