The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-28
sCOrTvS NEGRO MELISH.
SCOTTvS NEGRO MELISH.
THR TRUE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN EDGEF1ELD.
How the Arms are Kept-What 1t Costs
The Why and Wherefore-The Coaec.
ton OF Taxes-Cunee Pays NO Taxes.
Iraon DUB OWN ooRREsPoNDzNr

TfRoh DUB OWN CORRESPONDENT
EnarrELn. August 25.-The excitement en-
geudered by the arrival OF arms at Edgehela
has auieted down. Peace reisns IN warsaw
and the constabulary are now undisputed mas
tera Of the situation. The ''melish" ara get
ting fat and sleek and laEy on the public pap.
Fichelberger, the military coroner, and captain
GENERAL of the Philistines, it seems, has de-
clared truce, and having already amassed .
small sized fortune, has gone, it is said, to the
springs, probably to recruit from the severe
effects OF the campaign through which he has
lust passed. Before he left. great crowds OF
negroes gathered at the courthouse nearly
eyery Saturday, and frequently oftener; but
since his departure scarcely ripple has dis
turbed the serenity of the political waters. In
the meantime, eight or nine State constables,
with their horses, have been kept here on
duty, assisted by about the same number OF
neeroes-the; whole constituting guard for
the arms at the Jail, and kept mp at an expense
to the county Of about fifteen hundred dollars
perm month. The authority by which this force
in kent ers is understood to be the joint reso-
lution of the General Assembly authorizing
the Governor to employ an armed force for the
preservation of the peace. But that resolution
only authorizes the employment OF such Q
force "when in any county in the State it shall
become imposs. bic to enforce theal laws aad
keep the peace by the ordinary civil pro
cesses.n No suohl exigenoy exists IN Edge
field, or has existed during the present year ct
least. The relations between the races have
never been more amicsble, and the freedmen,
when not under the influence OF demsgosues
and incendiaries, have never worked better
The presence Of the arms st the Courthouse.
and the s.knot" of 7oonstables and negroes
guarding them, would now excite very little
comment, were it not for the fact thst 1t is
taking fifteen hundred dollars month out OF
tho taxpayers pockets. But what matter to
psrty whose sole purpose is spoliation and
plunder? Peace aud good order in the State is
entirely incompatible with the interests OF the
present administration. They can only flourish
by melting the freedmen against the white
people Of tie county-by tomenting dscord,
and stirring up tumult and disorder in the
land.
John Woollsy, the country treasurer, has
been for several weeks collecting the taxes.
He has visited points in all parts Of the coun-
ty, unaccompapied by the constabulsry. Not
withstanding the tax gatherer is generally an
unweIcome visitor, and Notwithstanding great
dissatisfaction exists amongst the people at
the one hundred and fifty per cent. added to
the assessments Of property by the EquallZa-
tion Board, John has been allowed by ,oicEed
EdeeHeld to complete his work in profound
peace. The people, as general rule, are pay
ing up promptly, the exceptions being occa-
sioned mainly by the scarcity Of money at this
season Of the year. "A good many have ap-
Piled, through the county auditor, to get the
assessment abated to the true value OF the
property. This official has his Office at Ham
burg, and, outside Of his immediate vicinity, 1t
is not Known what has been the fate OF the ap-
plicstions. It is necessary in some instances
fol. persons to make pilgrimage from Ninety
si1 to Hamburg, distance Of fifty miles, in
order to learn the result.
The freedmen are virtually paying no taxes
at all. There are four thousand and five hun
dred negro voters in Edgefeld, and it is e1-
oeediaely doubtful whether they win pay five
hundred dollars poll tax. And yet these ne
groes elect two whites and five negroes to rep
resent this county in the Legislature. One OF
these whites has been living all this year in At
lsnta.. Georgia. He was living there at the
session Of the Legislature, in December last,
but, nevertheless, he took his seat, and will,
doubtless, take it again at the next sitting,
By the terms OF The constitution his seat is va
can't, and the Speaker should issue his writ Tor
new election. Blu! this, it seems, will not be
done.
The crops in some sections Of the county, a
few weeks ago, promised to be very fine.
Since that time few favored localities have
been blessed with partial showers, and are
still indnlging in high expectations; but the
weather for . period OF fifteen days was
intensely hot. and in some places very dryi
and the cotton has bsen throwing of the
squares until it has nearly lost one-third of the
crop. On Sunday last, and since, We have had
pretty good rains. Vegetation is somewhat
revived, but the heat is still oppressive and un-
sbated. -. .sr.... .:'.: soAERs.
ANEW RAILROAD RING.