Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-09-27
How Negro Registrar Shows his I'm
portance-A White Citizen Seized by n
Gang uf Negroes and Dragged to Charles
tOn-Saturn&iIs by the Way.

The following account has been furnished
us of & recent occurrence III Christ Church
Parish. 1t is written by a responsible citi-
zen, in whose statements confidence may
properly be placed
Mr.. Samuel Fraser having the supervis-
ion and charge Of plantation and num-
Der of negroes, informed the men that
they must wait until Saturday to register
their names. The Registration began on
Monday and Was to continue through the
week. Some of the men left the plantation
on Monday (the first day of the registra-
tion), and returned late that evening with
out registering. MIR. Fraser then told them
that ''if they left again before Saturday,
they need not return" An alteration en-
sued, in which the negroes set up the right
to be absent from the place "as long as
the registration lasted. " without any liza
bility to fine or deduction of wages for the
lost time. Mr. Fraser, on the other hand,
gave them to understand that his duty to
his employer required him to make de-
duction for their absence on Monday and
for any other day, except the day allowed
them for the purpose of registering. Hav
ing absented themselves on Monday, they
failed to receive their rations when the
other labOrers got theirs and having ex-
pressed their determination to leave again
on Tuesday and for every day of the week,
MIR. Fraser refused to give them the rations
for that week. They then left for the re-
gistration precinct. Arriving there, they
made complaint to the registrars, Mr.
Smith (white) 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 de-
manded that Fraser should be arrested. -
All the negroes present (about one hundred
and fifty clamoured for the arrest. Mr..
Smith advised against it, saying there was
no affidavits Of the facts, and IL bare state
ment was not sufficient. Besides, it was
late in the afternoon, and before Mr.. Fra
ser could be arrested (he lived four miles
Off and brought to them and then sent to
Charleston Fifteen miles farther), it would
be midnight. He expressed doubt, too,
as to his right to arrest man who lived
four miles from the precinct, On a charge of
attempting to prevent the attendance of the
very men who were then present, and who
had been there enna0testeCl, tie aCA0le Of The
preuiOus day. He refused to sign the war
rant, at least until he could think the mat
ter over. But Aaron would not be delayed
moment. He grew furious Threatened
his white colleague-swore he would take
the responsibility on himself, and there
upon scrawled off { sort Of mandate GO to
bring Sam. Fraser before him to be dealt
with,' &C., &c. The negroes inspired by
Aaron's resolution, howled for vengeance
on Fraser. Aaron called for volunteers
" to arrest the villain" A hundred voices
czied out, "Ill CO." ''Gib me de warrum.
Aaron picked out dozen men armed with
guns and muskets about thirty present had
these weapons), and commanded them to
bring the villain before him., "I'll show
the white scoundrel how he dare to fine YOU
for coming here" &C., &c. The negroes
took the paper and proceeded to the house
of Mr.. Fraser. They found him lying down
on bench. They rushed up to him, cock
ed their guns, levelled them at him and
cried out, 81 arress you" " we come to
fetch you, dead or alive, to Mr.. Logan -
They commanded him to go with them
He mounted his horse, and, guarded on all
sides by the negroes, was conducted into
the august presence of the dusky dignitary.
In the meantime, however, Mr.. Smith Ia
Northern gentleman) the co-registrar of
Aaron. finding that no more business could
be done that day, had undertaken, in his
capacity of Chairman of the Board, to ad-
journ the registration for the day. He,
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,