The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-08-09
From the Richmond Times, July 30.
Negro Riot in Richmond.

Negro Riot in Richmond.
On Friday night last the very heart
of our city was invaded by an organized
band of insolent and impudent negroes,
who made the night hideous with their
music, the clamorous orders of their Off
GERS, and the tramp Of many hundred feet
These wretches were armed, we learned,
with sabres and pistols, and their drill
was that of soldiers preparing for speedy
and bloody conflict.
Such spectacle naturally aroused the
indignation of the citizens Of Richmond,
but they exhibited praiseworthy torbear-
ance in not putting these black vagabonds
to rout, and forever terminating their un-
blushing preparations for future insurrcc-
tons against their patrons and employ
ers. Nor was this, we learn, the first in
stance of the appearance of these pion-
GERS of future war of races. On the
hills around this city, and in its suburbs,
the tramp of negro military companies
can be heard every night, and the rattle
of sabres disturbs the sleep Of the women
and children.
All this, together with the atrocious
teachings of few vile and demoralized
white men in our midst, clearly foreshad-
ows serious disturbances and bloodshed
in the future. If these exhibitions of ne
gro pugnacity are not encouraged, they
are certainly not disapproved of by the
agents of the Freedmen's Bureau. A
word from the men who are paid to main
tain friendly relations between the races
would stop these monstrous exhibitions,
and yet that word is not uttered.
AS nothing whatever has been done by
the military authorities to put an end to
what must inevitably lead to strife, steps
must at once be taken by our citizens to
do what the hired servants of the Gov
ernment have utterly failed to do. In
our calm and deliberate opinion, the time
has arrived when these negro demonstra-
tions in the streets Of this city (and the
city is the property of white men) must
be stopped at all hazards.
AS an order-loving, law abiding citizen,
we are anxious that these offensive exhi-
bitions of negro turbulence and insolence
shall be suppressed by the proper author
tiles; but it is the duty of every citizen
of Richmond to prevent the recurrence
of the exhibitions of last Friday night.
1t is disgrace to our manhood that our
wives and children should be disturbed
by the noise and clamor of negro prepa-
ration for war.
1t must be recolected that these negro
drills have not been provoked, nor can
they be justified by any ill treatment
which the negroes have received from the
whites, nor by any corresponding prepa-
ration for war upon the part Of their late
masters. Disarmed by the Federal au-
thorities, our militia have done little or
nothing towards reorganization. The
negroes of this city have been treated
with wonderful kindness and considera-
ton by their late masters, and if not
glateful for our kindness they are very
basc inrrates. X x
We have earnestly and repeatedly ad-
vocatcd the protection of the negro in all
his rights as freedman, but these night
ly drills and preparations in our streets
for the "irrepressible conflict must not
be permitted. No where would q con-
fict with the white race result more ter
ribly to the poor, deluded and misguided
negro than in Virginia, but if his white
advisers have decided that he is TO COM
nit acts of lawless violence, and ieopar-
die the safety of his best friends, the
sooner the issue is met the better for the
whites. 1t is one in which the present
generation of trained soldiers can very
soon decide if it is thrust upon us.
AS Generals Terry and Brown are men
of intelligence, they cannot fail to see
that the reproach and odium Of these in
solent negro demonstrations must be Wis
tied upon their heads They are here for
the express purpose of preserving order
and maintaining kindly relations between
the races. Are they faithfully perform
ing their duties as conservatorS Of the
peace in tolerating negro military organ
izations when the whites are disarmed,
andin no way interfering with the blacks?
Do they suppose that upon fair repre-
sentation of this just cause of complaint
that President Johnson will sustain them
in permitting the streets of Richmond to
resound each night with the clank of nc
gro arms and the tramp of negro soldiers?
They little understand the President if
they suppose that he will tolerate this
apparent preparation of the negro for in
surrection and revolt under the eyes of
the very men whose duty it is to repress
all such demonstrations.
From the Richmond Tfn,es august 8.
The following order from Gen. Terry
prohibiting "negro drills" will be receiv-
ed with the most lively pleasure by our
citizens and ia q long step towards re-
moving the naturally bitter feelings of