Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-25
registration in Christ Church.


responsible citizen in whose statements con-
fdcncc may properly be placed:
Mr. Samuel Fraser having The supervision
and charge OF q plantation and number Of
negroes, informed the mer that they must
wait until Stta3ddy to register their names
The registration began on Monday and was
70 co o;tinue through the week. Some of tn
m.n lefs the plantation on Monday 1.-THE first
day ul the resistra,on) and returned lae
tL:,t cvcning without registering. Mr.. Fras II
thcn told tle;n that ''if they left again be-
r.rc Sa;u.d1y, they need not return.'' Az
alteration c.isaed. in whic.; :he negroes SCI
up the right to be absent from The place :"
lin.r rs the registration lasted" without an.
liability 10 fine or deduction OF wages lor sLe
lost tue. Mr Fraser, on the other hand,
gave item to understand that his duty to his
employer required him 10 make deduction
for their absence ON Monday and for any 9th
cr day, except the Gay allowed the n Tor the
purpose ofresis,ering- Having absented them
selves on Monday they failed TO receive their
rations when the other la5orers got theirs ;
and having expressed their determination t.
leave again on Tuesday and for every day Of
the week, Mr.. Fraser refused 10 give them
the rations ior that week. They then lefi
for the registration precinct. Arriving there.
they made complaint 10 the two registrars
Mr.. Smith (whi;e) and Aaron Logan (blackl
that Mr.. Frasec had forbidden Their comm"
to register, AID threatened 10 turn them OIL
i: they left the plantation. Aaron demanded
that Fraser should be arrested. All the ne
rroes present (about one hundred and hlty)
clamored for the arrest. MIR. Smith advised
against it. saying there were no ahidavits, OF
the facts, and bare statement was not suiti-
cieat. Besides, il was late in the afternoon
ard before Mr. Fraser could be arrested Inc
lived four miles Off and brought to them.
aud then sent TO Charleston (fltcrn miles iar
tber), it would be midnight. He expressed
q doubt, too as to his right to arrest man
who lived four miles from the precinct, on a
charge of attempting to prevent the atten'
dance of the very men who were then present,
and who had been there uHmoleSted, Ike ichole
ollie precious day. He refr.ad to sign the
warrant, at least until he could think Tie
matter over. But Aaron would not be de-
layed moment. He grew furious-threat.
cned his white coiieague-swore lie would
take the responsibility on himself, -.ai there
upon scrawled off sort OF mandate 10 bring
Sam. Fraser before him to be dealt with
&C., &c. The negroes, inspired by Aaron's
resolution, howled for vengeance on Fraser
Aa on called for volunteers "to arrest The
villain" a hundred voices cried out, "fl
co." Glib me dc warrum." Aaron picked
out dozen men armed with guns and mus
kcts (about thirty present had these weapons)
and commanded them to "bring the william
before lin" " Ell show the white scoundrel
how he dare 20 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 berch. They
rushed up to him, cooked their guns: levele'i
them at him and cried out, '' | 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 dig
nitary.
In the meantime, however, Mr.. Smith IA
Northern gentlemsn) the CO registrarof Aaron,
finding that no more business could be done
that day, had undertaken, in his capacity OF
Chairman Of the Board, to adjourn the regis
trat;on Tor the day. He, therefore, declared
the books closed, and proceeded TO gather u9
the 5ooks. Aaron claimed that he had as
mach right TO The possession Of them as lie,
Mr.. Smith, had. This was not conceded. On
the contrary, Mr.. Smith informed him tha,
the books were put in his charge and he in.
tended to keep them. Thereupon Aaron said
he " must have some ot MeDt." You have
no right to take aU" And the negroes
around cried cut 'Yas, da,'s SO, don't
ge um ALL tuck somc,"" teck some" Mr..
Smith, however, was firm. So be went away
with tie books, wiser man his one days
experience Of the negro character.
A little before suaset, Mr.. Fraser, with the
armed escort, vas brought before me sable
Aaron. The negro laborer who had made the
complaint. was told by Aaron TO make bis
statement agaio. He did 50. Another ne
gro was then called up 70 corroborate tha;
p;atcnent. Unfortunately and most unwit-
tin,ly, he let cut that Mr.. Fraser had told
them that "they could go and register on
SATURDAY." but that the "condtiol Of the
crop did not admit Of their absence more
than one day." and that "work they were
engaged in could not be delayed :" and they
must therefore "put off registering till SAT
uriay.'
The two negroes having given their state
ment, Mr.. Fraser asked if lie could say
few words This request was Aattering to
Aaron. 1t was q clear acknowledgment from
a white ma;i that negro had, for the time
being, power and authority over him. Leave
was, therefore, graciously granted him. He
began by calling attention to the. fact, tha,
what the first niger said vas not supported
by what the other niger said and be was
about to weigh the two in the scales of truth
aud Justice and show which should be be-
lieyed, when Justice Aaron, who had it all
his own way, (tkerc not being one white man
present 10 help Fraser,) declared the audi
ence at an end, and announced his determine
ton Ito take the fellow (Frascr) to Charles
ton any how y aud she didn't want to hear
muffin furrer' from him no how y and she
may les. as well shet up at once" &c. This
announcement was hailed with rapturous ap-
plausc by the assembled crowd. To make
all matters sure, however, and to make the
mos; Of the oxp!oit Of capturing Fraser, as
well as to enjoy The satisfaction Of subjecting
one white man, though for few hours only
10 negro control of making him, By order
and at the peril Of his life, halt or ADVANCE;
go this way or thas way go iaSter OF slower
sit or rise; be silent or speak, &c, &c; al
in accordance with u negro's WILL this fellow
Aaron determined to 60 in person with the
guard which ne had appointed to take Mr..
Fraser to Charleston. He conl1 not forcgo
the pleasure of narrowing him with taunts
and threats, through tie dark hours of the
night, and showing him at all the negro huts
on the waysidc, as specimen Of negro as
cendancy over the white man.
Eight armed negroes are selected by Aaron
as the guard. Mr. Fraser is put in their
charge. Aaron mounts mis- horse. Mr.. Fra
cor otteropts to mount his. Aaron orders |