Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-05-22
Ho,c ,cin BisseA PDy his Hands ?

WASHINGTON, April 26, 1877.
CHOW WILL BrssELL PAY HIS HANDS 2"
General Banks was asked to-day what
he thought of the Presidents policy, al
support the administration sir" replied
the General, with that dignity of deport-
ment which renders his remarks so i'm
pressive '.For | regard the President as
but carrying out the restoration Of the
proper relation between the State and the
national governments, commenced by Gen.
eral Grant. The removal of the troops
from the protection of State Legislatures
in South Carolina and Louisiana had
became matter Of necessity, and Presi-
dent Hayes was forced by circumstances
to act as he has"
But" asked the interviewer, "what
viii be the ultimate effect of this policy,
General ,"
"Ah, sir :" replied General Banks,
that no one can foresee. For my own
part, am waiting to see how Bissell will
paw his hands, Have you read my report
on the recent elections in South Cardinal"
The interviewer had not, and General
Banks commended it to him. Reading it,
he there found the story about Bissell-
J. Is. are his initials, and he is a ri.e
planter on the Combahee river, where he
last year employed 500 He complained
before the committee that some of these
negroes who had Joined democratic club
had been cruelty whipped by their repub-
liean associates, who had also intimidated
the whites in that vicinity. He narrated
his manifold Affections very gIibly, and
the hearers have regarded him as much
abused South Carolina gentleman, until
General Banks began tosquestion some of
these intimidating field hands.
HOW BISsELL DID PAY HIS HANDS.
1t then gradually appeared that Bissell
had not only refused to pay his hands
more than fifty cents day for cutting
rice, but that they had to receive the
small sums coming to them at that rate
III NuSNhSs NulCu ICdQ NuuS
promise TO ply or bearer,
under contract, Scents, payable on
the first day of January, 1880
Signed, j. b. BIssELL
These checks were taken In payment
for goods at Bissel's house, where the
prices were high, but no one else in the
neighbOrhood would give anything for
them. At last the men refused TO take
these checks, and demanded dollar and
fifty cents a day. in cash, during the rice
cutting season. BisSell at once called to
his aid Captain Elliott's Rife Club armed
with Winchester repeating rifles, TO drive
his force back into the field, to work for
fifty cents day, payable in store goods,
or in checks, dated 1880. But the COL
Ored men gathered in force, and blOcka-
ded the Rife Club in BisseI's store, where
they remained in mortal dread for twelve
hours, until messenger sent in hot haste
brought Mr.. Robert Smalls, the heroic
slave pilot who carried 4 steam tug away
from Charleston during the war, and who
is now representative in Congress.
Mr. Small testified that he found the
rife club in BisseS's house, afraid to come
out, but that he addressed the assembled
crowd Of negroes, who permitted the rife
club to disperse unframed.
General Banks moral from this, is,
after all, the key to the situation; VIII
the Southern employers treat their labor
ers as free men or as serfs ? VIII they
give them fair wages for an honest days
work. "How will BisseIl pay his hands2"
-Perley. in the Boston Journal.