The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1869-08-04
Trouble in Edgefeld.

S"A'NSJ
On Saturday morning, while the
Barnwell bntchery was the uniser-
sal topic of conversation on the
streets If our city, another report
of trouble in another county of the
same unfortunate State, South Car
olina, was freely circulated. The
rnmors were of the most terrible
character, and stated that q fierce
conflict between the whites, and
blacks had taken place on Friday
at the courthouse town of Edge.
field County; that Governor Scott
had called out the negro militia,
and had placed the county under
martial law; that the militia, after
a bloody contest with the Whites,
had taken the town and still held
1T in their possession, &c. After a
good deal of trouble our reporter
managed to find gentleman Just
from Edgefield Courthouse, who
gave to him full particulars of the
whole affair, but stated that there
had been no fighting up to the
time OF his leaving the village,
though much trouble was anticipa.
ted. Reports from the passengers
on the evening train of the Char
lotte, Columbia and Augusta Rail
road confirm our informant's story,
and we believe that our readers
will find it entirely correct.
Since the reconstruction ofSouth
Carolina and the establishment of
negro government, the white peo-
pie of Edgefield County, though all
of them ardent Democrats, and, as
such, bitterly opposed to the pos
session of the State being turned
over to a race of ignorant negroes
and a few infamous carpet. baggers
and scalawags, have been among
the most quiet and law abb ling cit.
liens of the State. Though nearly
all OF the younger men were in the
Confederate army-where many of
other number were slain-and
were not disposed to look very kind
ly upon the new oder of things, yet
restrained by the example and ad,
vice ofsuch men as Bonham, Gary
and Butler, who were their gener-
ais during the war, they have care.
fully retraincd from doing any.
thing which would give to their
enemies a pretext to oppress them.
But it appears that their good con.
duct has been Of no avail, and that
the miserable tyrant, Scott, and his
underlings have determined to
drive them to desperation.
Some weeks since there was O
murder committed in the county.
and two negroes were the victims.
Though no proof was obtained as
to who were the murderers, stil
three white men were arrested by
the county authorities upon suspi
cion and lodged in the jail at Edge
field Courthouse-one of these
men one armed Confederate sol
dier named Lanier. Despite the
prompt arrest and incarceration O
these parties, the negroes living
around the courthouse were very
much dissatisfied, and were louc
in their murmurs that Union mer
were shot down like dogs bv rebe
: bushwhackers, and the criminals
were allowed to go unpunished
A white scalawag named Eisen
berger, the coroner of the county
took the part of the negroes, and il
said to have labored assiduously t,
cause trouble between the races
: Through the representations of thi
3 man, it is alleged that four detec
} tives were sent to the county from
> Columbia to work mp the case.
/, Some time after all this had hap
= : pened, a few thoughtless lads Of til
village assembled one night, and
after making a figure of straw int
: some faint resemblance of sold Ei
5 senberger," took the effigy ont
: short distance from town and mad
, oft a jolly good bonfire. When tn
! Coroner was informed of this act O
! J, q parcel OF boys, he pretended +
be very much alarmed, and to fea
. that his loyal life was endangere,
= by the Vaccinations of the Kr
'' Klux. Hastily packing mp hi
y traps, he repaired, by private cor
Q veyance, to Columbia, and poure
r forth his grievances into the wi
|, ling ear of the State Executive
!. Governor r. x. Scott, beseechin
\ that the latter would grant hir
!. protection. 1t was then decide,
!. we arc told, by the Governor,
). order out, the safeguard of th
State. Ye loyal (cnl0redl Militi,