The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-15
OFFICIAL.
Headquarters Second Military District,
CHARLESTON, s. G August 9, 1867.

CHARLESTON, s. c August 9, 1867.
GENERAL ORDERS,
No. &C.
1. Before Military Commission which con-
yened at Charleston, s. c., pursuant to Special
Orders, No. 1O4 current series, from these Head
ker, Captain Ordnance Corps, is President, were
arraigned and tried
00e's DAILY and Charles Radcliffe, Citizens.
CHARGE" Assault and battery
Speciticdtion-"In this, that the said Ocen Daly
and Charles Radcliffe, of Columbia s. c., being
prompted by malice and ill-will against William
]. Armstrong and John Q. Thompson, of Wash
ington City, D. c., who were temporarily So
journing at Columbia aforesaid for the purpose
OF attending upon and communicating with O
certain convention or public body, there
sembled for the consideration of subjects
affecting the said State OF South Carolina,
and being hostile to the assembling and action
of said convention and to the said William j.
Armstrong and John @. Thompson, of Wash
ington City, D. c., as attending upon and in
communication Herewith, did, without reason
able cause or provocation, wilfully, maliciously,
and riotousy begin an affray, and did assault
and violently beat and otherwise matreat the
said William j. Armstrong and John Q. Thomp-
son, and did throw glass of liquor in the face
OF the said William j. Armstrong, and further
struck the said William j. Armstrong in the
face with their fists, and did further strike the
said John @. Thompson in the face with their
fists, and also did knock down the said John @.
Thompson with blow from box upon the
neck of him the said John Q. Thompson; and
th"t the said O,cet DAILY and Charles Radcliffe
although expostulated with, did from time to
time renew the said attack upon the said Will
liam j. Armstrong and John Q. Thompson.
This at Columbia, South Carolina, on the 2Sth
day of July, 1867"
PLEA, % Guilty."
FINDING, Guilty."
SENTENCE.
To be imprisoned at such place as the Mljor
General Commanding the second Military Dis
trict mag direct, for the period Of sic (6) calendar
nl0nthS''
II. The proceedings, finding and sentence in
the foregoing case are approved. Fort Macon is
designated us the place OF confinement.
The recitals in the specification, to the truth
of all of which the accused have assentcd by
their plea, suggest considerations indicating
degree of criminality far greater than that in
volved in the ordinary cases of misdemeanor
growing out of mere private resentment The
gentlemen set upon and maltreated by Rad
cliffe and Daily, were strangers, and the decent
amenities of hospitality were violated in their
persons They stood, in 4 certain manner, in
representative capacity and any indignity offered
to them was as if offered to both those from whom
they came and those to whom they were accred-
tied. The place which was the scene ofthe wrong
was the capital city of the State, where, in an
especial degree, courtesy and consideration
should be observed towards respectable visitors.
To withhold such civilties, and assall with con-
tumey and violence unofending strangers during
their sojourn at the capital of a con- commonwealth,
was grave offence against the peace and dignity
of the State.
The sole circumstance suggested in mitigation
is that the accused were intoxicated al the time.
1t is quite apparent, however, that if at all I'M
der the influence of drink, they were affected not
to the degree which would render them insensl-
bic of their conduct but only to that degree
which impelled them to break through the re-
straints which prudence imposed in sober mo-
ments. In fact, well as in law, they were per-
fectly responsible for what they did, and to that
responsibility they shall be held.
1t will be observed that the offence which it
has been needful thus to deal with, prompt
ed by that malignant spirit of political intolerance
which, always unreasonable and in general cow
ardy, brings the bludgeon into every failing argu-
mcnt and makes haste to silence with blows the
dissenter whom it is more convenient to destroy
than to confute This intolerance, Illustrated in
countless affrays, was long permitted, in South
ern communities, to hunt down witt cruel Vlo-
lence persons venturing to maintain opinions
not in harmony with local sentiments. Acts of
outrage thus melted, when resisted and not
quelled, have sometimes eliminated in mobs and
massacres Prescription for opinions, whether
by Punishment, by the guillotine or the stake,
even when invested with the sanction of govern
mental authority, has ever been justly stigma
tized as the hateful instrument of despotism; but
to allow individuals to mark fOrlicentious violence
those whose political action may have rendered
them obnoxious to popular prejudice involves
perhaps worse evils and demands severer denun-
citation. Wherever disorders so unworthy Amer
lean civilization tolerated in any degree by
public opinion or the Indifference of the civil
authorities, the communities in which they occur
must unhapply suffer in their prosperity and in
their good name.
By Command of Major-General D: E. SIcKLEs:
j. w. CLOUS,
Capt. 3Sth Z. s. Infantry,
A D. C. and A. A. A. G.
Aug. Is. 1867 Gift