Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-02-04

regard tor pubic order ana rellahce OH tle
peaceful agencies of the law for the redress Of
wrongs, which are the chief safeguards of in
dividual rights and the public welfare"
In compliance with the proclamation of the
Governor, the rifle clubs in Edge6eld are
disbanding, and avow their perfect wiling
ness to abide the action of the Executive; !;
and on Saturday last Col. Parmale, under
directions of the Governor, went to Edge6eld
for the purpose of disarming the militia, and
to see that the proclamation is enforced. All
reports from Edge6eld agree in representing
matters quiet and with the disarming of the
militia and the disbanding Of the rifle clubs,
it is thought confidence and better feeling will
spring up between the two races. Judge
Mackey promises supplemental report in
few days.
JUDGE MACKEY'S EDGEFIELD REPORT.
AS relevant to the lengthy account of the
Edgefeld disturbances, printed on the first
page of this issue, we copy the following ma
terial points of the report made by Judge
Mackey to Governor Chamberlain:
On my arrival at Edge6eld court house l
stated publicly the object Of my visit, and
courier was dispatched to the scene Of the dis.
turbance to make my presence and purpose
known to the citizens of both races. Having
learned that Captain Edward Tenneut, the
alleged leader of the colored citizens in the
reported collision, had arrived in the town, [
sent him message requiring him to appear
before me- with which he complied promptly.
After 1 had duly warned him that he was not
obliged to commit himself, he made state.
ment which accords substantially with his af-
fdavit herewith transmitted. 1t appearing
from that statement that Tennent had, with
an armed force, resisted lawful warrant. is
sued for his arrest on the charge Of arson, and
that he had made that resistance effective by
firing upon the posse duly summoned to en-
force the execution of such warrant, | commit
ted him to jail to await examination. Before
committing him, he, at my instance, made an
affidavit, charging NJ. G. Butler and ten other
citizens with assault and battery with intent
to kill, by discharging their firearms against
him, the said Tennent, and the persons law
fully associated with him, and feloniously and
malciously wounding, by such discharge,
Charles Whitlow, John Morgan, Evans Mitch
ell and William Benham, in Merriwether town
ship, on the 18th day Of January, 1875. l
therefore, issued my warrant for the appre-
henson of General M. G.. Butler and the ten
other persons named in the affidavit. The
parties charged resided at distances from twen-
ty to twenty-five miles from the court house,
and it was with great difficulty [ procured
the services of an officer to execute the war
rant.
The Sheriff Of the county appears to be a
worthy and inoffensive man, but his whole in
telligence and sense of duty seem to have
lapsed into strong instinct of selfpreserva-
ton. He was afraid to enter the Merriwether
township, because the black people there
didn't know him, and the white people did
know him. After delay Of twenty-four
hours the sheriff obtained IA suitable deputy,
who was dispatched with the warrant The
deputy sheriff arrested General NJ. G. Butler
and his co-defendants, all of whom arc stated
by the officer to have yielded prompt obedience
to the warrant The defendants having ap-
peared, proceeded with the preliminary ex-
animation, and closed the testimony for the
State on last Saturday night after examining
numerous witnesses, all Of whom sustained the
statement of Tennent, but avowed themselves
as parties with Tennent in the armed resistance
to the process. On motion of the defendants
counsel, the examination of the witnesses for
the defense was set down for Thursday, the
2Sth inst, and the defendants were recognized
in the sum of 81 900 each to appear on that
day. Edward Tennent was also balled in the
same sum for his appearance on the same DAY.
Tenuent and his associates Of the militia COM
pany had fled to Edge6eld village to the num-
ber of thirty after the armed collision, but at
nv request, and on my assurance Of their
safety, they returned to their homes on Sun
day last openly and unmolested.
1t is impracticable for me at present to pre-
sent full exhibit of the facts in regard to the
condition of Edgefeld county, which facts are
of the gravest concern to the State, and should
he made known to your excellency. They
will be set forth in a future report when the
pending examination shall have terminated.
Suffice it now to say that, in my deliberate
Judgment, no such iniquity as the county gov
ernment of Edgefeld has been inflicted upon
any portion of the English speaking race since
L1G Oa&Ou wore Guc llOl COllul VI IhO AVA tnt'''
F.. In that case, however, the harsh domination
was that of superior civilization, which ele-
waited while it chastened In this it is the re-
verse.
The condition of Edge6eld presents prob
lem that demands an instant solution in the
interest of the public peace and the due pres.
ervation Of life and property. 10 this end L
earnestly recommend that your excellency
will forthwith issue and enforce all order with
drawing the State arms from the eight or ten
militia companies now organized and equipped
and supplied with ammunition, in the county
of Edgefeld, with the view to have the said
arms deposited in the State armory at the
capital. -,
The judge proceeds to denounce the calling
out of the militia companies by the captains
as unlawful and dangerous to the peace of the
county. He also recommends the governor
to call upon the white sabre clubs to disband,
and suggests that it would be wise in the gov
ernor to obtain the presence of two companies
of United States troops in the county.
Ray- Recruits for the army have been order
ed to be sent as follows: $50 for the Bird in
fantry; ITS for the 18th, at New Orleans
100 for the End, at Atlanta and $50 for the
18th, at Columbia.