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

BLACK BAxDrrs Nm TmnX1r -
TIE Eaoxy. Sons. Mn14hs, sinoeesgs
IiIl Hs rScol) Bcted, 20 SIesb miIifs
captain, aem8 Ned TSAaG1k RsyX ne
rsopis OF EdGdsid GosasH SosSid -.
hls trouble, Afbloody ccnillSS bsipa, %
one tfhs imHjnent. Fort6patsiy the
threstened war was svestsd ~ ths Sab.
mission Of Tennant and the surrender
l'sny to the State authorities. The
County then subsided into its wonted
state Of quiet and the good citizens
hoped that there would be no further
trouble. Tenant Was known to bs q
desperate aud evil character. but no.
thing was apprehen'led from him while
bis sdherents remained dissrmed. Un-
fortunately this continued but short
time Ono bright day, not maoy
weeks since. Tennsut marched his EN-
tire company into the village Of Edge
field. where the arms, which had been
deposited with the proper authorities
to insure peace aud tranquility, were
distributed to tho men BY Col. Cain
without warrant or authority. The
negroes then went homo. and the for
mer nightly dEills which had caused
the previous outbreak were, resumed.
It was clear TO every one that the
blacks meant mischief. It is tue right
of every free people to protect against
wrong, and the citizens OF Edgefleid
availed themselves OF the privilege.
a meeting was heid, and q COMMITTEES
consisting OF Gen. N @. Butler. aud
Messra: Msaling. Shaw. Butler, Porter
and Make, appointed to wait on Gov.
C6amberiain. In order to endeavor to
induce him to take action in the inte.
rest of peace aud good order in Edge
Held County. On the 9th OF the pre-.
sent month this committee called ON
Gov. Chamberlain, at Columbia, the
capital Of tho state OF South Carolinn.
They represented that Tenuant, the
military captain. had recently marched
his company to E1gefield 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 m march-
ing about the country. mostly at night,
and all night in the Currytown neigh
borhood. Alarm had spread iu all di.
reotious. A public meeting had been
held, aud this com mittee appointed to
represent the danger to ths Governor,
and 70 request that hu issue an order
TO have the arms Withdrawn and placed
in safe keeping. Judge Carpenter was
present at the interview. apd pro
nonnced the retention OF ths Arms be.
longitg to the State by the militiAipen
as ntte1 1arrxnted by law and viola,
ton o3' the public pnace. Governor
OhamberiAid thanked the chm mittee
for the Eood jhtikment ana Discretion
of theft actibn. and promfsed 10 issue
an order to Tenpapt and his company
to return tie 'arm mns WittSay delay. The
whole proceeding had been entirely
without his Knowledge OF consent.
The committsee retired satiafied with
what tho Governor ,said. aud gratiflsd
as the success of their mission. Mark
tho resolt. Tenuant determined to be
rsvenged, and accordingly devised an
atrocious plot, Of which Con. Butler,
tho chsirman Of the omtnistee, was to
be the VICTIM On tbs night OF ths
18th instant, while Geu. Butler wss in
Augusta, his residence in Edgefieid
County. about sixteen miles from this
city, was destroyed by 6re. The Gems
rails wife and children. who were
asleep at the time. barely escaped
with their lives. Everything in the
house was consumed. Circumstances
pointed unerringly to tho fact that an
incendiary had been at work. A pile
OF liehtwood shavines and other com-
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 tho promises during the day
aud suspicion was at once directed to
him. On the night of tho 18th a
party OF gentlemen called at the house
Of the suspected negro, who, however.
hed at their approach. Several shots
were fred at him. but apparently with.
ont effect. He was afterwards arrested
and confessed that he had set fire to
Gen. Buffers honse. having been
hired to do 30 by Ned Tenant Upon
this information Gen. Butler had war
rant issued Monday for Iennant's ar.
rest. The warrant was placed in thu
hands u constables, all colured, who
proceeded In quest Of Tenant. The
latter, however. resisted, he and his
partisans drew their weapons on the Of.
ficers and declared their determination
not to be arrested. either by white or
black. The constables appealed to Gen.
Butler for aid. The General in response