National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-16

Thomas c. Robinson, colored, is post
master at BamberR, village in Barnwoll
county, $. c., whose population does not
exceed 1000. He resides at tho village Of
Midway, some four miles distant, and Is
in the habit Of spending Sunday with his
family st that place. Robinson is an in
teligent, respectable man, and WAS
school teacher before he was appointed
postmaster Ho diligently attends TO
the duties of his Office, keeps his accounts
thoroughly correct, and is in every respect
an efficient and capable officer.
The fact, however. that colored man
should hold tho Office of postmaster is
offensive TO good many Of tho young
bloods" of that section of Barnwell cou nty,
and Robinson has been receiving anony-
nous letters for some time warning him
that If he did not resign he would DO
killed. Something over n month ago he
received letter notifying him that IL he
did not vacato tho Office in thirty days he
would DO suddenly taken of. Robinson
paid no attention to these communica-
lions, but kept on attending to his official
duties with such faithfulnoss that no one
can bo found who Is willing to say that hc
is not good postmaster. Last Saturday
evening he closed the postoffico and went
to his home at Midway, intending to re.
turn on Monday morning. About IL
o'clock on Sunday night he was awakened
from his slumber by a tumult outside his
housS and the firing of pistols. Tho
bullets l.dgod in tho walls of the room in
which no was sleeping, and he subse-
quontly discovered that two of them had
struck his bed, but fortunately missed
him. His FIVE little children were sloep-
ing in the Same room, but mono Of them
wore hit, although the bullets struck all
around them.
The mob attempted to break into tho
house, but desisted after promise had
boon exacted from the frightened post.
master that he would forthwith resign II
his life was spared. The ruffians then
gathered about the door, and one Of them
administered an oath, the purport Of
which was that unless Robinson should
vacate tho postoiiice within thirty day
and sign petition for the appointment o
Mrs Warn, the widow of the former post
master, they would kill him.
By this time the villagers heard tn,
uproar and some Of them ran TOWARD
Robinson's house with guns in thei
hands. The ruflians disappeared and thu
neighbors kept guard for tho rest Of thu
night. The terrified postmaster was
afraid to 60 back to Bamberg on Monday
morning and the postoffice remainet
closed for one day. Tho postothce depart
ment was advised of the closing of tn
office and special agent was sent to in
vestigato tho affair Robinson resumed
his duties on Tuesday, and there has beer
no outbreak since.
This attempt to get rid of colorot
postmaster is in perfect accord with tn
kuklux method Of maintaining whit
supremacy" in South Carolina. By tn,
census Of 1880 tho white population oi
Barnwell county was 1883 and tn
colored 26,003, Although thoro are twic
as many colored voters in the county a
white voters, yet we are assured tina
there could have been no political motiv
in the attack on Robinson, because tn
county is 'solidly democratic" and Their
is no contest for the possession Of tn
office. The outrageous attack on thi
postmaster by the young "bloods" G
Barnwell is hardly as infamous as tho at
tempt which is being made by their friend
to create an impression in the north thu