Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-02-25
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER, Feb. %, 1877

CHESTER, Fe0. III, 1910.
Judge IT,. Mackey was in town last week,
which is rather an unusual occurrence, not
withstandiug the fact of his living here. In
giving an account of his recent experience IN
Edgefeld, as peace commissioner, he por-
trays the picture quite vividly. He describes
the country from Pine House station, on the
'C.C.&A. R. R., to the late seat of war in the
Currytown neighborbood, as presenting one
continued scene of fdesolation. The ruins of
6fty.one gin houses and dwellings were OBJ
served by him, in passing along the road. In
approaching the scene Of hostilities, "grim-
visaged war" showed his horrid front i'll the
beating of drums and blowing of bugles. At
one time ten drums were "beating the assem-
bly" of the forces, and seven bugles were
"soundng the saddle-up." In accomplishing
his mission of peace, Judge Mackey states
that he ordered the arrest of Tennent, the
ca aptain of the negro militia, and forty of his
men also the arrest of General Butler and a
number of his men. On investigation of the
facts, he found that Butler and his men had
acted as posse for the colored constable. AS
an incident of thel lief and bloodless cam
paign, the honorablepeace commissioner says
that the negroes laughed at Buffers men tor
falling down, upon their being fired into, sup
posing that they we're in state of great trepl'
dation, when in fact, they had fallen down
for the purpose of reloading, according to the
skirmish drill. Judge T. J. Mackey, by a
wise and vigorous course of action, was instru-
mental in giving peace and quietness to Edge
field county, for which he deserves due credit.
He was engaged last week in holding court
in Lancaster He states that the chairman
of the board of county commissioners, and the
Judge of Probate of that county were indicted
for habitual drunkenness. The former of
these officials was tried and found guilty-the
only case of the kind, it is said, since the
foundation of the State government. The
Judge of Probate, after he had selected his
Jury, concluded he had better resign, which
he accordingly did. The presiding Judge
then ordered the Solicitor to enter nolte prose-
qui in the case
Judge Mackey leaves Chester for Washing
ton on Friday, for the purpose of attending a
reunion of Mexican war veterans. tie says
that tremendous pressure will be brought to
bear on Congress to grant pensions to soldiers
of the Mexican war living in the South,
though they did offend in participating in the
"late unpleasantness. .
In my last communication I did not dwell
at sufficient length upon the late speech of
Dublin Walker, our colored Senator. AS he
is the acknowledged leader of the Republican
element in this county, it may not be amlss to
refer to the principal points of his ad-
dress. In aluding to the appointment of W.
A. Sanders, Trial Justice, he said that this
was to him mystery that was inexplicable.
He said that he had been requested by the
Governor to select the names of four persons in
the county, two Republicans and two Conser-
vatves, give the list of names to him (the
Governor,) and from this number he would