Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-02-04

his return In 1860, he was chosen governor OF his
native State; and thus it was his fortune 70 pre-,
side over her destinies at the outbreak OF that
mighty but disastrous struggle, in which she was
foremost to strike decisive blow. Of the digni-
ty, discretion, manliness and nerve with which
Governor Pickens bore himself in that trying time,
we need not speak. The impartial historian who
is hereafter to chronicle thestrring events OF which
our city was then the theatre, will do full justice
to his memory. After the close OF his ottlclal
term, and since the end Of the. war, Governor
Pickens has been engaged in planting, pursuit in
which his tact, experience and line estates enabled
him to attain great success. Of late, on two OF
three occasions only has he been induced to give
public expression Of his sentiments, when MS
counsel was of the sensible, moderate and manly
character which ever marked his political views.
The South Carolina Legislature.
The Columbia Phenir, referring to the
manner in which the Legislature is frittering away
the people 8 money, furnishes the following synop'
sis of days proceedings:
"Several reports are submitted {; half q dozer
propositions to remove political disabilities art
brought up; four or five members obtain leave o.
absence, for periods varying from one day to TWEEN
|ty (of course, drawing pay for the lost time the
yeas and nays are lledrepeatedly; a few bills arr
introduced; and then, after laborious session o.
from two and half to three hours, an adjourn
ment is ordered. And this has been the regula,
routine for forty days On Friday last, it wa:
found that SO many members had been granted
leave of absence, that quorum was hardly proba
bic, the next day; and 50 the House took reces:
until Monday. This is all very pleasant for thu
Legislators, but is severe on the taxpayers. VIZ
hope these matters will be looked into and a rene
dy applied. It is never too late to mend"
Military Execution in Arkansas.
Arkansas has for some time been suffering
from the tyranny of partizan militia, called ou
BY the governor of the State for the alleged pur
pose of maintaining order, but really to control thu
political status of the people. The conduct Of thi
militia has been 30 arbitrary and lawless that 1
military court was found necessary to restrain
them. The Memphis Post furnishes the following
particulars in reference to one case before th'
court:
The four colored militiamen, named William
Porter, Monroe Allen Hector Acton, and William
Reese, connected with the force stationed at Mar
ion, Crittenden County, Arkansas, who perpetra
ted fendish and beastly crime upon several wo
men living in the vicinity of the camp. were ar
raipued before court-martial on the 18th instant
and were convicted of the alleged charges and sho
by order of the court on the following day.
The vote of the court in deciding the case OF al
the parties, was unanimous for conviction. Upor
the close of the trial the criminals were confined t.
the guardhouse, and were allowed the company O
the colored chapains connected with the torce wht
administered religious consolation to their troubled
minds, till the time arrived for their execution
which was formally announced to the prisoners
half hour previous to their death.
koh hafr hn
ment and the time they were shot, were Of dread
full agony and wailing, mingled with cries to thu
officers to abate their punishment, and prayers tt
the Giver of their lives for pardon and mercy
Their piteous and loud cries rent the air. and wert
heard throughout the neighborhood, sending.
chill of horror to all The men and officers Of the
garrison were, however, unanimous in their con
de,nnaton of the outrage, and not word Of remon
STRANGE or an rtimaton of resistance to the execu
ton of the sentence of the court, was heard. OI
the contrary, it was feared by the officers, from
the excited feelings of the privates, particularly
of those in the same company with the criminals,
that previous to the promulgation Of the order o
the court martial they would break through the
guard and deal out vengeance themselves to th'
prisoners, who had 80 cruelty disgraced them.
A few minutes previous to the execution, th'
prisoners were led out from the barricade shor
distance where their cofins were Laid side by SIDE
few feet apart, and each tied to stake driven il
the ground at the end e. the cofhns, with. thel
backs to the same Forty men, all colored, ane
selected from every company, under command o
Lieut. Gregory, colored, were detailed to shoot tn
criminals. They were drawn up in two ranks
At the command of the officer the front ranl
Ieveled their guns at the men and fred, the fata
shots killing each of them instantly: A squad
men was then detailed to place the bodies in thei
coHins and bury them. The affair, was witnessed
by the entire militia force, with the exception o.
several scouting parties
The names Of the women who were outraged arr
as follows: Mrs. j. Reeves, Mrs. JAS. Watson
Mrs. Galloway, Mrs McGee, and Miss Sweptson
All were married and had families, save the latter