The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-06
Theo Naahvilio nio1-Rar.ieulars, Of

a. So1ASSRohNohs oh sAAO ANON4 ,-OAh
Herald, writing from Nashville, un-
der date of September 26. says:
At present, political excitement is
running very high IL all parts Of the
State, and the efforts Of Id the 7 Demo-
Gratis to gain over good portion Of
the negro voters have so exasperated
the unprincipled leaders of the radi-
cal party in certain Counties, particu-
larly in Davidson, that they are de-
termined. let the consequences be
what they may, to prevent the color
ed man from exercising his freedom
of choice without u struggle. The
conservatives are well aware of this
determination, and are exerting
themselves to their utmost SO TO act
that no plausible excuse for trouble
will bo given those who so earnestly
desire to create bloodshed, that it
may be profitable to them in poiiti-
cal point of view. have myself as
sisted at negro club meetings and
heard the white leaders command the
members, under pain of their high
displeasure, to carry about Them ct
oil times and in all places, revolvers
or other firearms. The result has
been what was expected. Not ne
gro procession marches in the street
but is armed. The riot in this city
last night was fatal illustration of
this truth. The procession, which
was the direct cause oft, was headed
by one of the Police Commissioners
named Sparkling, who did his best a
few nights previous ut the head of a
gang of rutfianly blacks, to break up
q rival political meeting.
There were in the procession fully
one thousand colored mon, nearly
every one of whom had been SO plen-
tifully supplied with whiskey that he
could hardly tell which was the light
ed end of his torch. They marched
by twos through the principal streets,
and amused themselves by yelling
and screeching as though every mans
existence depended upon the result.
Wherever colored man was met,
who was known to be adverse to the
radicals, and who was unfortunate
enough to be without friendly pro-
lection, he was at once pelted with
burnt-out torches and made to fly for
his very life. They seized upon one
colored man whom they met in Vine
street on horseback, and on the mere
supposition that he was conserva-
tive, threw torches in his face, and
placed several under the horse, all
the time endeavoring to pull him
from his seat, probably to execute
the threat that was made by many of
hnI y l,n xr1,N 4 -
the damned rebel"
The sidewalks along the largest
thoroughfares were densely thronged
by motley crowds of negro men and
women, the men being of those who
do not affiliate with the radicals. The
processionists, while passing through
these crowds, did not attempt any
violence, but contented themselves
with yelling and screaming out death
to every ''nigger" who didn't believe
in the gospel as laid down b, the
Parson of Knoxville. All along the
route, nearly every private house was
closed, the lights extinguished and
the shutters fastened. These indica-
tions on the part of the citizens to
do all that they could to preserve
order, incensed the blacks, who con-
sldered the whole thing as a down
right insult offered to them by infe-
rior beings, and SO the unfortunate
houses had to suffer for their masters
sake. Whenever torch became I'M
fit to be safely handled, it was flung
against the sides of the buildings or
against the windows, and in some in
stances Roman candles were aimed
at the roofs-the drunken rabble yell
ing and screeching in the most fear
full manner every time the torches or
balls thrown struck the houses. Once
or twice it seemed as though the
shingles of two or three buildings
would take fire from the amount of
burning material that was thrown
upon them; and as little fickering
flames began to appear, here and
there, shout of triumph would rend
the air rs though it were meant as
greeting to some favorite candidate.
In each instance, slight wind that
prevailed, cxtinguished the flames,
to the disappointment of the process
sionists, many of whom could be
heard loudly swearing, that the
damned town ought to be burned
anyhow!'
The procession passed Cedar street,
in front Of the Capioal-with Alden,
\ LII L