The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-04

Of young men on froic mistook the premises
for brothel. A colore1 member was met out
side, words passed, allow was struck, and the
member was followed into the house. The in
mates left without the usual formalities OF leave
taking, and coming to the front, pistol-fring
commenced. Here there is o difference OF tes-
timony. The members say that there was but
one pistol in the house, and when snapped 1T
did not explode On the other hand, it is al-
legged that not more than one oPthe young men
was armed; yet from twenty to thirty pistol
shots were fred. Two women from an oppo'
site-house-say they-distinety saw' 'colored' men
in the middle of the street shooting vigorously
The young men retreated. II not fred at, why
did they run? Il well armed, ,'why should they
run? Rno pistols were discharged by the col
ored members, who shot Smith? :,
Smith was found on the sidewalk in front OF
the premises, With ball through his face.
That he did not go into the house is fact
well established. He may have been passing,
and thus became the victim OF an accident; or
he may have accompanied the party, and been
shot purposely. Whoever discharged the fatal
pistol must have been close to him, as powder
marks are said to be visible on his face. He
certainly bearsia Columbia the reputation Of
being peaceable, inoffensive and correct
young man.
Again. the colored members say that there
were from ten to fourteen in the party who as
sailed them. I am assured that there we're
only six or seven, at the outside, two of whom
we're United States soldiers. The whole affair
thus seems TO be involved in mystery. and the
truth is only likely to come out under the cross
examination OF a courtroom.
Bad blood has been generated by the occur
renee. The citizens, and especially the young
men, are dissatisfied because somebody has
not been arrested, while not few Of the MEM
bers fully believe that the Ku-Klux- -Klan. has
broken loose in earnest, and this adventure is
only the first instalment of horrible things yet
to be. A young colored man named Howard
(the clerk Of one Of the committees), who
boarded in the house, has doubtless been more
practically impressed with this idea than any
others, for since jumping from window during
the row, he has not been seen or heard from.
The probability is that he went to Charleston
from some depot down the road by the morn
ing train.
Better political capital cannot be furnished
the Republican party, both at home and
abroad, than BY evente of this character. Al
ready, for eleotioneering purposes, the report
is being freely circulated among the freedmen
in various districts-I quote from letter just
received -'thyet that the lives Of the members
of the Legislature are in imminent danger;
that they are compelled to carry guns through
the streets, and even to the House and Senate
to protect them from the assaults of san2ui-
nary Democrats; that guns have been fired at
them while engaged in business, and brick
bats are, frequently: thrown through the win
dows whilein session." zsf .-F .. .i..5
. OF course there is not a shadow Of. truth In
these statements, but they show howrneces-
sary it is to the success OF the Republican
party thatt shall feed on blood, whether meta
phoricaEy or in fact. ;,
Another element ror strength to the Re
pubNcans is the Recommendation Of lead
ing Democrats that no oolored man. shall
be employed who will not agrees Ito
vote for Seymour and Blair. The for:
mer claim that something Of this sort was
necessary to consolidate the sentiment Of the
Legislature. From ope cause or another, a
very considerable proportion of the two bodies
were becoming oomoderate, too conservative
and weak-kneel, to snit the extreme Radicals.
Very influential colored men have, recently not
responded with alacrity to the crack Of the
party whip when it wasrlaid sbout them.
There was en- evident disposition on their
part to crowd out and put down all those who
estimated legislation not BY the good done to
the State, but by the benefit secured to the
party.
This feeling is undergoing change. Backs
are growing stiffar. Caucusses are held in
which militia bills. land bills, taxation, suffrage
laws, charter elections, and kindred topics are
considered TO the one end, that the State may
beyond probability be carried by the Republ-
cans. The Land Commission bill, to which
reference was made in former letter, will now
undoubtedly go through. Its friends say they
must have lands some how or any how, on
which 20 locate those who may be discharged
from employment. A proposition has been
made to resume the work on the new State
House, 80 as to furnish employment. Heavy
taxation is suggested, to compel owners to sell
land, and Cain has introduced resolutions call
ing for report Of all property against which
there are executions for unpaid taxes and
likely to be sold therefor. .,a
Never have seen the extreme Radicals in
better spirits than now. They are watching
every movement made by tho Democrats Of
the State, in the hope that it will supply them
with capital wherewith to carry their designs
through the Legislature; and microscopic
excuse will soon suffice for the attainment Of
any object which the Northern landshark or
the Southern speculator may have in view.
Tremendous schemes are incourse ofplothng,
and under the plea that they are designed to
make the Republicans turn out en- nasse in
the fall, will be rushed through with frightful
haste. There are number cf shrewd, practi-
cal men, colored and white, in both Houses,
who are too keen to be deluded by this dodge,
but there are enough outsiders-the lobby
members, to whom Tomlinson the other day;
administered severe castigahon-to counter
act whatever healthy in6uencesnay be brought
into the field. Mais, nous uerrons.
The messenger sent by Governor Scott to in
quire into the cause Of the difficulty at Union