Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-05
CHAPTER V.
FORTY ACRES AND A MULE.

FORTY ACRES AND MULE.
When Phil returned with Margaret
he drove, at Mrs. Cameron'S request
to find Ben, brought him with al
speed to the hotel, took him to his
room, and locked the door before he
told the news. After an hours blind
rage, he agreed to obey his fathers
positive orders to keep away from the
captain until his return, and to at.
tempt no violence against the author
tiles. Phil undertook to manage the
case in Columbia, and spent three
days in collecting his evidence before
leaving.
Swifter feet had anticipated him
Two days after the arrival Of DR.. Cam
eron at the fort in Columbia, a dust
stained, tired negro was ushered into
the presence Of General Howle.
He looked about timidly and laugh
ed loudly.
well, my man. what's the trouble
You seem to have walked all the way
and laugh as II you were glad OF 1t.
II spec I Is. sah," said Jake, Sid
ling up confidentially.
well" said Howle, good-humor'
edly.
Jake's voice dropped to a whisper
L nedTS you BOl Hly Oie iidi iotei
DR.. Cameron, in dis place"
"Yes. What do you know against
him?"
"Nuttin'. sab. 1 dis hurry long
down ter take his place, SOS you kir
SEN him back home. He's erbleeged
ter go. Dey's pow'ful lot er sick folks
up dar in de county can't git long
widout him, en- er pow'ful lot er well
ones gwiner be raisin' de debbel bout
dis. You can hol' me. sab. Des tel
my ole marster when ter be yere, Ell
he sho' come"
Jake paused and bowed low.
"Yessah, hits des lax l tell you
Fuddermo', 'spect Use de man what
done de damages. I spec 1 bus de
captains nose so 'taint gwine be nc
mo- good to i'm"
Howle questioned Jake as to the
whole affair, asked him a hundred
questions about the condition of the
county, the position of DR.. Cameron
and the possible effect Of this event or
the temper of the people.
The affair had already given him a
bad hour. The news Of this shack
ling of one of the most prominent
men in the state had spread like wild
fire. and had caused the first deer
growl of anger from the people. He
saw that 1t was senseless piece OF
stupidity. The election was rapidly
approaching. He was master of the
state, and the less friction the better
His mind was made up instantly
He released DR.. Cameron with an
apology, and returned with him and
Jake for a personal inspection Of the
affairs of Ulster county.
In a thirty minutes interview WITH
Captain Gilbert, Howle gave him
more pain than his broken nose.
And why did you nail up the doors
of that Presbyterian church," he ask
ed, Suavely.
Because McAlpin. the young cub
who breaches there. dared come &c
this camp and insult me about the ar
rest of old Cameron"
IT suppose you issued an order ST.
lencing him from the ministry"
II did, and told him I'd shackle
him If he opened his mouth again"
Good. The throne Of Russia
needn't worry about q worthy sue
cessor. Any further ecclesiastical or
ders?"
None. except the oaths I've pre-.
scribed for them before they shall
preach again."
"Fine! These Scotch Covenanters
will feel at home with you"
well, I've made them bite the
dust-and they know who's runnin
this town and don't you forget it,"
mo doubt. Yet we may have toe
much even Of a good thing. The
League is here to run this county
The business of the military Is tc
keep still and back them when they
need it,
We've the strongest council here
to be found in any county in this sec
tion," said Gilbert with pride.
"Just so. The League meets once
week We have promised them tn,
land of their masters and equal socia
and political rights. Their member:
go armed to these meetings and drill
on Saturdays in the public square
The white man Is afraid to interfere
lest his house or barn take fire. A
negro prisoner in the dock needs only
to make a sign to be acquitted. No
negro will dare to vote against US
Their women are formed into socie
ties, sworn to leave their husbands
and refuse to marry any man wht
dares our anger. The negro churche:
have pledged themselves to expel hin
from their membership. What more
do you want?"
"There's another side to it," pro
tested the captain. "Since the League
has taken in the negroes, every Unior
white man has dropped it like rec
hot iron, except the lone scalawag ol
carpet-bagger who expects an office
In the church. the social circle, II
business or pleasure, these men arr
lepers. How can a human beint
stand it? I've tried to grind this hell
ish spirit in the dirt under my heel
and unless you can do it they'll bea
you in the long run! You've got t'
have some southern white men o1
you're lost"
"Ill risk it with a hundred thou
sand negro majority" said Howle
with a sneer. THE fun will just be
gin then. In the meantime. I'll have
you to ease up on this county's gov
ernment I've brought that man bacl
who knocked you down. Let hin
alone. I've pardoned him. The les
said about this affair, the better"
AS the day of the election under thu
new regime Of Reconstruction drew
near the negroes were excited by ru
mors Of the coming great events. Ev
cry man was to receive forty acres o
land for his vote, and the enthusias
| tic speakers and teachers made th'
dream a resistless one by declarint
| that the government would throw in {
mule with the forty acres. Some wh'
had hesitated about the forty acres o
land, remembering that it must b'
worked, couldn't resist the idea o
owning a mule.
The Freedmen's Bureau reaped {
| harvest I'm 81 marriage fees from ne
] groeS who were urged thus to MAKE