The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-20
CHI TON
THURSDAY MORNING. AUGUST 90. 1856
warlike Preparations.

- Warlike Preparations.
One Of the arguments presented by the
Republican papers in favor Of the election
fthe Presidential electorsby the Southern
Legislatures, .so-oalled, is that the ballot
box is overawed. They say that in various
| parts Of; the South there are organized
bodies Of men who meet for drill and boast
of>thsir intention of carrying the election
But these verscious journals do not inform
their readers that these political militiamen
consist ofnegroes. These, and only these,
are seeking to overawe the. ballot bo1-not
ell Of these. indeed, but such Of them ss
are in close afilation with the Legislatures.
The, freedom Of election is threatened by
Republicans only. and that either by legis.
tive usurpation or by armed interference.
Companies Of Radical negroes are drilling
every night in Charleston. Even what ap-
pear to be peaceful PROFESSIONS affect mil
itary order under the direction Of officers,
and need only to bring forth the: arms with
| which they are supplied to manifest their
real character as companies and regiments.
we are informed BY Witnesses, that on
every night, when: the moopshine favors,
companies of armed negroes regularly drill
at the western extremity Of Broad-street,
where the great fire created wide and
unfrsquented Champ Do Mars. Although
they resort to a lonely place, they affect no
cnnoeslment Of their object They march
there in regular squads, moving in doubie
fle,s12-iGz ' 'l.'' !..1o ? x, ~
And And now, some Of them, relying upon
their discipline and their numbers, are eager
to- precipitate conflict with the citizens,
with the police, with the peaceful assem-
blages Of members Of the Democratic party.
Wien Judge AIDRIoH addressed the Sixth
Ward Club, q mob Of African Radicals en-
dsavored to break up the meeting in riot.
The singular moderation Of the Democrats
and an early adjournment frustrated the
attempt. When WADE HAMPTON addressed
the citizens Of Charleston, PILLsBUnY was
forming q procession at the Military Hall
to disturb and cut through the crowd as
aembled to listen to the report brought by
that distinguished Carolinian from the New
York Convention. Mayor CLARK was
obliged to use an his influence with the
motley partisans and their foolhardy leader,
to prevent their undertaking the audacious
outrage, Even his expostulations and warn
ings were scarcely, sufficient. Again, on
last Saturday night conflict on the streets
was arrested by the rioters being allowed
to take possession Of them; by the impris-
onment Of the police in the Station House,
and by the absolute license granted to the
mob to fiout the authorities and to maltreat
peaceful citizens at their will. Such is the
policy Of the Radicals on the eve Of Pres,
identisl election. And now, fearing that
even this game Of brag and bluster may
fail Of its intended effect, hey adroitly urge
that, inasmuch as the military organiza-
tions at the South may destroy the liberty of
voting, therefore Legislature, which in no
just sense represents our people, should
take the election out of their hands. AS
we won't be scared, we must be disfran-
chisedl -2 -
Yet we honestly believe, constrained by
the many and manifest proofs that we see
daily and nightly around US, that the Rad
icais are determined, at whatever cost, to
provoke riot in the streets Of Charleston
PROFESSIONS, noisy and obscence and insult
ing, marching nightly through the streets to
the sound of martial music; infammatory
appeals to passion, inviting to the use of
the rife and the application Of the torch;
drills in the midst Of comparatively un-
armed population, in q time Of profound
peace; the pelting Of the police station and
of the cars; and the asssulting of inoffen-
siye citizens, and the violent interference
with, and maltreatment Of, the police in the
discharge of their duties,-is there no OBJ
ject contemplated in these persistent and
criminal excesses? Do not those basest
men, who have gained the confidence of the
crsdu1ous African, intend to provoke tbe
resistance of an outraged people, and then
to make capital out Of the general disorder !?
The military preparations the Radicals
are now making have thus two-fold OBJ
ject. First, to excite apprehension in re-
gard to the freedom of election, although
that freedom is endangered by themselves
alone. Second, to produce an outbreak at
the South, and SO convince the American
people of the necessity of inaugurating o
| military President-a dictator, who will not
lesitste to cut the Gordian knot Of diplo-
macy with the sharp and ruthless sword.
And certainly, if such a role is to be played
by our next Executive, GRANT is the man
for the Office, unless, perhaps, BUFFERS ty-
ranny in New York, Baltimore and New
Orleans should assure his superior claim.
We feel it, therefore, to be matter of