The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-30

Oouhty VI CuSeuelu, OetWeon Wnlto
aud oolored citizens. I fear that, il
unchecked. disorder may become wide:
spresd IN that County. In tho abeenc4
of the Circuit Jodge OF the Fifth Cixt
cuit in another County, I request yo4
to proceed to Edgefeld County, and
exert your influence and powers III
allayipg the disorder and in adjusting
the difficulties out of which the trou-
bles have sprung. To this end, trust
that you will call upon all good citi-
zens to aid you in restoring and pre-
serving the peace and in enforcing the
laws Of the State. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant.
d. II. CHAMBERLAIN,
Governor of South Carolina.
On my arrival at EdgeieId Court
House. I stated publicly tho object of
my visit, and courier was despatched
TO the scone of the disturbance to make.
~y presence and purpose known to the
citizens of both races. Having learned
that Captain Edward Tennant, the al.
legged leader OF the colored citizens IN
tue reported collision, bad arrived in
the town, sent him q message re-
quiring him to appear before me. with
which he complied promptly. After 1
had duly warned him him that he uas
made statement which accords sub
stantially with his affidavit herewith
transmitted. It appearing from that
statement that Tenuant had, with an
armed force. resisted lawful warrant,
issued for his arrest on the charge OF
arson, and that he had made tbnt re.
sistance effective by firing upou the
posse duly summoned to enforce the
execution OF snoh warrant, I com mitted
him to Jail to await examination. Be-
fore committing him. he, at my in-
stance, made an affidavit, charging NJ.
O. Botler and ten other citizens with
an assault and battery with intent to
kali. by dischargiug their firearms
against him. the said Tenant, and the
persons lawfully associated with him.
and feloniously and maliciously wound
ing. by such discharge, Charles Whit
low. John Morgan, Evans Mitchell
and William Beniiam. in Merriwether
Township. on the 18th day of Janu.
ary, 1875. I, therefore, issued my
warrant for the apprehension of Gen.
NJ. O. Butler and the ten other persons
named in the affidavit. The parties
charged resid d at distances from
twenty to twenty-five miles from the
court bonse, aud it was with great diff
fioulty procured the services of an
officer to execute the warrant.
The Sheriff Of tho County appears
to be worthy aud inoffsnsive man;
but his whole Intelligence cad sense o!
duty seem to have lapsed into strong
instinct of self-preservation. He was
afraid to enter the Merriwether Town
ship. because the black people there
didnt know him. and the white people
did know him. After delay of
twenty .four hours. the Sheriff obtained
q suitable Deputy, who was despatch ed
With the warrant. The Deputy She
rif arrested Gen. NJ. O. Butler. and
bis oo.defendants. all of whom are
stated by the officer to have yielded
prompt obedience to the warrant. The
defendants having appeared. I pro.
| ceeded with tho preliminary examinu.
hon. and closed the testimony for the
State on last Saturday night, after ex.
aiming numerous witnesses, all Of
whom sustained the statement of Ten
nant. but avowed themselves as parties
with Tennant in the armed resistance
to tho process. On motion of the de-
fendant's counsel, the examination OF
the witnesses for tho defence was act
down for Thursday, the 28th inst. aud
the defendants we're recognized in the
sum of 81 900 each, to appear on that
day. Edward Tennant was also bailed
in the same sum for his appearance on
the same day. Tenant and his 1880
ciates OF the militia company had fed
to Edgefeld village to the number of
thirty after the armed collision, but at
my request. and on my assurance OF
their safety. they returned to their
ZONES on Sunday last openly and an
Yolested. ~
Nv is impracticable for me- ut present'
10 present foil exhibit of the facts in
regard to the condition of Edgefield
County, which facts are of the gravest
concern to tho State. nnd should be
made known to your Excsllency.
They will be set forth iu q future re-.
port when the pending examinations
shall have terminated. Suffice it now
to say that. in my deliberate judg-
ment. no such iniquity as the County
government of Edgefeld has been in
hlcted upon any portion OF the Eng.
lish'speaking race since the Saxon
wore the iron collar of the Norman.
| In that case, however. the harsh domi.