The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-01-12

eitisens." He wosld ask. had II bess shown
that M. Robefcon Mas guilty Of receiving stolen
eott"n He said he believed the burnins Of Nr.
Keberson's store was political act, snd for no
Lie said all this clomor about stolen cotton 10
raised for political effect ony-it IL al,.hn.h. Is
desired ig 70 DO understood that no was not speak.
ins 70 spirit Of demsgogui.N. He said tho
thiog:; TO pass thi. Bill would be to oppress 10
majority ef poor people in this State.
Deiargs opposed the bill, aud said no thought
the Oil was born 10 hell and conceived Of the
deyil; He hoped the bill would DO soted down,
ana :. show to these people who como hero and say
4 tho Legislature will not do SO and SO they will
do SO and so. They may burn down stores onco
too often. The State now has the power to take
hold anu punish such midnight marnuders. There
Is s1hicient law on tho statute books to punish
stealing, DO that Tho stealing Of cotton or any
thing el,e. 1ftho law 10 not severe enough then
aneod 10 what moro protection 10 needed?
Surely tho BIZ before US cannot grant it. There
Is iaw enough to punish receivers Of stolen cot.
Ton also, ana now ridiculous It seems for men TO
taIt OF takiDg the law in their own hsnds. II
hoosrtson bad been guilty Of buying stolen cot.
ton, why did they not arrest bim-instead of
burning his dwelling and driving out his wife
anu ehi,dren-,and then apply tho law, which, If
eo,ne to this General Assembly and ark that the
Law be- amended. But no, they did not; and
men who are outlaws como hero and nsk US for
protection. Oh consistency thou art jewel.
Let us tell these gentlemen Of Sumter county
there is power in tho State that will make them
stand to law. This Dill would be ON act Of op.
preston to the poor, as II proposes to tax them
to foe commissioner, and, upon the whole, II 10
dangerous and special legislation.
D. james, tcoiored,) Of Sumter, favored the
Bill and beloved the measure would benefit oil
the people, rish as we'll as poor. lIo did not be-
lievo the assertion Of the gentleman from Charles.
ton, (Tomlinson,) that the destruction of Mr..
Robertson's storo was n political action. 10 said
he knew Robertson, and as far US Robortson,s
political status was concerned, i. was not up to
high water mark lilo said cotton had teen stolen
from tho fields Of poor colorca mon aud curried
ut night to littlo stores anh sold.
Smiling (colOred) Of Sumtor, opposed tho Bill.
lie had oonvcrscd with white and colorcd people
In his County, in reference to this Bill. lilo he.
lieved the intent of the Bill wac good, but il was
spoilt in drawing It up. This Bill ducs not catch
tho dishonest man ut all. It will not DO to CON-
pei poor man who has o bag Of cotton to carry
It to town Or await the pleasure Of tho Commis.
sioncr to examine It, before ho cnn soil it. lilo
believed the Bill entirely detrimental to tho inter.
ests of tho poor man.
Wilder opposed tho Bill and looked upon it as
an attempt to rcvive tho provisions of tho old
negro code. lIo was not surprised ut tho sc,.rco
from which tho Bill originated (Sumter lilo :.
he was burn in Sumter, and wei, rccc..,cc,c, % th"
nmo when poor colored 'Ian w.snoL to cell a fow
sees, Ss't ."Sse -" 'iad pass from his master,
az was put IN tho "oull.p PEN" and now about tho
SUN :.onss,rlon is offered hero-t'c appointment
OF Commissioners to inspect and weigi, cttton--
lilo styled them rs tricksters, who wunted to buy
the cotton from tho poor colorcd man Mt n more
nominal figure. 1le wns free, nnd wanted ovcry
man to DO free in Ills actions and i'll tho sale ofhis
products, bet they large or small.
whtpper opposed the Bill md said thero was
sufhcientlaw now to punish either petty or grand
larceny, and why not apply the Law? In regard to
the appointment of Commissioners he wante,, 10
know what guaranty there WAS thnt said Com,n,s
sioners would al bo honcct ,nen and If not would
they not encourage stealipg of cotton aud soil
some for their own benefit. And again would il.
be possible that the cotton thief would 20 to the
Commissioner or wcisher with his stolen cotton
and thero establish his guilt What is wantoJ.
said he, is n Commissioner on each larc.e planta.
tion to protect tho poor lsboror on6 see that
no is not robbed aud cheated of Lis hard enrn.
ing.
Ramsay (colored) of Sumter, and chcsnut (col.
ored2 Of korshaw. also maIo brief speeches in op-
position to the bill.
On the question of striking out tho onact-
ing clause OF the Bill, DcIargo called the
yeas and nays, wtlioh rtsultod as follows: Yeas,
90; u"ys's; a.scnt or not voting. so.