The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-02-03
The EGSefielG Troubles.

TN Nc~< end Courier give the fo!-
lowjsg fearful description of the con-
dision Of affairs in Edgefeld, and
Judge. Nackcy expresses himself N
s'r0ue terms:
0a-!sssartsay ~aftefneeR-last, Jadge
Mackey began the Investigation 0: the
case agaiut Gen. Butler and others,
who had been charged by Tennant
with an assUSfitt with intent to XIII.
The,defendants who were present were
". G. Butler, b. Reese, g. Hancock
and II. Tonnes. Gen. Butler init
rlated that his witnesses were not all
present. and he WAS not yet prepared
to 60 into an Investigation. lie was
willing, however, to waive a prelimi-
nary examination, and give bail for
bis appearance at court. Judge Mackey
decided to 60 On with the examination,
with the understanding that the de-
!, PENDANTS should have ample time to
eet their witnesses, and that the exa-
nination should be adjourned from
day to day for the purpose. The court
room was densely packed with negroes,
not more than a dozen whites being
present. Tenant was called, sworn
and preceded to tell his story with
variations. Upon his cross-examina-
tion by the court. he said that the
State arms used by his men, when
they fred on the posse, belonged to
Capt. Bullock's company. ahd that he
had sent his men for them. His. exa-
mination and that ofCharles Whitlow,
member of his gang, lasted all the
evening, and the case was then ad-
journed over. Tenant is still in jail,
under the charge Of arson, and the
| negro Busy, who gave the informa-
ton concerning the burning, is also
in custody.
The responsibility for these troubles
| can certainly not rest upon the white
people Of Edgefeld County. There
Deyer was such an organized system Of
public plunder in New York Or Colum-
bia as there is in Edgcfcld. vt the
last election every County officer elect
! ed was d colcrcd man, and the ad-
ministration OF the finances rest entire.
" with the favored race. Judge
Mackey. who is investigating the con-
dition Of affairs, prouounces the entire
system "a huge grand larceny" The
Board of County Commissioners is
composed entirely Of negroes-who
are just able to write their own names.
Tennapt, the outlaw, isa member of
the board. On Friday Judge Mackey
told me that he attempted to obtain
access to the records Of the Office, but
was unable to 90 50 because the key
Of the Office was il Columbia, in posses
sion of the clerk of the board: who IS
also member Of the State Senate. The
Probate Judge isa mulatto, named
Bowie, from Georgia. an utterly In
competent man, and one who, 1t Is
said, is not unknown to the police au-
thorities in Augusta. The School
Commissioner is an illiterate negro
hay So IS the Clerk of the Court. The
chief deputy Of the clerk is a mulatto
| from Ohio. who has been in 5hesCoun-
ty only few months. The Coroner
is an incompetent negro. Of whom
Judge Mackey says: ''The only ser
vice he could renderthe County would
be to make. himself the subject Of a
coroucr's inquest" The Sheriff, a
white man. is described by Judge
Nackey in the following teens: ''He
is an honest and trustworthy man, but
has disagreeable habit Of approprla.
ting the funds Of judgment creditors
to his own use, on the ground that the
County has not paid him for dieting
the prisoners under his charge" The
opinion of Judge Mackey upon the
administration Of the jury law is emf
nently suggestive. Said he: ANY
citizen who has had wrong done to
person Or property, even the most vlo-
len. and ultra Democrat, can obtain
justice, provided he first makes salts
factory financial arrangements with
the Jury COMMISSIONER" :'ln short, "
added the Judge, as l arose to depart:
| "vou may say that l assert that the
government in Edgefeld County is a
vast system Of larceny"
In the face of these facts, in the
face Of all this official rascality, misrule
aud public plundering, any unbiased
person, who came here and lived awhile
would be astouished to find the white
citizens peaceful and law-abiding.
They are extremely sensitive, and oc-
casionally quarrel and fight among
themselves; but the records prove that
for the past four years they have exhi-
bited degree Of offorbearapce that enti-
ties them to the respect ofthe country.
The lawlessness Of Tenant and his
ra<cal!y militia has occasionally led to
| disturbances between the blacks and
whites, but in every instance, these
we're due to the threatening attitude
of the negroes themselves. Or the
10Th of last September, when the
whites were alarmed by the action Of
the militia at Ridge Springs, and the
entire County was under arms: a single
act of violence would have led 20 a
struggle, the result Of which it is not
difficult to forcsee. And yet the whites
retyained from attacking the negroes.
If you add to the rottenncss Of the
County government the ipjudicious
aud inliscriminate ,arming of the ne
eroes by Governor Moses, You will
have the direct cause Of these troubles.
! That the notorious Tennant should
have been allowed to remain unmo-
lestrd in the County jail for three
nights protected by the very white
men who have been so bitterly de-
9ounccd for their prescription Of tn:
negroes, and in the face Of the proof
against him Of being an incendiarl
and an OUTLAW, is as strange as it Is
true.