The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-19
THE ENRoLLMENT OF NEGRO
TROOPS.
It's Effect upon the Peace and Quiet Of
tho People-A Sensible and Manly Ar"
tlcle,

We take the following wen-timed and judi
cioas article from the Sumter Waterman:
Anything like the enrolment of negro troops
at this time, it seems manifest, could not tall
TO have q most disastrous effect, both upon the
agricultural interests of the State, and the
peace and quiet Of the people. The exciting
elections having passed over, and very per-
ceptibIe calm having succeeded, and there ap-
pearing to be nothing of special nature be-,
fore us to produce disturbance, very general
hone was ente. .ained that the laboring ele-
ments Of the country would be permitted to set
lie down. with what OF zeal and application the
still conflicting and demoralized condition
would admit Of to the great and yltally lmpor-
tant business OF cultivating the coil. Our farm
ers and planters were generally more hopeful
of the efficiency OF labor the present year, and
were devoting themselves with an activity and
earnestness such as we have not Witnessed be-
fore since the close of tia war. AS a proof OF
this we may point to the almost unequalled
amount of fertilizers which have been and are
being brought into our midst-to the compare
4tiyely small number of idlers now seen, and to
tho spirit which is manifesting itsefin connec-
J btion with the formation Of agricultural associa-
tions, looking alone to progress and improvement
in developing the material interests ofthe coun-
try.
But it would be wrong to attempt to conceal
the fact that this movement toward the or
ton Of negro militia, as must IN fact, be the
practical result, has created serious apprehen-
sions in the minds of our most quiet and less
sensitive citizens. From the very nature OF
the circumstances now existing, such plove-
ment must breed distu1b bance tn greater or
less extent, and, as consequence, detract
from our Industrial energies. Governor Scott
reiterates his feeling of interest in the COM
mon good of ''our people," as he calls US, and
especially in the development of our material
prosperity. Docs not his reason, his observa-
tion-the history Of the past three years-tell
him in language he cannot mistake, that what
he proposes to do must retard both these! II,
in fact, the effect be not Of more serious nj
ture Z? And did there exist, upon the face OF
things in this State, at this time, show OF
necessity, looking to the preservation OF the
peace, for such movement. there might APP
pear some consistency in the professions OF
Governor Scott, with such movement. But 1t
is VIGOROUSLY the fact, that at no time since
the Inauguration of the present State Govern
ment, 80 obnoxious to every sense, feeling and
interest Of the whole mass of the intelligence
and worth OF the white citizens Of the State.
has there been period of general quiet equal
to that which prevails at present. And, ii vio-
lence and hloodshed now again occur, We ask,
in the name of all truth, at whose door will the
responsibility rest We ask this in all sober
ness, and with no feeling but that OF depreca-
ton of difficulty in the future.
II, then, we cannot see the necessity for this
mastering OF the militia, and the inevitable il
r1tation which must follow, what motive Gin
we discover, except it be a purpose to continue
to violate and wound the natural senslbiililes
of our people-to tyrannize over them by the
use OF the brute force which the superior num-
Der Der Of the negro population atfords-to crush
them down, in tact, with the heel Of the negro
Ihls is certainly the tendency of these things,
il It be not the purpose. And yet Governor
Scott says, while in the pursuit OF this new III
suit. and wrong, and oppression OF our people,
of the existing state OF things II am not
without hope, however, that they will gradual
~ become re:onciled to them"
If he really lndulges such o hope, it is better
at once to tell him that he has failed entlr Fly
to comprehend the character of our people,
and that his hope is utterly without founda
tion.