The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-25
ON TIE WING.

ON TIE WING.
AbbcvilIe-A HeautifuI Vi1nsc-Law
md Order-Hospitality- t h o d tst
Conference--Bfshop Wishtman-Dr.
Whitefocrd Smith-Methodtst Prea CHI
e.-Cotton-Busincss Firms
The Old Order and the Now.
Pardon me, Mr.. Editor, and Messieurs
and Mesdanes, the readers of The NEWS, il
wing my fight somewhat slowly, and thor
oughly digest my impressions before l share
them with you. Abbeville, next iu order on my
itinerary, is distinguished with white mark.
The memories thereof are pleasing, and ara
indchbly engraved on the convolutions Of my
cranial hemispheres. Abbeville is unquestion-
ably one Of tho finest, that is most beautiful,
villages in South Carolina. Indeed I must
confess to pleasant surprise OF the general
appearance of The town, at the lumber and
beauty of its stores, private residences and or
namental grounds. The courthouse is SUBJ
stantial and ornamental structure, and the
Episcopal Church the handsomest in the
State, think, outside of Charleston and Co.
lumbia. The other two churches, the Methodist
or Presbyterian, however, in my humble opin-
ion, have nothing to boast in architectural
beauty or symmetry. was surprised to find
80 many evidences of q high order of ciyiliza-
ton, of intelligence, education and social re-
fnement My surprise will be explained in
measure when state that this was my first
visit, and had but recently read the MESA
ges and proclamatioas OF Governor Scott, in
which was od 10 believe that Abbevlls was
the home OF rufianism and outlawry; that
there was no respect for the laws, and that
none but Democrat dare open his mouth
there. Now, have most Christian defer
ence to the powers that be, and dislike ex-
ceedingiy to differ in opinion from man who
has authority 10 print proclamations in all tho
newspapers, headed with the coat-of-arms of
the State and counterslsucd by that other
high official, tho Secretary Of State. But the
truth must bo told: state it as my deliberate
conviction that think Governor Scott is mis-
taken; that the people Of Abbevlle are just as
polceable, orderly and law-abiding as the citi-
zens of any other district or county IN the
State, and 1 think the Governor will so find it.
was shown the very spot at Hodges Depot
where Randolph was killed. Isaw several gen
tlemen who witnessed the decd. They see
these mon dsmount, hitch their horses, go to
the cars, shoot Randolph, then with pistols N
their hands deliberately walk backwards toy
ward their horses, mon nt and ride away. They
did not know o single one OF the three men.
This was told again and again by persons
living in the vicinity, all of whom had heard
these eye-witnesscs tell this, AMI they firmly be-
lievedi How, say they, was it possible to arrest
these murderera when th3y were well armed
and OF course determined to sell their lives as
dearly as possible, and no one present prepared
for such conaict2 II the people present at
this murder had been the most 'loyaf' in the
United States land there is no evidence that
they were not, do not sec how they could
have actod otherwise than as they did.
see by the papers that ono Talbot, who had
been suspected OF completely in this murder,
has boon arrested. The people OF the district
were harshly spoken against. in public and IN
private by the Executive of the State, because
Talbot was allowed to be at large. Now, have
met no one who knows anything OF Talbots
particpation in the Randolph murder, though
heard that he was not man Of peaceablc
reputation. During tho war he was deserter,
and deficd the enrolling officers again and
again. Aud although the symDathies OF the
community wore then unquesionably against
him and with the enrolling officers, be sue
ceeded, by one means or another, IN eVadlnS
their vigilance, and keeping out OF the army.
You will not be surprised thcn, to hear that this
man was at large, months even after the Gov
ernor suspected him Of being pdrliceps GRIM
inis in the Randolph affair. Be 1t remember
cd, moreover, that I saw no one who Knew Oh
such completely or connection on the part OF
Talbot.
And because few bad men in community
break the laws, and, favoredby clrcumstan ces,
get away. the whole county must be scolded
with messages and procl1mations, threatened
with martial law and negro militia, and finally
with bran new act ofthe legislature giving the
Attorney for the r.atc power to change the ven
uo, when in his julgm ,nt he deems it necessary,
III Orlnr W COlftC Wa lAS'-
prisoner; measure reserved for the sccond
half OF the nineteenth century, IN iree and h1-
publican America, though unknown in the
,r!ast pcrlol of the m dlIc ages, AMI in the
most arbitrary ofdesp1tc & Ivernments. Jure'
have b.ou picked Gro IL w, but MOI under the
mg.s of conait ltion securing ita Staso Il lte-
publican fern of soYcrnraent." However, l
see by the newspapers, taat his Excoiiency
the Governor has thought bette; OF ths mat
ter, and no longer flvors tae h;asuro.
Excuse this long DEPRESSION. was fortur-
ate in bo:ng at Abbcvilc during the session oi
the South Carolina Conforens, OF the Metho'
dist Episcopal Church, South, and thus had
the best possible opportunity of witnessing the
large, whole.soulcd, Christian hospitality, Tor
which others, moro familiar with the place anc
it's people, have long known tue latter famous
The town was full OF preachers. There were
old preachers and young preachers large
preachers and small preachers, big preachers
and little preachers; some married and some
single, some good-Iooking and soma who were
not; but old and young, fat and lcan' great ant
small, they all appeared in fine spirits, and II
tbs very best of good humor. enjoying 10 the
full the annual reunion, tho brief lnterVa
Of est anil freedom IRON the weight and care