The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-03
CHI ES TON.
SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 8, 1869.
Governor Scott Sowing tho Wind,

We learn that on Monday last orders were
received at Abbeville Courthouse for the
immediate formation Of a company of negro
State troops. The news that SIG month,
army rations, and perhaps uniform, could
be had for the asking, spread like wildfre,
and within twenty. four hours about fifty
negroes were enrolled. Many of them had
been working steadily in the field, but aban-
doned their employers without leave or
warning. No public notice of this new
prank was taken by the white people Of the
district; but Hutson Loma1, colored mem
Der of the Legislature, and another promi-
nant Radical, sent to Columbia an urgent
request that the order for the enlistment of
the negroes should be revoked, or at least
suspended. This was, we believe, the con-
dition of affairs in Abbeville three days
ago.
Abbeville, at the time that the enlistment
of negro soldiers began, was in q con-
dition of profound peace. The laws, un-
couth and anomalous rs they are, were being
regularly executed. No colored man was
treated harshly or severely. Every white
man was. laboring steadily to improve his
position, and to forget, if possible, for a
little while, that the ancient commonwealth
of South Carolina was ruled by the eman-
cipated slave, the vicious renegade, and the
beggarly stranger. There was no shadow
of turmoil or wrong in the whole district.
It is true that Governor Scott had declared
Abbeville to be lawless and rebellious, and
that an attempt had been made 10 susF end
the writ of ha6eas corpus in that district,
and in Edge6eld, Ncwberry and Laurens.
But it was shown by his evidence in the
contested Congressional Election that 'fhe
"Great Culumnistor" was unable, or unwil
ling, to tell the truth where white men were
in question; it was known that the Legisls-
ture, while rejecting the habeas corpus reso-
"employ an armed force for the preserva-
''tion of peace" and to purchase two thou
sand rifles; and it was hoped that the Gov
ernor, satisfied with the possession of au.
tocratic power, would not be hasty in its use.
But it seems that the lust of power and love
of the nogro have blinded Governor Scott 90
it blinded others, who now bewsil their folly
Warning and exhortation have been in vain.
Governor Scott has gone from bad to worse.
Beginning with Rsdioalism in mild form,
with hobnobbing with negro men and gal
lanting negro wenohes, he has risen to the
height of attempting to rule Abbeville Dis
trict by bare half hundred freedmen
And we can understand that q man of his
calibre and notorious instability may have
been led to this madness by the very calm
ness and temperance of the people of the
State. This people has borne more than
the people of Georgia or Virginia or Ala
bsma or Teas have borne; hoping always
to conquer prejudice and hate by purity of
conduct and faithful! observance Of private
and public duty. Nor do we regret it.
South Carolina has four years of moders-
ton of thought and word to which she may
appeal. 1t sands upon the record. And
we can meet whatever may be in store for
us with the consciousness that We have done
all that honest men may do to preserve
peace and avoid riot and bloodshed.
Governor Scott is q man who learns moth
ing by experience. OF The temper of this
people BIZ knows no more than if he were
selling drugs in ST. Louis But what he
does in the future he will do with his eyes
open, with. the full consciousness of the
weight ofresponsibility which he oarelessly
assumes. We say to Governor Scott, al
| though not with any idea that our words
will convince him of his danger, that the
white people of this State will not submit
to be hectored and bullied by negro SOL
diery. The white people of South Caro-
lima have proud past, past which they
do not forget; and they will not dishonor
X
their wives and children by accepting as
their lords aud masters o band of negro
militia. They have gone far enough; and
will endure no more.
We make no threats. What we have most
at heart is the maintenance of peace. But
there is peace more terrible than war;
tue peace of the sword, the peace of fire
and rapine; and this is the peace which
Governor Scott would have. We do not
fear for the future. Though there were q
regim' mt of armed negroes in every dis
trict in the State, we should not falter or
doubt; for when once the instinct of race
is aroused, Democrat and Republican will
stand side by side, and the fate of the In
dian will be the doom of the freedman.
Nor do We forget the horrors which might
accompany o contest between the whites
and the blacks. But we feel, and we say
1t With all solemnity, that when ''for the
preservation of peace" negro troops are
quartered in the different districts of the
State, 1t is high time for our people to de.
termine whether they will b. the slaves of
their own negroes, or whether they will, at
once aud forever, assert their right to rule
the State which is theirs by inheritance,
theirs by natural right, and theirs BIZ laws