The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-16
The sfraks 81 ~ 2 80.

again there IS a strike on the Combahee.
with the usual accom- animertsoi mobs Of
colored men and women rowing from f,ian.
fation to plantation, and beating those labor
ersiWho are willing to work .at The liberal
rate oil, wages now paid e s, q,
from q dollar to dollar and q! half q task.
is ,,og paid for harvesting, and task can
readily be finished by midday. Those
laborers who choose can therefore earn
from two t. three dollars a day. This Is
high wages, aud the presumption Is that
the strikes, MS before, have some other
cause than dissatis- faction with the price
offered. However this may be, there Is no,
doubt whatever that c.niored laborers in
Beaufort who are anxio ,ls to work are
abused and maltreated by TIE strikers, Just
as in Charleston colored men who declare
themselves to be Democrats are set upon
md abused by Radical rowdies. Ard in one
case, as in the other, the boldness Of the
lawless negroes is due to their confidence
that they will not be punished. The az
rests made in Beaufort two weeks ago were
a farce. After great deal OF persuasion
the riotous strikers consented to submit to
arrest, upon condition that they be released
Immediately upon bail In Charleston not
a single arrest has been made. The inno-
cent suffer the guilty escape. A premium
is put upon crime. The administration Of
the law is hollow mockery. Peaceful and
law-abiding citizens, in this centennial
year. have no earthly protection s4ve what
their own courage gives them, and il they
defend themselves when attacked they are
liable 10 be sent to Jail for not kissing the
rod that smites them. Politics are ut the
bottom OF 1t all. The rioters are voters;
the election approaches; the Republican
officials are determined not to ALLEVIATE from
themselves their most efficient supporters.
In no other State in the Union could such
condition Of things last for twenty-four
hours. The people would not submit to it.
The negro militia are OF no use, and can
not be relied on to restore peace on the
Combahee OF On the Cooper. But Gov
ernor Chamberlain has under his direction
the whole civil power Of the State, and, as
he has given notice, has the authority to
organize any constabulary force that may
be needed. If the sheriffs of Beaufort
and Colleton neglect to do their plain duty,
why are they not removed? II the trial
justices refuse to issue warrants of arrest, |
why are their places not filled with men
who will not truckle to black mobs 1t
is the duty Of the Executive to compel
these officers to preserve the peace and
punish offenders, and il they have not the
power it is his duty to give them the force
they need. Upon Governor Chamberlain
the main responsibility for the renewed
troubles on the Combahee undoubtedly
rests, and for his apparent remissness no
satisfactory excuse has yet been offered.
With the whole State at his back-with the
right and opportunity to command what
ever aid he needs-be does nothing And
while he looks idly on, or issues proclama-
tons which the rioters do not read, the agri-
cultural operations OF an important section
of the State are either suspended altogether
OF are carried on amid untold difficulty and
danger Charleston IS. e. Neecs.