The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-07
on September %. through a gunshot

on september %, through q RunSnOL
wound in the heart, inflicted by Dep.
uty Sheriff T. D. Mitchell while in the
discharge of his duty"
With the display of force present it
was thought to be a good moment to
further impress the minds of the ne
groes present, and at the request of
Intendant Wolfe, DR.. Charles r. Ia,
ber and Capt. D. o. Herbert, of the
Edisto Rifles addressed the gathering
DR.. Taber spoke with great feeling
and his words were imbued with
such kindly sentiment for the colored
man that more than one in his audi.
ence seemed touched by it. In sub
stance, DR.. Taber, said: "Unfortu.
nately we are here today under very
sad circumstances. We are here as
the result of reckless disregard of the
law. We can only be held in safety
together by each man remembering
the responsibilities of citizenship that
rest upon him. The moment a man
fails to obey the laws of the land he
becomes an Outcast. Look at that
body lying in there. That is the out
come of Saturdays disturbance. Now,
it was perfectly natural for you 10 in
sist that the law should be enforced on
the man who shot Goodwin, but the
moment the sheriff arrived, and the
enforcement of the law was made,
then you should have guilty refrained
from threats and disturbance. You
must remember that if you violate the
law of the land-as if any of us, black
or white, violate it-punishment,
swift and certain, will follow. An.
other thing you must bear in mind,
this is white mans government, and
by the grace Of God we intend to hold
it as such; but we also intend to pro-
tect you in yor'~ rights. The very best
friends you h. 70 on earth are right
here around you, and if you cannot
feel it in your hearts that we are plac.
ed here together, side by side, as
friends, to live as friends, and to die
as friends then your ears are deaf to
all true, heartfelt admonition."
Captain Herbert's address was brief
and to the point. He said: II wish
simply to confirm and endorse all that
DR.. Taber has said. You see the arm
of the military brought here today.
What does it mean2 1t is the power
OF the State, the strong arm OF the
law. 1t is invoked to enforce the law
of South Carolina, which will he and
shall be administered, peaceably il
possible, forcibly if necessary. We
desire to live in peace, but when the
law Is infracted, and the people riot
white or black-and resist the le'
gally constituted authorities, then
they must take the consequence.
Bringing the military here cost money
to us all, but we cast money consider
ations aside when it is necessary to
uphold the majesty of the law. My
advice is that rioters give themselves
up peaceably, and without resistance" "
These addresses virtually ended the
proceedings of the day. It was learn
ed that Cheeseborough had left the
community, and Sheriff Dukes, who
of course will arrest the negro il
found, decided to withdraw his posse
and the military force, for the present.
The trouble, it is thought, is over, the
negroes have all professed peaceful In
tentions, order is restored, and the
citizens of Fort Motto will 60 to bed
tonight with very large sized bur
den lifted from their minds.
The negro Robinson is bnried, but
not by wife or friends. Both refused
to inter him, and Coroner Dukes wa'
obliged to pay two negroes to put the
dead man beneath the sod.--Columbis
REGISTER.