The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-07
OH A r i Es r Q N.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY =, 1869.
Calling Out tho Militia.


would be held on May 2, to organ
ize the militia. This oiroulsr was posted
up at Monck's Corner, on the Northeastern
Railroad, and was followed by second, in
which the day Of meeting was changed to
May l. '+" "' . g|' r.at II
The second circular goes fer beyond the
first, as it gives not only the purpose for
which the meeting was to be held, but also
the object for which the militia is to be
formed. 1t is not said that it lie done in
obedience to an order Of Governor Scott,
and, except in Abbeville, no suoh order,
direct or implied, is known to have been
issued. Sanders, however, may be pre-
sumed to have had some reason, good or
bad, for the faith that was in him, as he
declares that the militia is seto regulate
"things generally" The peculiar virtue Of
this announcement lies in the fact that it
may mean anything and everything. The
colored people are to take their choice at
the bidding of the militia Snowman, and
may. as they please, understand that the
new organization is to take the place Of the
moribund Bureau, AND put in their posses
sion the never-to. be forgotten sforty acres
''and mules" or that they will be paid SO
many dollars monthly for wearing q uni
form and carrying o rifle Of the most i'm
proved pattern, that work by them and
theirs will be needed never more. Some
Of the leading militia organizers were asked
what was. the meaning Of the phrase '.to
regulate things generally" and the an
awer was, "that s0hen anything was done
''0rong by anybody the company would take
"them up and examine the matter, and
"pa"'sh such as they Thoughts DESCRIBED IT,"
According to this, the militiamen expect to
have more power than is conided to the
legislative, judicial and executive depart
fnents Of the State Government The State
may sometimes be restrained by the Consti-
tuition of the United States; but the militia
company is not restricted in authority, and
may, wnen ''anyLniDY AZ oone wrong by
anybody" arrest the offender, examine the
matter, and punish stsuoh as they think de-
"serye. it," And doubtless, according to
the ideas Of Sanders and his mates, any
unfortunate white man who objects to the
formation Of militia company will be
thought to deserve it. 'o ''' Z"
Strange to say, there still seemed to be
some trouble in bringing the colored peo-
pie to the scratch. Even the prospect Of
becoming members Of . plenary court, with
the privilege Of shooting and being shet,
failed to excite the expected enthusiasm.
Sanders, therefore, threatened the recu-
SAINTS with the penitentiary. When remon-
atrated with in regard to this and other
Illegal acts which he had committed, San
ders said-eI AM A RADICAL" This, in
deed, is justification enough.
We do not suppose that any member of
Che present State Government is particularly
squeanish, or cares very much whether the
negro militiameA do OF do not threaten and
abuse the white people. They do not reaeot
that these proceedings are more dangerous to
the white Radical than TO the colored man,
because for the last there is some excuse,
while for the first there is none. If the
negroes form organizations to regulate
things generally whether with Or without
the authority Of this bastard government,
it matters not-the white people viii bs
tempted to do the sams. What is right fot
the one is right for the other. What the
one does under tyrannfcar law Or the
State, the other viii do by authority Of the.
fret law Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. The
negroes, for the most part, have nothing to
lose and everything tc' gain. Tksy, are told
| constantly that Governor Scott 10 a1l pow
erfal and all wise, and it will Be difficult 10
hold them in check, il they are once for
mally enrolled, either "to regulate things
generally" or Afor the preservation Of the
"peace." tits for this reason that we SO
stren.ueuusly, object to this whole business Of
calling out the militia. There Is no neces-
sityt Q say again that the white people will
not serve with or near negro soldiery or
be ruled by them: That declaration has
been re-echoed in every quarter Of the
State, and need not be repeated here. The
ignorance Of the negro, and the malice 81
his advisers, are tho elements Of danger.
II he would take his gun and gay coat and
content himself with praoticing the ..gooss
''step" or fright shoulder shift," allowing
the white people and his own wiser breth-
rem to SOW and reap as thoy pleased, ii
would not be necessary for US to say ONE
word But this cannot be. The proeeeds
ings at Monck's Corner show what the
militiamen expect to do, and II may be
summed up in few words: First, to coeros.
evefy followed man into the ranks. Second.
90 what they will with the lives and
0..a,es Of the white people. Thie IL the
:, "a..e . pfogramhae as laid down ,by one IL
s..'.. =. aunDsf, And this y y whicA oompeis
~ - .. our faces agaiast this whole Mill
sis nockery. whioh may bsgin III harmle.ss
piseards' but Win not - Rsrmlessly enS.
Nor must it be forgotten that evarv 80 -.