Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-02-17
From the AbsevIllepress.
Public Meeting.

-. %. .
MIIh WAY, Abbeyille Dstrlet,S. c.
At meeting of many citizens, Of this comrnu-
nitE convened al Mt Pleasant Church, ON 18th
January lS59-EGen. P H Bradley was called to
the chair, and Jss. H. Wideman requested to act
as secretary. e..
The Cbairman briefly stated the OBJECT of .,he
meeting to Be- to take into considerations; the better
government of our slave populstion-she correc-
tion Of evils iucideuSto the Neglect and,disregard
of su5sistent laws-and the iBpertence OFFS more
active and efficient discharge of Patrol duty. =
J. W. Hearst submitted the following preamble
and resolutions, which on motion Of W. P. Suli-
van, were taken up, considered ssiiatiaj and unsn-
imously adopted -. :.
We, the undersigned citizens Of Abbeville Dis
trict, desirous to put down the illicit traffic Of
white persons with negroes TO arrest tal i'm
moral practices, hostile to our slave interests and
to secure that quietude and harmony in their gov
eIDment, most conducive to their happiness. and
our welfare, do adopt the following resolutions,
and pledge ourselves individually to theirfaihful
execution.
Resolued, 1st.-Tbat one more vigilant Com
mttees disappointed whose, daty it shall De, TO
ferret out all illicit traffic between white persons
and negroes or any other misdemeenar. ocearring
in their neighborhoodj and to report thesam to a
subsequent meeting, to be cal led on notice given.
to the cfrairman,;- from sufficient and sat.
isfactory reasons, the offender against the peace
and good order Of this community, requires i'm
mediate prosecution then, and in that case, the
Chairman Of such committee shall prosecute forth
with, "as the law Directs 'r
2nd.-That we'&ill insist on the Captain Of this
Beat Company, fully discharging his duty as Cap
taineG Police first, in dividing his Beat into
patrol sections or districts, and secondn enrolling
all. who are lisble to do patrol duty, in each sec.
tion, and in chasing the samein patrol squads so
as to keep an efficient police, always and constant
ly on active duty
3rd.-That we will require all negroes from
neighboring farms,visitipg our negro quarters, to
report themselves and exhibit their pass to the
,owper or overseer, before entering the quarter
and that we will in no instance, give y permit or
pass to of our negroes, without distinctly
stating, where he has permission to o,and how
long to be absent. "1"l !-l,'.' e.
4th-That in paying our negroes for their crops
Of corn and cotton, any other products of their
labor, such as s-baskets--collars, &c.,
we will in every instance, accompany the money
With written order, to trade to that amount and
no more, and with>a request to the merchant, to
| return bill Of the goods SO purchased BY said
slaye -, .'s<e-s - - - TSs~s1 s-5''.
| 5th.-That trading with our negroes without O.
written order either for cash or, ON q credit, Is
CONTRARY to lay, and fhe good and wholesome
government of our slaves, and'we will prosecute
in each and any instance, violation Of this law.
And whereas, the free negroes Of this cemmu-
nity,7- and who, we believe to be fair sample of
of The free negroes of the State-as q class, are
indoent, thiftess and thievish prtion!of our pop
u]ation-of little or no benefit to the common
wealth, but agreat injury to as, and growing
evil to our slayes: ..-r>,- to - =.
Therefore Resolved That the Chairman Of this
meeting, prepared Petition to be Sent up the
Legislature at its next session, setting forth the
character Of our free negro population with the
injury, which, as slave community we: sustain
from their residence in our midst, and the evils
to our slaves, from their intercourse and contact
with said free negroes and praying the begisla-
turgto take such action in the premises as will
correct the evils complained Of and which are inc
dent to. q mixed population Of free negroes and
slaves. 'E =
2nd.-That in the. opinion OF this meeting the
only certain and sure remedy for, the evils COM
plained Of will be- either the removal Of said free
negroes by Legislative enactment, beyond the
limits of the State, or the selling of them into
slavery. a.. gs. .E: = s>i..r.. F..
Srd.-That as the purpose and aim of this meet
ing, is to accomplish great possible good by the
CORRECTION md removal of evils, which are notio-
cal nor confined exclusively to this community,
invite other sections Of the District and State,
to take similar orIike action and to unite with US
in common cause
|. On. motion, ordered that the proceedings of
this meeting be published in our District papers.
On motion, adjourned to meet on 4th Saturday
in February next at, o'clock P. M.
-,.. . P. H: BRADLEY, Chrirman