Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-11-02
From the Columbia Phoenix.
Arrest In York--Business Para
lyzed-Intense Excitement.

81 iyZtu7-lutouSo NACitoMohss
We ibegleave to call attention to
the following extract from the letter
Of acitizen Of Yorkville, addressed
to gentleman of this city. The
writer is gentleman of the highest
character. His letter will give some
idea of the scenes enacting in York.
Nor will our readers fail to appreci-
ate the indignant emotions evinced
by the writer, whom we know to be
q quiet, law-abiding man:
YoRKv1LLE, S, c., Oct. 81 II.
Although I feel secure in my own
innocence of any completely in the
causes which have been made the
pretext for the Infamous proceedings
inaugurated here by the party in
power, yet I cannot but be shocked q
and feel uneasiness, at the total over
throw of all my preconceptions of
republicanism, freedom and law. In
deed. no stranger to our community
could remain here unaffected by the
prevailing gloom and sense of inse-
curity. Every bulwark Of civil pro:
lection seems leveled, and personal
liberty appears now to depend entire
ly upon the absence of malice on the
part of the ignorant and depraved.
No warrants are issued, no charges
specified, no authority exhibited; q
soldier under arms, sometimes COM
missioned or non-commissioned officer,
sometimes merely a private, presents
himself and orders a-march to Jail.
Arrived there, the prisoner is search
sd, and then locked up in a cell and
told that he can have no source Of
amussmsntto whileaway the time, as
he 10 placed there for punishment,
and not for pleasure. In some cases,
little consideration has been shown,
such as time to take leave of wife
and children,ss svhea Convenient; in
many others, the summary process
is most scrupulously adhered to. A
case of this kind took place in town,
to-day, which illustrates we'll the
changes and variety Of untried being
we must pass. A Mr.. Mitchell
highly esteemed as straightforward,
upright man, by all who know him,
came TO town last night to attend q
Masonic meeting. This morning,
while standing in store, he was ar
rested by a common soldier, who,
after cooking his musket and putting
on fresh cap, ordered him to hold
up his hands, and told negro to
search his pockets and disarm him.
This being done, the doughty soldier,
with his sable assistant, carried the
prisoner to Jail. What adds poig-
nancy to this shameful indignity, is
the fact that the black rascal who
took part in it has been strongly sus,
pected of having been one Of Roses
gang of barn-burners. There are
now some thirty two or three in
Jail; but this number will, doubt
less, be largely increased by morning
as nearly all Of the cavalry compa'
MES are ranging over the country
and night arrests seem to be in spe-
cial favor.
All this is bad enough, God knows,
but there are consequent evils to be
apprehended, which dwarfs it into
petty annoyance. The County is be-
ing depopulated. Numbers of farm
ers and other citizens, innocent as
we'll as guilty, appalled, at the pros
pect of long incarceration, a pack.
ed Jury. an unscrupulous Judge, and
ready host of accusing witnesses,
eager to swear according to anStruc-
tons, for "$2 a day and expense,
paid" have left homes and families
Just as the thre tened danger found
them. The matured crops and but
half gathered, and the unprotected
farms stand as tempting bats for the
idle negro. 1t will not be long be-
fore larceny, arson and outrage of
every sort will be committed through
out this helpless section. Already
the signs of cxultatinn are shown on
the faces of the negroes. The town
is daily filled with them-many com.
ing to tell their concocted tales of
Ku Klu1 injuries, or to seize, the
chance Of easy vengeance upon those
whom they dislike. This very after
noon, my friend--was subjected
to annoyance of this kind. About a
month ago, he informed q worthless
negro tenant on his mothers farm
that he must make other arrange
ments for next year. To-day the
rascal came to town to report him as
"a Ku Klux ard a friend to Ku
Klux." Knowing Mr.---was in
town, he actually rode up here to
brag to Mis-, his wife, about
what he had done. Fortunately. his
tale was so ridiculous and SO badly
told, that it was rejected at head
quarters. This is straw, but it
shows the drift of negro feeling. 1t
is needless to add that all business
amdindustry are paralyzed. Through
i'll this, a. S. Wallace, the directing
and controlling spirit Of this scheme OF
infamous outrage, remains in our
midst. lie daily airs himself upon
onr streets, here in the very heart oil
murder and conspiracy, as he calls it,
and gloats over the vcrlfi1ation Of