The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-22

BLACK BANDITS -Nnp TxxnkHr 70
1ill So rjcoIIScted. es nSsro militia
osp.ain. nsmed Ned Tsnpsoh gave she
psopls OF Edesasld Ooo9sy considsrs.
bic trouble. . bloody condics bsiue d
threatened war was averted by tho Sub.
mission OF Tenant and the surrender
| OF the arms in possession OF his com.
pany to the State authorities. The
County then subsided into it's wonted
state Of quiet, and the good citizens
hoped that there would be no further
trouble. Tenant was known to BIZ
desperate aud evil character, but no.
thing was apprehen,led from him while
his adherents remained disarued. Un-
fortunately this continued but a short
time. Ono bright day, not many
weeks since. Tennsut marched his en-.
tire company iuto the village of Edge
field. where the arms, which had been
deposited with the proper anthoritiss
to insure peace and tranquility, were
distributed to tho men BY Col. Cain
without warrant or authority. The
negroes then vent nome, and the for
mer nightly drills which had caused
the previous outbreak were resumed.
It was clear to every one that the
blacks meant mischief. It is the right
of every free people to protect against
wrong, and the citizens Of Edgefield
availed themselves OF the privilege.
A meeting was held, and q com mist.s
consisting Of Gen. M G. Butler. and
Messrs. Mealing. Shaw, Butler, Porter
and McKie, appointed to wait on Gov.
chamberlain, In order to endeavor to
induce him to take action in the inte.
rest of peace and good order in Edge
field County. On the 9Th OF the pre-.
sent mouth this committee called on
Gov. Chamberlain, at Coiu,nb bia, the
apital of the state Of South Carolinn.
They represented that Tenuaut, the
military captain. had recently marched
his company to Elgcfeld Court House
and recovered tho arms, with many
rounds of ammunition, which they had
been made to give up some time ago
He had instituted drills and was march
ing about the country. mostly at night,
and all night in the Currytown neigh
borhood. Alarm had spread in all d..
ractious. A public meeting had breu
b hel], and this com mittee appointed to
represent the danger to tho Governor,
and 10 request that hr iasne an order
to have the arms withdrawn and placed
in safe keeping. Judge Carpenter was
present at the interview, and pro
nounced the retention OF the ar ms be.
longing to the State by the militia,neu
as not warranted by law and viola.
| tion Of the public pnnce. Governor
Chamberlain thanked the committee
for the good Judgment and discretion
OF their actibn. and promiSed 70 issue
an order to Tenpant and his company
to return the arms without delay. This
whole proceeding had been entirely
without his knowledge or consent.
The committee retired satisfied with
what tho Governor said, aud gratified
At the success of their mission. Mark
tho resolt. Tenuant determined to be
rsvenged, and accordingly devised an
atrocious plot, of which Con. Butler,
tho chairman OF the com mittee, was to
be tho victim. On the night Of the
18Th instant. while Gen. Bntler was in
Augusta. his residence in Edgefield
County. about sixteen miles from this
city. was destroyed by fre. The Gene-
rails wife and children. who were
asleep at the time. barely escapad
with their lives. Everything in tho
house was consumed. Circumstances
pointed unerringly to tho faos that an
incendiary had been at work A pile
of lightvnod shavinse and ct!.a- coai-
bustible materials found under one
corner of the burning building. showed
how the fire had been communicated.
A negro man had been seen lurking
about the premises during the day
aud suspicion was at once directed to
him. On the night of the 18th a
party OF gentlemen called at the house
of the suspected negro, who. however,
ded at their approach. Several shots
were fred at him. but apparently with.
ont effect. He was afterwards arrested
and confessed that ho had set fire to
Gen. Buffers honse. having been
bired to do 30 by Ned Tenant. Upon
this nformation Gen. Butler bad war
rant issued Monday for Tennant's ar.
rest. The warrant was placed in tho
hands VI constables. all colored, who
proceeded In quest of Tenant. The
latter, however, resisted, he and his
partisans drew their weapons on the Of
ticers and declared their determination
not to be arrested. either by white or
black. The constables appealed to Gen.