Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-04
Riotous Conduct of Freedmen in st
Thomas and Christ Church Parishes.


Wednesday last, registration, by previous
announcement, was commenced in the Parish
of ST.. Thomas, at the Brick Church, under
the superintendence Of Messrs. L. P. Smith,
"a Northern gentleman lately located here
Jeremiah Yates and Aaron Logan, freed
man, tie Board Of Registration. Abuut a
thousand colored men were present, one.fifth
OF whom were armed with guns or muskets,
and when the books were opened, Mr.. Smith,
the Chairman of the Board, made brief ad
dress, explanatory Of the Reconstruction Acts
and the duties of the freedmen as good citi-
zens in exercising their rights under them and
preserving the peace. This was reoeived
with considerable and msrited satisfaction,
when some of the crowd requested his opin.
ion as to the rights of the planters with
whom they had contracted for labor, to de-
duct from their wages for the time during
which they were absent from work for the
purpose of beirg registered. Mr.. Smith
made the proper response, but was interrupted
by bis colleague, the colored man Aaron Lo-
gan, WHO proceeded to harangue the crowd,
and In inAammatory language to declaim
against the right of white men to prevent the
carrying of arms by freedmen. lie sai;;, also,
that the planters should not interfere with
the colored people in registering, nor deduct
from their wages, snd that there was nothing
in the law, ror in General Sickles' orders to
prevent them from exercising their rights to
The fulles: extent. That now was the time
when the freedmen should show that they
possessed rights which they meant to main
tain, and chat when an election took place
they ought to vote for white Radicals if they
could be found, or else to gil the Offices by
u,en of their own color. That the native
whites of the State were not to be trusted,
and if permitted, would enact laws operating
against the black man, and, therefore, black
men should be elected to make laws for them.
selves.
BE continued in this strain, and in language
calculated to excite the passions OF the crowd,
until Mr.. Smith, who had vainly endea7ored
to persuade him to desiat, exerci;ed his au-
,horily as Chairman of tie Board, and ad.
iourned it's session. 1t was hoped that this
would have prevented the difficulties which
were imminent, but such did not prove TO be
the case. The Board adjourned to meet at
The Mount Pleasant Poll, in Christ Church
Parish, on Monday.
When the books were opened on that day,
about three hundred freedmen We're on the
ground, considerable proportion Of whom
we're supplied with muskets, guns, and bud-
peons. Mr.. Smith again made a brief address,
similar to the one delivered at thr poll in St.
Thomas and was again interrupted by Logan,
who was if possible, more violent in his Ian
gnage, and seemingly more disposed to engcn.
der strife. lie vas, as on the former occa-
sion, requested to desist, but declined so to
do; and Mr.. Smith, to avoid trouble, closed
the poll, came to the city, and reportet! tie
facts to General Cltz, the Commandant Of
this Post. On the same boSt came Logan
who also waited on the General to present q
statement Of the case. When General Clit2
had been apprised Of all the circumstances
he promptly ordered the arrest Of Logan and
his incarceration in Castle Pipckney, on q
charge of impeding Registration.
Yesterday Mr.. Smith returned to Moup'
Pleasant, accompanied by Major O'Brien. the
Provost Marshal, we believe. of this post, who
went to ensure the preservation of order
The poll was re- opened and the freedmen in.
vited to come forward and register, but they
declined to do so unless there was black
man sitting on the Board, and demanded the
release of Logan. Seeing that . number O
them were armed as on the day before, M:jol
O;Brien explained to them that they werc
violating the express orders Of General Sick;
les, and commanded them to surrender thei
wea pons. They paid no attention whaievc
t, his orders, aud as he was not supported by
a force sufficient to ensure obedience, he re
tired, unwilling to provoke a disturbance
which he Was not in a position to quell, ant
returning to the city, reported the condition
of affairs to General Clitz. The freedmen
afterwards dispersed, but not without threats
that they would burn the villageif they wer,
not permitted to exercise such rights as Logar
had declared they were entitled to enjoy
We understand that General Citz will go t.
Mount Pleasant this morning, with suflicen
force to suppress any iisorderly conduc
which may occ'- amongst the freedmen, who
doubtless will again assemble, and to arres
all who appear armed on the scene. 1t is dc
voutly to be hoped that no difficulty will oc
cur Charleston Courier, 18th ul.