The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-22
captain" Thomas.

"Captain" Thomas.
The Columbia correspondents Of
our city neighbors. the Mars md
Courier and the Journal Of Commerce,
, we are pleased to say, deny in toto,
Mack Thomas statements in refer
ence to his appointment rs "Captain."
Our citizens will be glad to learn that
no such appointment has been made,
as this whole community was surpris-
on the evening of the 9Th instant, at
seeing in the Register, an announce
1nent in these words:
IN. r. Thomas, colored, of Able
" vile, was commissioned yesterday
" as Captain of company a. 18th
-" Regiment ofSouth Carolina Militia"
Statements OF this kind from the
Register, have heretofore been strictly
correct, and our people have regarded
such announcements in that paper as
semi-oficial from the fact that the ed
itors have access to the Estate offices,
and are ia full accord with the adj
ministration. In this case no n had
u shadow ofdoubt, as to the correctness
OF the Registers statement, espec-
tally as the order heretofore given
to Captain White to collect the. arms
here, had been rescinded OH. the Sth,
and Ire Informed from the Adjutant
and Inspector Generals office that
Mack would perform that duty.
This community at the apparent
existence of such facts were noe less
indignant than the gentlemen who
considered their names so freely used
in such doubtful connection" No
body here believed that our Mack
went driving, or drank lager, with
the State officials, but as it is now the
practice to ~'.interview" men of sta
ton, we thought we would commence
on Mack, and let the Governor and
other gentlemen ut the capital know
what manner of man had won their
confidence, at least so far as to substi-
tute. him forICapt. White in the deli
cate duty of collecting the arms.
We deny that we attempted to put
al insult upon any of the gentlemen
named or alluded toin the "interview"
of Captain Thomas. The correspond
ent Of the NeUs and Courier misinter-
prets the article, and does US injustice
in making that statement. The same
correspondent says that Thomas was
"required to collect the arms in the
possession of the members Of his com-
Tany. The original order now in
Thomas possession says he was ''re-
quired to collect the arms and dccou-
hrcmcnts belonging to Co. a. 1OM
Rcgt. ". g." Note the difference.
The Messrs. Swaffield will readily
see how we were imposed upon as to
their part of the performance, when
Thomas exhibits a sample of cloth,
suitable for uniforms, with the price
of suits marked on it., which he said
came from that house, as we'll as q
printed card, and their name and
address in his memorandum book, ev-
identity written by some other
than himself.
This community were curious to
know how such an appointment could
have been made, and when the per-
SOIL named returned from the capital,
he came to our Office, confirmed the
news and gave literally, anu in words,
the account of his actings and do
ings in Columbia, which appeared in
our last issue. 1t did strike us as q
strange story, but in no respect more
strange than the appointment" as
Captain.
Captain White, one Of cur most ac-
tive, intelligent and reliable citizens,
had been ordered to collect the arms
and was diligently and successfully
engaged in the work. The first effect of
the appointment" was to stop this
work, and to put it under the con-
troll of one whose history and charac-
ter gave no assurance of adding
strength to the peaceful relations now
happily existing between the races.
We knew there was no vacancy, to
fill which can appointment" could be
made, as there had been nc meeting
of Company A for months, and if the
company was not disbanded, the
old Captain, Kennedy, was still in
office.
This community was struck with
wonder and amazement that such a
n as Mack Thomas should be
created Captain, and assigned to
the delicate and responsible duty of
collecting the State arms and accoutre-
ments scattered through this COM
munity, thus oversiaughing both the;
Captain Of the old company, KeDne-
dy. and Captain White, SO coinpe-
tent for the work and 70 acceptable to
this people. We are pleased, howev-
er, to learn from our Charleston eX-