The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-10-08
EDGEFrELD COUNTY. September 2E

is copied from the Charleston Ne~s and C0u'
Ticr:
EpGEFIELD COUNTY, September 25.
Apprehendng that exaggerated and incorrect
reports of the late disturbances in this COM
munity may be in circulation, we beg to make
statement of the facts to the public:
There is negro captain of militia by the
name of Ned Tenant, who lives on Mr.. NJ. o.
Glovers plantation, and is a very turbulent
disorderly person. He alleged that on Sathr-
day night, the 10Th inst, two or more unknown
parties fired into the door Of his house, and
that thereupon he tapped his drum and began
to assemble his militia. The whites hearing
this and that this man had threatened "to burn
Mr.. Glover and MIR. Dolly out and clean out the
country" began also to assemble. By twelve
collected with their arms at and about Ned's
house in considerable numbers.
The whites in the meantime had assembled
mounted, and had partially surrounded the ne
groes. The negroes ascertaining this, sent to
Col. Butler, in immediate command of the
whites, proposing to capitulate. They were
allowed to disperse without molestation and
return to their homes. Reports of the probable
collision having been rapidly circulated, several
detachments of white men and two companies
of negro militia reached the vicinity that even
ing and night, and small detachment of
United States troops, but upon being informed
of the situation returned to their respective
homes. Prior to the organization and arming
of the militia the most perfect tranquility and
good order prevailed in our community. The
placing of arms and ammunition in the hands
of ignorant negroes in time of profound peace
and tranquility, when it is not even pretended
that their rights, persons Or property are
threatened, much less violated or disturbed, in
stigating them to bravado, acts of violence
and threatening department, is entirely with
out justification not only without justification,
but reckless tampering with and disregard of
the safety and peace of mind of the women and
children and helpless of the country; fire.
brand, to be used at will by such incendiaries as
Ned Tenant. We are sure that those who know
us will believe that we deprecate a collision
with negroes as entirely beneath the dignity
and character of law-abiding citizens; that we
appreciate how little is to be gained by lawless-
ness bloodshed and disorder, and how essen
tial to the well-beng of society is the preserva-
tion of order and due operation of law, and that
we have withheld merited punishment from
these people when they were in our power, IN
Difference to those elevated principles of en-
lightened forbearance which we claim to pos
SeSS dS lHlClllBeuG ClIILCuo. IuO AOooSio "
these misguided people, who are responsible
for their violence and lawlessness, must not
misconstrue this forbearance into temporzing
with their recklessness.
A recurrence of such scenes as disgraced the
last Sunday in our midst, will cause to burst
upon their heads storm of repressed lndlgna-
tion and patience long abused, which will be
bad for them.
We condemn the act of firing into this mans
door as entirely unjustifable and lawless, and
if he had resorted to the remedies which the
laav has placed in his hands to vindicate and
protect himself, instead of appealing to an
armed mob, he would nave had the support
and countenance of every good man in the
country Signed: Thomas B. Reese, A. P.
Butler, B. R. Tillman, Silas Lanier, s. S. Horn,
J. NJ. Holder, John Briggs, Elbert Munday, T..
H. Roper, Nj. G. Butler, H. A. Shaw, Jas.
Meriwether, w. E. Dobey, NJ O. Glover, W.
G. Harris, S. w. Mays, Thos. F. Straw, Rev. L.
P. Getzen, Rev. J. P. Mealing.