Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-12-08

zation, aud they alouo could be relied on as
loyal citizens AS an evidence of this fact,
would state that a cnptain of II militia compa.
ny, composed of, white men in this CITY, hav-
ing applied to mo for amMunition, | asked
him if he would obey my, orders as comman.
ler;iu. chief, in the event Of an ar,ucd COLI.
sion arising from an attempt to enforce the
laws, to which he frankly replied: "In case
of difficulty, will so Will, my race" ile
vas tod that it was not question of cuEorcs,
mcnt of the laws against those who proposed
to set them at defiance. The militia were,
for the most part, undisciplincd aud uusk lied
in the use OF arms. for they were reared un.
dor system of law which even forbade their
having fire arm in their possession was
convinced that put into the field they wonli
huve been Instantly confronted and attacked
by large body OF veteran sola;ery vel! or.
g'nized. aud equipped with the most improved
arms, and forming Il part of II vast oigauiza-
: ton extending through adjacent States, with
(which they had cns. lines Of communication
In such u conflict it Was evident that the
oinilitia would have been beaten--eithcr driv
-en backor slaughtered. In that cscntl fear.
ed general retaliation, which would have
speedily made the entire State tho thcatrc Of
an intcrnicine war.
oh! But, suppnsins the militia successful in
such n conflict. the opposition papers aud the
Associated Press agents in this State would
lhaeo proclaimed to the county that the State
administration had, for political purpose,
inanyurated 'war Of races" aud even loyal
lmcn Of both parties in the North, Who have
sympathy with the perpetrators Of these un
natural crimes, would have becu led to believe
that tho contest here WAS one between tho
~, h.
as it is, an issue between the loyal friends Of
the government and its disloyal encuics
~ Such an impression in the country would
have had peculiarly disastrous effect upon
the future OF the colorcd population through
out the entire South.
!tIn addition to these considerations,
ahoug,t, aud sill think, that i, was the para.
mount duty of the Government Of the United
States to protect its loyal citizens in The en-
joymcnt Of "llc, liberty aud the pursuit Of
happiness"
The negro was slave by virtue Of the
Constitution of the United States By the
Government of the United States he was
omnncipntah and made free, American
citizen The Government OF the United
States is. therefore, morally bound to protect
hi;n in the full exercise of his vested rights
undcrstanaingly, for ne was kept in ignorance
pursuant to its laws. Ii the Government u.
the unitcu States fails, when necessary, 70
discharge this duty, then emancipation WAS a
political crime, and the negro is lett to becomr
tile os"dient tool or wrctcEon victim Of The
diSloyhl enemies OF the government, and to
snEitr ourngcS because he is its FREUD
Moreover, viewed tho use OF the military
for the execution OF the laws with cxtra.uc re
rdgnancc, ana required that the civil author
tics should first exhaust their powers through
the posse con'i7tHs. In the folowin. letter.
addressed to the sheriff Of Fairfield County.
and published for the information aud gui
dance OF peace officers in ether countless |
cnioined upon the local magistrates and pcacn
officers of that bounty TO act with vi.ur. and
at oil hazlrls, t. bring these criminals to
jasicc ut least such OF thr,n as were known
and where there WAS proper evidence on
which warrant could issue
estate OF Sourn CAROLINA, \
"ENEcuuyH DErARTMmNT
"CoLUMEIA May ISL
"7u tie ShcriV oJ fuirE<|a Couoly:
",SiR :--l have been crcdib!y informed by
number of ctizcns Of Fairfield Comfy, us
well as by your own pllicinl communication.
that on the night of the 10Th utino, LoAv
OF armed men, III disguise, rode into the
Town Of Winnsbpro aud LETT 1T the houses
OF several county officers written paper, in
which they were commanded to reSi.yn and
t!lrc,Lcncl with violence ii they failed TO
obey: as you are the chief executive officer
Of the county, it is your duty to take meas
nres to ascertain and bring to Justice these
masked vioators OF the public peace, aud, for
this purpose, ypu sIlnll promptly invoke all
the Resources which tho law nIcns ,t vn,r