The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-29
Disorderly Conduct OF Freedmen Mt the
Registration Precincts of ST. Thomas and
Christ Church Parishes,
IN 1asE Wednesday, repistrntion wns commenced

/
Registration Precincts of st. Thomas and
Christ Church Parishes,
On last Wednesday registration was commenced
| in st. Thomas Parish, at the Brick Church, under
the superintendence of Mr.. L. P. SMITH, white,
| and Jeremiah Yates and Aaron Logan colored
Mr. SMITH is Northerncr, who has lately settled in
this State. When the Polls were opened, about
1000 freedmen were present, most Of them being
armed with guns and muskets. Mr.. SMITH, tho
Chairman, addressed them on thoir duties as
citizens, explaining to them their rights, and urg-
ing them to keep the peace. Some OF tho freed
men requested to know the rights of the planters,
and if their wages could be deducted while absent
from their work at tho Polls. MI. SMITH was
about to rcply, when interrupted by his colleague,
who made violent harangue, stating that the
planters could not interfere with their movements,
and that this was the time to assert their rights
over the whites, who could not bo trusted.
He proceeded in this style Of language for some
time until MIR. SMITH, seeing that the passions OF
the crowd were becoming excited, exercised his
authority and adjourned the Board.
Pursuant to the adjournment, the Board met at
Mount Pleasant on Monday, ard when the books
were opened, about three hundred freedmen
were present. armed with various weapons. Mr..
SMITH again addressed the crowd, when he was in
terrupted second time by Aaron Logan, who was
moro violent than on the former occasion. On his
declining to desist Mr.. SMITH closed the poll, and
came to the city and reported the facts to General
CL1Tz the Commandant OF the Post. Logan came
to the city on the same boat to present his state
ment of the case. On hearing the circumstances
General CIrrz promptly ordered the airest Of Lo-
gan, who was sent to Castle Pinckney, on
charge Of impeding registration.
MIR. SMITH returned to Mount Pleasant yester-
day, accompanied by Major OBR1EN, the Provost
Marshal. The poll was reopened and the freed
men invited to register, but this they decline1
doing unless Logan was released. A number Of
the negroes were armed, as on the previous occa-
sions, and Major O'BRIEN commanded them to de-
liver their weapons, and explained to them their
violation Of law and order, but to no avail Not
being supported by sufficient force to insure
obedience, and being unwilling to provoke dis
turbance he returned to the city and reported the
facts to General CLITz.
The freedmen, finding that they wore not per-
mitted to enjoy the rights that LOGAN had do
clared them entitled to exercise, slowly dispersed,
with threats to burn the village il they were not
granted We understand that Gen. CLITz will
visit Mount Pleasant this morning with sufficient
force to prevent any riotous assemblage and to
compel the freedmen to obey the laws Of the land.
Tho ontirc difficulty was caused by the action Of
LOGAN, and wo trust that when tho freedmen see
tho fate of their adviser, they will refrain from
any further disturbance.