The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-11

number OF spies to Darlington. NO searches
of private houses were made and there was no
disturbance. sThe Mayor of Darlington was
in full control of the city and at no time
needed assistance in preserving order. Yet
Governor Tiliman ordered the Sumter Light
Infantry to Darlington on one evening and
on the next morning ordered the company
back to Sumter, because there was absolute
". no need for them 10 Darlington. The
raids of the spies had been completed, the
Mayor preserving the peace, and the spies
were ready to leave the city. At the depot
these spies interfered in a personal difficulty
between two citizens Of Darlington. One of
the spies, McLeodou, drew a pistol and shot
an unarmed man, Frank Norment, dead, pre-
cipitating u fight, in which Redmond, of OAR
lington, and Constable Pepper were killed and
Louis Norcaent, Chief of Police Dargan, and
z. d. Lucas. Of Dariiogton, and several con-
stables were wounded.
What Constitutes an Iasurrection These
seventeen well-armed spies, after precipitating
the row and killing and wouudiug the men
above mentioned, fed. The people Of OAR
lington organized posses to hunt down and
capture them, just as would have been done
had the fleeing murderers been any other per-
sons than dispeusary spies. Adjoining COM
muaities were called on to assist in the search
for the murderers. In consequence Of the
enormity of the outrage there was great ex-
element and feeling, but at no time did the
civil authorities Of Darlington lose control Of
the city, nor was there any failure to keep the
peace and preserve order. On Saturday, the
next day after the Eight, the writer was in
Darlington and talked with a number of the
leading men of the city. Mayor Dargan was
in control, and the city was as orderly as
Sumter is on any Saturday in the year.
Mayor Dargau had kept the peace, with the
assistance of the Darlington Guards, had pre-.
vented an attack oa the dispensary, had pro-
tected AcLendon, the murderer of Norment,
and, if he had neglected any precautioo or
failed in any duty required Of him, we have
yet to hear such failure named. He did not
call for outside aid, for it was not peeded
but, on the contrary, declared time and
again bis ability and determination to keep
the peace. We had one or more converse
tons with Mayor Dargan during the day,
and we know he was honestly striving to
prevent any violation Of law and further,
we believe that to him, in a great measure,
is due the fact that there was no violation Of
law. He did his duty like a man, coolly and
~cousageously in time Of the greatest trial.
He cannot receive too much praise for bis
course. Under such circumstances, what con-
stituted the insurrection proclaimed by Gov.
Tillman, for the suppression Of which he
deemed necessary to call out the military
force of the State? The only point that Gov.
Tillmau has to rest his case on is, that posses
were pursuing murderers, who happened to be
dispensary spies. This was the instruction,
and it will be we'll in future for our people TO
remember that to seek to arrest dispensary
spies, who have committed murder, is insur-
rection.
Gov. Tillman's Course: In the first place he
seems to have been overly anxious to believe
that the civil authorities in Darlington were
unable to keep the peace. In the second
place he did not consult with Mayor Dsrgan
to End out the situation, but began at once,
with the 6rst report of the trouble, to order
troops to Darlington. Going beyond this he
calls on the country people, supposedly his
political adherents, to organize aud protect
the spies. In other words, prevent their
arrest by posses sent from Darlington. Going
to a still greater extreme be te!egraphs all
over the State to his political friends and calls
for volunteers to ''assist in unfolding the
law e. prevent the capture of the spy
murderers by posses sent out by the people OF
Darlington add adjoining counties-. These
troops and volunteers he assembled IN
Columbia and on Sunday evening sends u
portion of them to Darlington retaining the
ICLlhluQSl O. a SQotu WIS
he siezed the telegraph lines ard would not
permit any message, Of which he did not
approve, to be transmitted. Then he issues
a proclamation assuming control of the police
forces Of every Incorporated town and city
in the State. His course can be summed up
in a few words. 1t Was foolish and catra-
geous, in the light of facts tyrannical'
beyond excuse and ali for. the political
capital 10 be extracted from it.
The Course of the People: The people IN
the sections affected pursued a course tina!
should shame even Gov. Ti,lman when he
compares their conduct with his OWL. They
guarded even that red-handed monster,
McLendon, while wounded aud in their
power another wounded spy, whose where
abouts was known, was not moteSted three,
who were captured in Sumter. were delivered
unhurt in Columbia, and to go farther and
make the case even more favorable TO. the