Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-08-21
The Late Difficulty in Columbia.
The following Order explains itself:

The Late Difficulty in Columbia.
The following Order explains itself:
HEADaRs SECOND MILITARY DIsTRrcE, |
CHARLESTON, S. c., August 9, 1867. !
General Orders, No. CO.
1. Before a Military Commission which
convened at Charleston, S. c., pursuant to
Special Orders. No. lO4, current series, from
these Headquarters, and of which Brevet
Major F. II. Parker, Captain Ordnance Corps,
is President, were arraigned and tried:
Owen DAILY and Charles Radcliffe, citizens.
Charge" Assault and battery"
Specification" In this, that the said Owen
Daily and Charles Radcliffe. of Columbia, s.
c., being prompted by malice and ill-will
against William j. Armstrong and John @.
Thompson, of Washington City, D. c., who
were temporarily sojourning at Columbia,
aforesaid, for the purpose of attending upon
and communicating with certain convention
or public body, there assembled for the con.
sideration of political subjects affecting the
said State of South Carolina, and beirg hos
tile to the assembling and action of said con-
vention, and TO the said William j. Arm.
strong and John Q. Thompson, of Washing
ton City, D. G., as attending upon and in
Communication Herewith, did, without rea-
souable cause or provocation, wilfuily, mali
ciously, and riotously begin an affray, and
did assault and violently beat and otherwise
maltreat the said William J. Armstrong and
John @. Thompson, and did throw glass Of
liquor in the face of the said William j..
Armstrong, and further struck tbe said Will
liam j. Armstrong in the face with their
fists, and further strike the said John Q.
Thompson in the face with their fists, and
also did knock down the said John @. Thomp
son, with blow from box upon the neck
of him the said John @. Thompson ; and that
the said Owen DAILY and Charles Radcliffe,
although expostuated with; did from time to
time renew the attack upon the said William
j. Armstrong and John O.. Thompson. This
at Columbia, South Carolina, on the 2Sth day
of July, 1861"
Plea Guilty."
Finding" Guilty"
SENTENCE.
ITO be imprisoned at such place as the
Major General Commanding the Second Mill
itary District may direct, for the period of
six (6) calendar months"
II. The proceedings, finding and sentence
in the foregoing case are approved Fort
Macon is designated as the place OF confine.
ment.
The recitals in the specification, to the
truth of all of which the accused have as
sented by their plea, suggest considerations
Indicating degree Of criminality far greater
than that involved in the ordinary cases CT
misdemeanor growing out of mere private
resentment. The gentlemen set upon and
maltreated by Radcliffe and DAILY vera stran-
gers, and the decent amenities Of hospitality
were violated in their persons. They stood,
in certain manner, in representative ca
pacity, and any indignity offered to them was
as if offered to both those from whom they
came and 'thJse1to whom they were accredi-
ted. The place which was the scene OF the
wrong was the capital city of the State,
where, in on especial degree, courtesy and
consideration should be. observed towards
respectable visitors. To withhold such civ.
ilties. and as.aiI with contu=ely and violence
unUtftnding strangers during their sojourn
at the capital of commonwealth, was q
grave offence against the peace and dignity Of
the State.
The sole circumstance suggested in mitiga-
ton is that the accused were intoxicated at
the time. II is quite apparent, however, that
if at al! under The influence Of drink, they
were affected not to the degree which would
render them insensible of their conduct, but
only to that degree which impelled them to
break through the restraints which prudence
imposed in sober moments. In fact, as well
as in law, they we're perfectly responsible Tor
what they did, aud to that responsibility they
shall be held.
It will be observed that the offence which
it has been needtul thus to deal with, was
prompted by that malignant spirit OF political
intolerance which, always unreasonable and
in general cowardly, brings the bludgeon in
to every failing argument, and makes haste
to. silence with blows the dlssenter whom it
is more convenient to destroy than to coDfdte.
This intolerance, illustrated in countless af-
trays, was long permitted, in Southern CON-
munities, TO hunt down with cruel violence
persons venturing to maintain opinions not
in harmony with local sentiments, Acts OF
outrage thua melted, wien resisted and not
auelled, have sometimes eliminated in mobs
and massacres. Prescription for opinions.
whether by banishment, by the guillotine or
the stake, even when invested with the sane
ton of governmental authority, has ever been
Justly siigmatized as the hateful instruments
Of lespotism; but to allow individuals to
mark for lcentlous violence those whose po-
litical action may have rendered them ohrox.
ious to popular prejudice, involves perhaps
worse evils and demands severer denuncia.
tion. Wherever disorders so unworthy OF
American civilization are tolerated in any
degree by public opinion or the indifference
of the civil authorities, the communities IN
which they occur must unhapplly suner ID
their prosperity and in their good name. nc
By command of Major General D. Z. SlcKLEs.
j. w. CL0US.
Captain 3sth U. 5. Infantry.
AID. O. and A. A. A. G.
Official: ]. W. CLous, Captain 2Sth 1ntan'
trS, "A. D. C. and A. A. A. G.