The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-08-29

OF peaceaDigf cltlzenS III Their .aV0CatlOnS, ana
l.illtreatment Of then, without. provocation tho
reckless manner inlwhich nightly meetings and
professions are conducted to the great annoy
ance of tho,people, and the, peril Of such as
may be Obliged to be pear those who are en-
gagged in them; tho temper which has thus
converted q city, remarkable for it's order and
quiet, into'a place where noise and violence
have become of frequent occurrence; the Or
ganization Of bodies of men in military array,
drilling and practcng them in the arts of war !;
and tho increasing spirit of aggression with
which, in alrbf these respects, the newly en-
franchised population Of this city and the ad-
jaccnt islands have conducted themselves ad-
inonish Qll who have at heart the peace of this
community and~thc welfare Of all classes Of it's
population that, unless timely avertcl the pur-
poses of wicked men will be accoml ishcd in
deadly strife, and in the streets Of the city
scenes will be enacted which ull good men will
deeply dcploro. With the solemn conviction
that SO great calamity is now impending over
us--with no partisan temper, and with no
reference topolitical opinions or parties IN
tent only, but deeply intent, upon tic protcc-
ton OF persons and property; Of pcrsous OF all
glasses; OF property, to whomsocycr belonging;
80 are forced Ly convictions we honestly en-
tertain, by arprchcnsions which we cannot dis
regard, to warn our iellow-citizcns Of the great
danger with which they are threatened We
counsel them most earnestly to the contiru-
ancc OF that great forbearance they have hith-
crto manifested. We urge them not to be be-
trayed into resentment, which, however natural
ci how much provoked, will be in many quar-
tars unwillinsly credited. But we do in the
same temper, aud consistently with that for
bearapce, and the control Of that resentment,
|. advise them Of the Necessity, the imperative
necessity that III our opinion exists, for then,
to protect Themselves in their persons and
their property Tho threats Of inccniiaeism
AID of violence, Of rapino and sroliation, arc
ine longsr coniinedst TO tie secret ,cancldYc; but
e inaame the passions Of n popu T
100 cfaaalouss aud TO- easily
misguided aud betrayed. The oppeals which
have been thu' made; appeals which have
lleen made in public presses, and repeated in
every manner (which they could mos, deeply
excite .hosc to,whom ti.ey were addressed J;
have, nnhapPiIy, fYr us, ari IS unhappily for
those wiio arc tie victims Of bad and design
ing ,ncn, produced their unfostnnutc results
And n population ncw il tho cnjoymeut OF
.ieir freedom !; new in the enjoyment Of the
highest privileges Of the citizen have bcch
fired with 4 sentiment Of hostility to the white
population Of the city and the State, and
taught that their freedom could only be Sc
cured by the most degrading vassalage Of tho
white citizens OF the State. Wo do most hon
estly and unreservedly doclaro, that so far Us
wo have any knowledge or belief, interference
has never been attempted by the whto citizens
of this city or State with the fullest exercise
by the freedmen, individually or collectively,
Of all the rights, civil and political, which
they asserted as belonging to them They
have had their meetings, and never with intor-
icrcncc; they have vo,el, aud never wlh dis
tu.bancu they have assGmllcd in convention,
passing u constitution for their government
and ours, without interruption; and under
that constitution they are now sitting as log
;sl"ture, framing laws for tho people Of the
State, removing officers, imposing taxes, and
exercising the functions of legislation which
involve the property, life and liberty OF the
citizen without o show Of violence, without
almost c complaint on the part of those who
are excluded from sl participation iu proceed
ings which SO deeply and intimately affect
them. Blu. all Of this has not been sufficient
to satisfy them that the privileges so en-
joycd by them were complete, unless they
included the absolute domination aud control
OF the white population domination and
control SO exclusive and absolute that it would
embrace person anl property, and even extend
to thought and speech. To this condition is
the white population of the city nov at this
time reduced and III this condition they are
forced 10 see lhc evidence Of further purpose,
to enforce his denial to them Of every privi-
lego, and To hold every right which belongs to
them subject to the caprice Of those who are
the dupes and victims Of the bad men who
have poisoned their hearts; and for the most
selfish and base purposes, destroyed for them
t.. comfort, contcnment aud happiness they