Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-06-06
WAVING THE BLOODY SHIRT.

WAVING THE BLOODY SHIRT.
We had thought the bloody shirt, which
has not been Haunted for several months past
had been quietly slowed away, never again
to be used for the purpose Of rallying polti-
cal recruits under its ensanguined folds But
in this our hopes have deceived us. The
Washington Republican of the 2Sth ultimo
waves the tattered and battlescarred penant
with all the desperation of a veteran leading
a forlorn hope, and is so frantic in its efforts
to once more rally the Republican hosts un'
der the worn out cry of Southern oppression
to the negro, that only smile of derision
will reward its valor.
This last Auttering of the familiar Repub.
lican banner is prompted by letter recently
written from Yorkville to Washington City,
which, with the editorial comments of the
Republican, We copy on the first page of this
issue, for the purpose of making few correc-
tions as to all and singular the errors contain
ed therein. As the letter forms the basis
of the howl sent up by the Republican, we
will first subject it to review.
The writer charges that the Democrats
meaning, we suppose, the white people, are
Every contrary and turbulent" This charge,
if meant to apply to the treatment of the
colored people by the whites, is false in every
respect. The races are moving along as ami.
cably in York county as it is possible for any
people to do. There are no dissensions OF
any kind among them. The colored people
have every right and privilege of freemeD
guaranteed by the constitution and statutes OF
the State and of the United States. The col.
ored people have the benefit of the school
fund in the exact ratio that it is shared by
the whites, and here in Yorkvile, besides re-
ceiving an equal division of the school fund
raised by taxation, the white citizens have
subscribed literally by private contribution to
enable the colored people to derive the benefit
of the Peabody fund, thereby ensuring them
successful school ten months of the year.
There is no occasion for turbulence on the
part of the white people, nor have they any
disposition to exercise such spirit. There
may be isolated cases of disagreement between
white and colored persons, as there are be
tween persons of either race; but the cause
cannot be traced to a turbulent" spirit of
the whites, or desire for persecution. At
the last term of the Circuit Court of this
county, Judge Hudson presiding, gentle
man of high responsibility was convicted by a
white jury of assault and battery on a colored
person, which case had been sent up to the
Court by Democratic Trial Justice. His
Honor not only imposed heavy fine, or a
term in Jail, but also reprimanded the gentle
man in severe terms. This does not give evil
dence of turbulent community. And as
to their fear of obtaining their rights in the
courts of justice, it may be mentioned that
only last Tuesday, in the Court of Sessions,
Levi Hayes, colored, on being arraigned for
trial for breach of trust, and having twenty
peremptory challenges, rejected every colored
iuror-six in number-drawn from the pan
mel. The rejected jurors are as respectable as
any men of their color in the county and
the fact of their rejection proves that the
colored man is not afraid to entrust his rights
to white jury.
The writer next goes on to say, "they have
gone so far as to have people punished under
pretence of sauciness," &c. The case which
gave rise to this grave accusation. may be
truthfully and briefly stated as follows: A
white and colored youth-Sam. Latham and
Lewis Rainey-had difficulty in the store
in which the former is clerk. 1t was, in its
inception, only boys quarrel; but before it
ended the boys came to blows, and in the me-
lee, Sam drew pistol, to which he unfortu-
nately had access, firing at his antagonist, and
missing him. The combatants were separa-
ted before farther harm was done but Lewis
was very obstreperous. He even became
Every contrary and turbulent" He de6ed
the officers of the law, and in the violence
of his wrath refused to be comforted. He
was committed to Jail that evening for resist.
ing an officer of the law. Next morning he
and young Latham were arraigned before
the Town Council-present, Intendant Nc
Corkle and Wardens Herndon and Schorb
After hearing of the case the white lad was
fined ten dollars or ten days in Jail, and the
colored one was fined five dollars or five days
work on the streets. He elected to work, but
when assigned to the duty allotted him, he
became "very contrary and turbulent" and
refused to work. The Intendant bore with
him day or two, but finally, by virtue Of
an Act of the Legislature, which gives the
Town Council "pover to compel" convicts tc
work upon the streets, he adopted harsh meas
ures to compel obedience. On his own re-
sponsibility, the Intendant did hang Lewis
"up by the thumbs" for short while, bu
afterwards sent sent him to Jail, where he re-
manned on bread and water four days, wher
he sent message to the Intendant that he
was willing to work. He was then glver
some light duty on the street, and after work
ing about an hour the Intendant released him
This ended the trouble, with the single excep
tion that Lewis, on laying down his shovel
desired the Intendant to give him employment
when ever he had occasion to hire hand or
the street force.
Tho nevt ratter which claims the attention