The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-19
RIFLE L4W IN EDGEFIELD.
: Most Infamous and Brutal Conduct.
The "Whites Must Prepare for Their
Defence
[From the EdpefIeld Advertiser.l

On Tuesday morning last our public square
was the scene of most Infamous and laWless
conduct on the part of the negro militia VINO
guard the Jail. Nor Is this the first time oy
many.
The dastardly habit these black militamen
indulge themselves in, Of darting out IN lull
force upon white men, pell nell, with guns,
raging, fierce, profane, blaspheming, insulting,
bloodthirsty, must be put stop to. If the
authorities who are put here to command
them cannot do 80 more effectuaily, then the
white citizens of this community must
prepare for their defence. These MI
fitiamen wait not to De called up
orders. They have not the remotest IDEA
of the conduct and duties of a soldier. and
vet they are soldiers, and we are paying them
for soldering it over us. Each one OF them
makes any little bubble that may come under
the notice OF the town marshal his own prl-
vate and personal affair. If the marshal IS re-
sisted or cursed, each one seems TO fancy MN
man Is seized, dragged, pushed, kicked into
the Jail, BY crowd Of fierce, tumultuous, un-
restrained negroes. Each one raves and rants
on his own responsibility. Each one brand
ishes weapon of some sort. Eacn one rends
the air with unheard-of blasphemy. Each
and all of the friends of the offending white
man are gratuitously dared TO come FORWARD
and be shot like dogs.
Why are not these negroes better instructed
In their duty as soldiers? Why Is it not i'm
pressed upon their minds that they should DO
their duty, and no more? Do their duty, ACT,
ing under orders, with their mouths smut, ana
without making the affair in hand a personal
matter?
We do not say that the town marshal should
not do his duty. And We do not. In the slight,
est degree, uphold citizens who have violated
the municipal ordinances, in resisting, striking
or cutting the said marshal when he goes TO
arrest them.
But in the. affair of Monday morning the
marshal, colored, transcribed his authority oy
rant He was cut IN the cheek with pocket
knife. He attempted to disable the gentle
man. who resisted him with club. The club
being seized by bystanders, he drew reVoirer
and shot st the gentleman. Hereupon the
militia rushed ont In Wild tupuit, anu tne
scene which e1sued was iawless. oloodlnirs'y
and Insulting beyond any descnptlon.
These negroes must be taught better. Inc
white peopIe Of this country are too numerous
to allow themselves to be thus often openly
and wantonly insulted. And when these mis-
guided negroes shall have forced on the issue,
BY such conduct as that OF Monday morning,
do they not know their fate !? Blind are they
II they do not ! We repeat 1t, these negroes
must be taught better.
Our white citizens must lose not SINE
day in forming company. getting into COM
plete organization, and holding themselves in
constant readiness to defend themselves
against these lawless and unrestrained ne
groes.
But in the end let us exhort our people to
extreme prudence, caution and patience-nay,
even to long suffering and endurance. Let all
citizens from the country beware of spending
the night In town, without it be in private
house, and let even the Youngest, boldest and
rashest make prudence his motto. The inter-
est of our country demands this Of us.
The Radical party just now would rejoice in
nothing more than a difficulty between the
whites and blacks of Edgefeld.
But be ready, and If these black so-called
soldiers do bring on a fray, as it would seem
they are determined to do, let them not pass
through the ordeal lightly.