The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-02-23

A'ooerlsoh was guilty OF receiving
stolen cotton2 lie said no be-
loved tho burning of Mr.. Robert
sons store was political act, and
TOR no other cause, for tho mon
went thero in disguise. lilo said
all this clamor about stolen cot
ton is raised for political effect on
ly-it is all bosh. lilo desired it
to DO understood that no was not
speaking in II spirit Of domagogu-
Ism. lilo said tho Legislature has
no right to Interfere in such
things; to pass tho bill would be
TO oppress majority of poor poo
plo in this State.
DeLargo opposed tho bill and
said ho thought the bill was born
IN hell and conceived Of tho dovil.
lilo hoped tho bill would be voted
down, and show to thcso pcoplo
who como hero AMI say if tho
Legislature will not do so and so
thoy will do so and so. They
may burn down stores onco too
often. Tho State now has the
power to tallo hold and punish
such midnight maraudcrs. There
is sufficient law on the statute
books TO punish stealing, be that
the stealing of cotton or anything
else. IF the law is not severe
enough then amend it. What
moro protection is nccdod7 Sure
ly tho bill before us cannot grant
it. There is law enough to pun
ish receivers of stolen cotton also,
and how ridiculous it seems for
mon to talk Of taking tho law in
their own hands. If Robertson
had been guilty Of buying stolen
cotton, why did they not arrest
hlm-instcad OF burning his dwell
ling and driving out his wifo and
childrcn-and then apply tho law,
which, if they did not think was
severe enough, let them como to
this General Assembly and ask
that the law be amended. But 70
they did not; and men who
arc outlaws como hcro and
ask us for protection. Oil con
slstcncy thou art jowcl. Lot us
tell these gentlemen Of Sumter
county that if they again act con,
trary to tho law that there is pow
CT in tho StLto that will mako
thom stand to law. This bill
would DC an act Of oppression to
the poor, as it proposes to tax
thom to fec II commissioner, and
upon tho whole, it is dangerous
and special legislation.
B. James, (colorcd) of Sumter
favored tho bill and believed the
measure would benefit all tho pco-
pic, rich as well as poor. IIo did
not believe the assertion Of the
gentleman from Charleston, (Tom-
linson,) that tho destruction of
Mr.. Robcrtson's store was q polit-
cal action. lie said hc know Rob
crtson, and as far as Robcrtson's 8
political status was concerned, it
was not up to high water mark.
lle said cotton had been stolen
from tho fields Of poor colorcd
mon and carried at night to little
stores and sold.
Smiling (colorcd) Of Sumter, op-
posed tho bill. lIc had convcrsod
with white and coIorcd people in
his county in reference to this
bill. lIo believed tho intent Of
tho bill was good, but it was spoilt
in drawing it up. This bill does
not catch tho dishonest man ut all.
1t will not do to compel q poor
man who has n bag Of cotton to
carry it to town or await tho
pleasure Of tho Commissioner to
examine it, before ho can sell it.
lilo beloved tho bill entirely do
trimontal to tho intorosts Of tho
poor man.
Wildcr opposed tho bill, and
looked upon it as an attempt to
rovivc tho provisions Of tho old
negro code. uo was not surprised
at tho source from which tho bill
originated (Sumtor.) IIo said ho
was born in Sumtor, and woll roc
objected tho timo when poor col
orcd man wished to sell q fow
eggs, &C., unless he had q pass
from his mastor. he was put in