Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-08
How they Suppress Servile Jnsur-
rectiOns in South Carolins-the
Charleston GuaId House.

/
Having look into the Work-Iouss, let
US turn and take view Of the s-Guard-
House" an edi6ce equally suggestive Of the
system that gave it existence. ST. Nichols
Church, with its tall, gusnt steep!e; the CT
ty Hall, with its broad squatty roof; the an
tiquated Court House, with its dilapldated
walls, and the Guard House. with its contin-
ual iH-going and outgoing Of lazy-leoking
men in uniforms-these fank the four cor
uers of Meeting and Broad streets, two of
the principal thoroughfares in Charleston
The Guard-HOuse standing on the south
west corner, is of the Doric order, with hea-
w Curiuthirn columns, forming a coonsde
on the streets here named. There is a SOM
bre, tom6-Iike air about the building, and
when seen on a misty day (isa walls are ex-
quistelV dingv) presents an appearance
| lIits like what one might imagine the PAN
;heon, if hung IN mourning. The Charles
toHian betrayss singular passion for fashion,
ing his public buildings after tina style OF the
| ancien.s
This GuardH is the rendezvous and
barracks Of what is called The Guard "
The Guard is formidable body OF well-di,-
C plined men, ma ntsneG at The expense Ct
,he city; their duty is 10 protect it against
! the IN mischievOus designs Of the SLAVE papu-
laton. There are two Guard-Houses in
Charlas:on--tie upper and the lower-one
on what is called the Neck snd the othsr N
the centre Of the ciry. The latter. and nrin-
| cipal one, is that which we are describing.
A sentinel, in uni orm simil1r to that worn
BY the British inflntry soldier. with cross
belt, ire-lock and heavy sid'-srIns. PAGES in
front. Ir fine weather, the officers and nom
commissioned officers Of the Guard NAV be
seen. some seated on benches, some loiie--
ing about under the front colonado. The
inside Of he Guard House is fttei u3 with
rooms for the Offices and non-com.n ission-
ed officers, lohg room ior u e gaard on du-
". cells fo- the Confinement of delinuupn,s
picked up during the night, and IN immense
square room for the use of the prv1trs of
the cor0., which ia fitted up with benches
and hunks, similar to those in between the
decks Of ship. We shsl ID not forgot 10
adj, that there is ais, courtroom in the
Guard House. In this his Honorths M1vorE
holds court every morning at ten O'Clock
for the disposal OF such persons as are bro't
in for misdemeanor during the night.
The Gu1rd consists of nearly Ave hundred
men Il speak from memory mostly Irish
and Germans. employed at a regular stipend |
per month. 1t were well 10 bear in mind
that this body of men is inrependant Of the
day police" the constabulary, aid private
watchmen, which together form numerous
body. but have functions CT similar nsture.
TIE Guard is officered bv captain, (ouite |
an important charscter;l krst, second, third
and fourth lieutenan,s; sergeants, corpo-als.
and lance cOrporals. who wear uniform,
and receive very considerable yearly sala-
ry. On Sunday portioa of Il e Guard is
detailed on special service. and, arrayed in
bright uniform, presents quite .oldieriy
appearance.
At the ringing Of the early bell the mem-l
hers OF the Guard on reuer muster ai the
Guard-House where they perform series
Ot eyoluuions peculiar to their service, and
are then marched out. in charge of officers.
to their several beats, where .hev remain
until midnight. and are relieved BY another
file. The city. il NAV be said, is lined with
these men during The night. who may be dis.
'inguished by their gray. slouchy night uni.
forms, their clean white belts, their side
arms and their irucheons. These men, al
thuGgh singu'arly illiierate as class, and
ierocious in their hate of the negro. this /,
"a with the sons af Erin.) are in.
vested with an almost absolute power over
nim. Indeed, i, has been charged by those
who look upon the guard as unnecessarily
expensive to the city, th,t it is nothing more
han asystem of espoignase upon the slaves
whom it serves to make enemies, while n
better end would be ubtaned BY conciliat- =
ng their friendship.
The ringing of the frs; bell. at quarter {
o nine, is the signal for all slaves and per- a
ons of color To repair to their homes Tho,e 4
ound out after Zine o'cle, k. without pass
rom white citizen, are liable to seizure by
he guardsmen, whose du'y it is to convey e
hem to the nearest guard house. where tn v I
re incarcera'eG in cells and arrsignej be- g
ore his Honor in the morning. II merely b
Ound "out without criminaI intent" the q
wner is notified in the morning BY the d
who appreheuded him. The mas il
Pr, if unwilling to have his slave pu 'ished. o
lay appear in his behalf, and on Offering d
satisfactory excuse for being found "out c
f,er hours" fine Of four dollars is in. h
icted, one half OF which goes To the guard C
nan. II the owner be indifferent. or refuse ID
appear on behalf OF his slave, then tue Fl
lave is ordered To receive sundry strokes Of G.
ne paddle, sent TO the Nork-house punished
nd discharged. When it is remembered
lar the tree colored people are amenable 10 7
ne slave,laws, and are held under a survei- d
nee even more rigid than that to which the at
lave is reduced, their hardships are easily rs