The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-09-21

tinue through tho week Some nf t!;a mon
left the plantation on Monday (the first day of
the rcgistration), and returned late that oven
ing without registering. Mr.. Fraser then told
them that eff they left again before Saturday,
they need not return" An alteration cn-
sued, in which the negroes set up the right t"
be absent from the place "as long as the regis
tration lasted" without any liability to fine o.
deduction Of wages for the lost time Mr.
Fraser, on the other hand gave them to under
stand that his duty to his employer required
him to make deduction for their absence on
Monday and for any other day, except the day
allowed them for the purpose of registering.
Having abscnted themselves OH Monday, they
failed to receive their rations when the other
laborcrs got theirs and having expressed their
determination to leave again on Tuesday and
for every day of the week, Mr.. Fraser refused
to give them the rations for that week They
then left for the registration precinct. Ar
irving there, they made complaint to the two
registrars, Mr. Smith (whitc) and Aaron Logan
| (black), that Mr.. Fraser had forbidden their
coming to register and threatened to turn
them off if they left the plantation. Aaron
demanded that Fraser should be arrested. All
the negroes present (about hundred and
fifty) clamourcd for the arrest. Mr.. Smith
advised again, it, saying there was no affidavit
| of the facts, and Il bare statement was not suf-
ficicnt. Besides, it was late in the afternoon
and before Mr.. Fraser could be arrested (hc
lived four miles of and brought to them and
then sent to Charleston (inccn miles farthcr)
it would be midnight. lie expressed doubt,
too, as to his right to arrest Il man who lived
four miles from the precinct, charge of at
tempting to prevent the attendance Of the very
men who were then present, and who had been
there, mm"harr/, TIE ~hotc ot tie prcrio"S day.
He refused to sign the warrant, at least until
he could think the matter over. But Aaron
would not be delayed moment lie grew
furious ;-thrcatcnca his white colleague
sworc he would take the responsibility on HIM
| SELF and thcrc-upo scrawled off q sort Of man
date ':to bring Sam. Fraser before him to be
dealt with" &c, &c. The negroes inspired by
Aaron's resolution. howlcl for vengeance on
Fraser. Aaron called for volunteers .:to arrest
the william" y hundred voices cried cut
ell go" '.Gib nc lie warrun,' Aaron pick
cd out Il dn%cn mon armed with guns and
musketS (ubout thilty present had these wca-
pon-), nul commanded them to bring the vii.
lian before him, iii show tho white scoun-
drcl how he dare to fine you for coming horc."
Ne, &c. The negroes took the paper and pro-
cecdcd to the house of Mr. Fraser. They
found him lying down on bench They
rushed up to him. cooked their guns lcvcllcd
them at him and cried out. IL arrcss you."
''wc conc to fetch you. dead or alive to Mr..
.osan." The, Commanded him to go with
them. lie ....:nn'cd h;> horse. and .;;,..-dcu
IN all it!cs hy the negroes, was conauv,y, ~"
the august presence of the ,iusky dignitary.
In the meantime, however, Mr. Smith Ga
Northern gcntlcman) the corcgistrar OF Aaron.
fndln" that mere business could be done
that day, had undertaken. in his capacity Of
Chairman Of the Board. to diorn the regis
trat"n for the day. lie therefore declared
the books closed and proceeded to gather up
the books. Aaron claimed that he had as
much right to the possession Of them as he.
Mr.. Smith had This was not conceded On
the contrary, Mr.. Smith informed him that the
books were put i'll his charge and he intended
to keep them. Thcrcupon Aaron said he
"must have some Of Mcm.' You have no
right to f"hc oN F" And the negroes around
cried out. "Ias, dat's so, ':don't &c um ALL
''tcck some, ''tcck some" Mr. Smith, how
ever, was firm. SO he went away with the
books, wiser man for his one DAYS experience
of the negro character.
y little before sunset, Mr. Fraser, with
the armed escort was brought before the
sable Aaron The negro labourcr who had
made the complaint was told by Aaron to make
his statement again. lie did So Another nc
gro was then called up to corroboratc that state
mcnt. Unfortunately and most unw:.ingl,,
he let out that Mr.. Fraser had told them that
"thcy ro"M ga "ml register on Saturday." but
that the condition Of the crop did not admit
of their absence more than one day :" and that
"thc work they were engaged in could not he
delayed" )" and they must therefore put off
registering till Saturday"
The two negroes lavin. given their state
mcnt Mr. Fraser asked If bo ,ico,,lj CIV. . Ca