The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-10-25
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to where tie pegrdes Wste an l mo is snE
Crews homo arsenal aud ordered them
to put down their arms, that they were
the weaker race, and that il they pro
voked collision, they would 20 under.
This is but feeble outline of the con-
dition of affairs and the state OF public
feeling produced thereby on the morning
after the election when the disturbance
commenced. The armed negroes and
constabulary about the lower arsenal at
''Tin Pot" seemed to be exultant, and
some white men were standing about in
the square opposite, when one of the
constabulary and citizen were seen to
be engaged in q fight near "Tin Pot"
The crowd began to gather around, when
some mans pistol in his breast coat pock.
ct went off accidentally, and Immediate
ly there was received volley from tho
doors and windows of the Headquarters
at "Tin Pot" The cry ran like light
ming that the negroes had begun the war.
Seeing the crowd in the arsenal, both at
the lower and upper windows, opening
n fire upon the people in the public
square, the citizens who happened to be
near the place Mt the instant returned
the fire with pistols, and rushed upon
"Tin Pot" broke down the door, routed
the armed negroes, and took possession
of the arms there deposited. The armed
negroes delivered several volleys, shoot
ing through the Notwithstanding as
they retreated. The occupants of the
place, however, made off as rapidly us
possible through the back yards and
streets. This is all that is certainly
known. Tho Court was then in session,
Judge Vernon presiding. All this oc-
Cured in full view of the Court room.
Some of tho balls fred from "Tin Pot"
struck the Court House. Judge Vernon
instantly ordered Sheriff Jones to raise
a. posse and command the peace, to take
the public arms and deposit them in the
Sheriff's Office for safe keeping, and to
appoint hundred or more special con-
stables to keep the peace. This was
done, the arms taken possession of and
quiet restored.
In the affair at ''Tin Pot" two white
men and n little boy Of the citizens were
wounded; and of the armed negroes, one
was killed instantly aud two wounded
one mortally.
We have not heard full particulars,
but it is stated that some miles below,
on the railroad, the bodies of Bill Riley,
colored, und of Volney Powell, a white
man. q member of the constabulary
force and candidate for Probate Judge,
who was in the ntfray, was found with
their arms some time after We hsve
also heard that two or three other ne
groes wero killed at different points.
The people of the County, hearing of the
affair Mt the Court House, aud doubtless
hearing exaggerated accounts Of it, came
i'll great numbers, probably 1000 or
$500, to the scene of the conflict, but
the Sheriff, under the orders of Judge
Vernon, sent them to their homes. The
grand jury, then i'll session, made pre-
sentiment as to the affair in s.Tin Pot"
and urged the authorities to remove
from the County the public nrms-thc
presence Of which has no doubt done Il
great deal of harm in suggesting violence
on one side, and creating anxiety and
apprehension on the other. The grand
jury, in the most earnest terms, deprc-
Gated the consequences of arming one
race in the community and leaving the
other dcfenccless, and urged upon all
persons, white and black. to abstain
from violence and return quietly to their
homes.
This affair, by which the lives of scve-
rnl persons have been lost, is much to
be regretted. Whose fault is it? upon
This subject, doubtless, there will be
various opinions, taking their hue from
political interest and passion; but one
thing seems rs certain as anything can
be, that it was natural, if not inevita-
BILE. consequence of an attempt to array
and arm the blacks against the whites
for the selfish purpose of securing their
votes for Office. We believe no candid
man can deny this statement. This
people have had to bear much Mt the
hands of petty vulgar tyrants, working
through the negro vote as aspider works
by his web. Something must bo par
doned to the spirit of liberty! Can it bo
good government to arm one race in the
community and leave the other ut their
mercy? Can It &c iii tho interest OF
peace TO declare that tho militia shall
consist Of one exclusive race, who arc the
partisans Of the administration, but who
are ignorant, prejudiced, excitable and
lately emancipated Africans? Who ever
before heard of State arming one por-
tion of its citizens against the other por-
ton? Who ever before heard Of O can
didatc for Office being himself the Judge
Of the election? These things singly
WOu1l ho ho1 on ouoL l,,t ,,l,ot IL