Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-15

the raising. Nor was Pleasantville un-
prepared to make immediate use Of the
Jail, since the sheriff had in custody a
free negro who had knitted another free
negro and was awaiting trial at the
next term Of court.
I'VE don't want to get there too ear
Il ly," explained the judge, as they quit
ted the cabin. I'VE want to miss the
work, but be on hand for the celebra-
tion."
81 suppose we may confidently look
to you to favor us with few eloquent
words?" said Mr.. Mahaffy.
And why not, Solomon" asked the
Judge.
why not, indeed!" echoed Mr.. Ma
haffy.
The opportunity he craved was not
denied him. The crowd was like most
southwestern crowds Of the period, and
no sooner did the judge appear than
there were clamorous demands for a
speech. He cast glance of triumph
at Mahaffy, and nimbly mounted a
convenient stump. He extolled the cli-
mate Of middle Tennessee, the unsur-
passed fertility Of the soil; he touched
on the future that awaited Pleasant
vile; he apostrophized the jail; this
simple structure Of logs in the shadow
of the primeval woods was significant
of their love of Justice and order; 1t
was a suitable place for the detention
of a citizen of great republic; it was
no medieval dungeon, but a forest
embowered retreat where, barring mos
quitoes and malaria, the party under
restraint would be put to no needless
hardship; he would have the OCCASION
al companionship of the gentlemanly
sheriff; his friends, with such wise and
proper restrictions as the law saw fit
to impose, could come and impart the
news of the day to him through the
chinks of the logs.
II understand you have dealt in a
hasty fashion with one or two horse
thieves" he continued. ALSO with a
gambler who was put ashore from a
river packet and subsequently became
involved in a dispute with late citi-
zen Of this place touching the number
of aces in a pack Of cards. 1t is not
for me to criticized What may term
the spontaneous love of justice Is the
brightest heritage of a free people. 1t
is this same commendable ability to
acquit ourselves Of our obligations that
Is making us the wonder Of the world!
But don't let us forget the law-of
which it is an anxiom, that it Is not
the severity of punishment, but the
certainty of it, that holds the wrong
doer in check! With this safe and
commodious asylum the plow line can
remain the exclusive aid to agriculture.
If a man murders, curb your natural
impulse! Give him fair trial, with
eminent COUNSEL" The judge tried
not to look self conscious when he said
this. IF he is found guilty. still say,
don't lynch him! Why? Because by
your hasty act you deny the public the
elevating and imposing spectacle of a
legal execution" When the appla Use
had died out, a lank countryman cram
ing his neck for a sight Of the sheriff,
bawled out over the heads Of the
crowd:
Where's your niger? We want to
put him in here!"
Il reckon he's gone fishin I. never
seen the beat of that nigger to go fish
in" said the sheriff.
"whoop! Amt you goin' to put him
in here?" yelled the countryman.
It's a mighty lonely spot for a mig
GER" said the sheriff doubtingly.
Lonely? Well, suppose he ups and
lopes out of this?"
you don't know that nigger," re-
joined the sheriff warmly. He amt
missed a meal since had him in Gus
tody. Just as regular as the clock
strikes he's at the back door. Good
habits-why, that darky is lesson to
most white folks!"
Il don't care cuss about that mig
ger, but what's the use of building a
Jail if body amt goin' to use it,"
well, there's some sense in that"
agreed the sheriff.
There's a whole heap of sense
in it,"
II suggest" the speaker was a young
lawyer from the next county, sug-
gest that a committee be appointed to
wait on the nigger at the steamboat
landing and acquaint him with the fact
that with his assistance we wish COM
pletely to furnish the jail"
Il protest." cried the judge. II pro-
test" he repeated vigorously. Pride
of race forbids that should be par
ty to the degradation of the best Of
civilization Is your jail to be chris
tened to its high office by a niger? Is
this to be the laws apotheosis? No,
sir! No niger is worthy the honor Of
being the first. prisoner here!" This
was a new and striking idea The
crowd regarded the judge admiringly.
Certainly here was a man of refined
feeling
That's just the way 1 feel about 1t, "
said the sheriff. IF I'd although there
was any call for him I wouldn't have
let him go fishing, I'd have kept him
about"
"Oh, let the niger fish-he has pow
erful luck. What's he usin', sheriff.
worms or minnies?"
Worms" said the sheriff shortly.
(To Be Continued.)
- Abbeville, S. c., December II: For
time this morning there was con-
siderable excitement in this city and
threats of lynching four negroes who