The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-02

before last to command the peace endeavOring
to restore order, you, representing that arm,
were paralyzed by a mob here. When my effort
and desire was to send you to Darlington to
repress another mob. I have FOR fourteen
years been militiaman, and I know, per
haps' better than any Of you how, as citizen
soldiers. you must feel with reference to the
position you now occupy. You stand before
the state as a disgrace; as men who have re-
fused to obey the order of your superior Of
hcers. You have been organized for half
century, and the first time in your history
this thing has occurred.
THE BISHOPS SPEECH.
I have been told by those who were present
that II was not your fault; that until Bishop
Capers made his unfortunate speech, you had
resisted the pressure brought to bear upon
you by your fathers and your kinsmen and
were ready TO obey your governor. You dis
obeycd then and disappointed me. I have
sent for you, not to criticise you or please
you; want to have plain talk L rep
resent IN great degree fac.
ton which controls the state, while
you represent the other side and because OF
the pressure OF the public opinion brought to
bear upon you, is the reason you occupy the
position you now do. Let's discuss this
question and show you the error in which
your community. as we'll as yourselves per
haps, are laboring under. The dispensary
law was passed by the legislature by the
majority Of the representatives Of the people.
1t IS the law until the supreme court declares
it unconstitutional.
SHOULD BE FOUGHT WITH BALLOTS.
The place to fight it at is the ballot box and
in the courts, and not with bullets. Am I as
chief executive Of the state, authorized by
he ,e l.,
stand here and see those appointed TO uphold
it killed and logged and hunted like wild
beasts, and when authorize the militia to
go there to be opposed by the sentiment of the
towns where the whisky and bar men live and
paralize the military Thank God, South
Carolina is safe to-day, because she has sol
diers who viii obey orders. No, gentlemen,
yeu live in Columbia. My purpose and de-
sire, if you evince the proper spirit, is to
show Columbia bear no malice that 1 trust
her citizens when they are in cold blood. l
want to say, if 1 will be allowed to do so, that
in restoring your arms, I furnish guarantee
that the hot-heads who have been preaching
strife and discord down the street are quelled.
WANTED To BE SURE.
But before 1 do that my duty is to see that
1 don't entrust arms to unworthy hands. II
you cannot obey orders issued by the author
tiles in proper way, Of course you are use
less to the state and the money that has been
expended on you has been wasted. Now,
without eXacting any pledges, without max
any promises, as matter simply OF
duty, desire to ask you gentlemen, one and
ALL if your arms are restored to you, and you
are made again one of the leading companies
Of this state, and the disgrace and stigma at
tending your brow washed Off, can 1 rely
upon you. If can't rely upon you, if there
are any members of this company so lost.
to the duties of citizenship that they
will not respond to proper orders, they
are unworthy to be soldiers and should resign
from the company. If there is a man in your
ranks who feels he Is not ready to obey any
order given by me let it be made known be-
cause our duty to South Carolina will not
allow him
THREW DOWN THEIR BAYONETs.
At this point Private Moore, son Of Dr.
T. T. Moore, unbuckled his bayonet and
threw it at the feet of the governor. He
was quickly followed by four others
Capt. Bateman checked the impulse of
the remainder Of his men to desist until
the governor had finished his re-
marks. Col. Willie Jones also endeav-
ored to keep the men in line, and as
the bayonets would strike the ground at
the feet of Tillman the colonel would re-
mark: "Men, don't do that" Gov. Till
man turned to the captain of the company
and said Captain, if these gentlemen
don't realize aud understand the situation,
it is best for them to do this because
I don't want any soldier who cannot
obey orders. You know that. ] want it
thoroughly understood that if the Cover
nors' Guards cannot be trusted the gov
ernor must know it. l understand that
these gentlemen who have discarded their
arms mean to inform me that they will
not obey orders if they do not suit them.
/ admire their action"
NINE MORE DESERT
At this juncture nine of the company
threw down their bayonets and left the
mansion grounds. This left eight men
remaining. Gov. Tillman addressed Capt.
Bateman again, saying: "You have
neuclus for company. I restore you
your guns You will report at the peni-
Tertiary to Gen. Richbourg, who has been
given orders to restore you your arms. Is
it satisfactory, or have you any questions
to ask7n
Capt Bateman-I have no questions to
ask Your orders are clear.
Gov. Tillman-Well take your company
to the penitentiary.
A Member of the Company will not
obey your orders, Twill obey the orders
of the captain.
Gov. Tillman-The captain gets his or
ders from his general and the general
gets his orders from me.
Each one of the fragmentary force left
turned to Capt. Batemen and said: Gap
tain, / will obey your orders Whatever
you say do we will do.
THE COMPANY DIsBANDs.
Capt. Bateman then turned towards the
governor, who was retiring to the man
sion, and said he would have a consulta-
tiOn with his remnant of company and
announce their decision. The boys were
marched out and were ordered by the
captain to assemble at o'clock. at which
time they met and unanimously decided
to follow the action taken by those who
had given up their arms and the company
declared themselves disbanded
Gov. Tillman has gone to the peniten-
tiary. The orders for the troops were is
sued some time ago. | have Just learned
that some of the companies are about re-
fusing to go and that Gov. Tillman has
zone To make a SDeech To them Tents