Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-09

e.A
trator.
: Governor Scott Sowing ;the. Wind
:5-i-HaIT .Tr,.1 rt,.V ,r7tr.,r,
We learn that on Monday last or
ders were received at Abbeville Court
house for the immediate formation of
q company Of negro State troops.
The news that SIG d month, array pa
tions, and perhaps uniform; could
be had: for tho asking, spread like
wildtire, and within t~renty-four
hours about fifty negroes were enroll
cd. Many Of them had beon work
ing steadily in the field, but abandon
cd their employers without leave Or
warning. No public notice of this
new prank was taken by the white
people Of the district; but Hutson
LolnaS, colorcd member of. the
Legislature, and another prominent
Radical, sent to Columbia an urgent
request that the order for the enlist.
rnent Of the negroes should bc revok-
ed, OF. at least suspended. This was
VIC believe, the condition Of affairs in
Abbcvillo three. days ngo. @.'.E4| =.
Abbeville at that time that the en-
listment of negro soldiers began, was
in condition of profound peace.
The laws, uneouth and anomalous as
they are, were being regularly exc
cuted. No colored man was treated
harshly or severely. Every white
man was laboring steadily to improve
his position, and to forget, if possible,
for little while, that the ancient
commonwealth of South Carolina
was ruled by the emancipatod slave,
the vicious renegade, and tho bcggar-
iy stranger. There was no shadow
OF turmoil or wrong in the whole dis
trict. 1t is true that Governor Scott
had declared Abhcville to be lawless
apd rebcllious, and that an attempt
had been made to suspend the writ of
h"bas corpus in that district, and in
Edgefeld, Ncwberry and Laurens.
But it. was shown by his, evidence
in the contested Congressional Elec-
tion that the "Great Calnmniator"
was unable or:unwiIling, to tell the
truth where white men were in a,,es-.
ton; twas known the Legislature,
while rejecting the ht,5sas corpus rese-
lution, had authorised the Governor
''to employ an armed force for tho
preservation Of peace" and to pur-
chase two thousand rifles; and it was
hoped that the Governor, satisfied
with tho possession ~ Of autocratic
power, would not hasty in its use.
But 1T se' ms:that sthe lust Of power
and the love of ths negro have bliu-
|ded Governor Scott, as it blinded
others, who now bswail thoir folly.
Warning and .exbortation have been
ln2vain. Governor Scott has gone
from'bad to worse. Beginning with
RadieaiIsm in. o mild form, with hob
nobing with negro men and gullan-
ting negro wenches, he has; risen to
the height of attempting. to rnlo- Alb.
beville. District by, baro half hun
dred freedmen. And we can under.
stand: that q man Of his calibre, and
notorious instability may have been
led to this madpees by the very calm
ness and temperance of the people of
the State. This people has borne
more 'tbbaa!the people .of = Georgia, OF
Virginia, or. Alabama, or Texas have
borne;, hoping always uto. conquer
prejudice ;and hate by. purity of, con,
duct and a2faithfnl observancp1 of pri,
vote and public ddtyoi Nor do. we re-
gret. it"i@South Carolina has four
years of moderation of thought. and,
word to which she mayhappeal.7.. II
stands upon the record; And we can,
meet whatever may be i'm store. for:
us with h5the Consciousness that, wei
have done aliithat honest Il mimi tmaf,
do to- preserve peace :ahd dapoida,rlatt
and oloodshed. .&aeaiq
goyssaoi Scott isssas ID man tifiRo lea;Ss
nothing BY experisafce. eIoet4e dtehal
per Of this people hepEno o#ss,s: iio5Esti iio5E more
than if ne Ewar4 seflfaS;. n igtttSasA pst 4