Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Supplement to The Hera REFORM CON VENT1ON. A FULL AND INTER FSTIN} REPORT. THE SPEECHES OF ME,SsRS. SHANNON. KER SHAW. THiMAS, BIRU, BUTLER AND OTiiERS. T H E P L A T F O R M . THE KEY-NOTE CF THE MOTEME T THE i !l MI VATiO 1 - First Day's ProceeJtngs. ComUaI, W:-dnesday, June 15. The State Reform Convention, in its spirit and numbers, has fally equalled the most sin guine expectation of those who projected the movement. Its delegates are among the most patriotic citizens of the State, white and col ored, all aniimatod by a common feeling of tle necessity of an earust co-operation of all good t citizens to secure a good goveeunnt to the people. The Convention assembled at 8 o'cioci:, iu the large' < tng hall of the Columbia Hotel, which was hardly larg- enough for the com fortable acsommodation of the delegates. E. W. Seibels, Esq., of Richland, called the Convention to order, and nominated as tem porary presidioa oflcer Colonel Thomas Y. Himons, of Charleston. The nomination was acceded to by a vote of the body. On taking the chair, Colonel Simons ad dressed the Convention as follows: ADDRESS OP cOLONEL T. Y. SISIOS. Gert?em.en of the Conrentitou-Accept my t profound acknowledgments for the confidence i which you have been pleased to repose in me. 1 We have assembled as a portion of the citizens of South Carjlina, in a time of ber greatest ueed, to seeure an honest and good govern ment for her people. [Applans:.] We are as semblod, without reference to party creeds or party names, in behalf of tWe whole people of South Carolira -of every class and every pre v.-us condition. [Appiaase ] rhero never was a time when the State was in greater peril than at present. The record of the past few years has been a record of misrule, of misgov ernment, of corruption, and of oppression. .pplause.] And to-day, fr.m the mountains to the seaboard, Sonth Carolina' ealls upon her citizens to as aist her in the v,urk of a common redemption. Gentlemen, we have but to realize the peril 1 in which the common weltar is involved, and determine upon unity and concert of action, I to achieve, in my judgient. a great and glo rious triumph. [Appla use.] . have never be lieved that any people, trua to them-elves, inspired with patriotism %Id vital enerz fur the right. could ever long be ruied by the t wrong. [Applauae.I Ia this condltion of things we can expect no hope excepI that which we ouraelves create. We must goveru and regulate our own de.-tiny. We must re- I solve with one heart, and with one mind to I redeem the State. and with that resolution victory will be ba!f achieved. (Applause.] It was, gentlemen, but a few months simc i that a conference of the press of the State con vened in this city, and they put forth a platform I of principles which, in my opinion, commended themselves to the judgment of every man who desires a government which will not be, as in the past few year-s, a disgrace to the ctiizi tion of the age. They recognized the eq;i.lity of all citizens to :uffraae -and the right of all t citizens to hold office, subject alone to p,r eonal qualification and ntuess; and, gentle- t men, t-dav, if we act u;.on the spirit of those resolutions, and it the people of the State, ot every class, will out meet II fraternity and concord upon the platform ct exact and equal I justice to all, and go hand in hand in a polit cal effort to _"ee the Stato, from that. moment l the hour or our redemption has d-arfie and the day of our deliveran:e is at hand. [ap-1 planse.] The State has called us together in heri houri of need. There arc but two policies open to her people. One is the policy of acquiesenice and inaction, in the present exigency of p-nb lic afairs, and the other is the policy of strit ing for the right. [AprplausC., i Gntleman, i mnvoke upon your denbbar.tttin harmnony, wise counsels and'mutual conciliationm. .WEe are en gaged in a common cause. O ,or i,i- 'onren tion is turned time ey es of the people of thts State. It is the ray of hope to which they look amid the darkness tnat surrounds. Let us not disappoint mneuu. Let us together, coming aawe do from ever; section or this State, as with one heart ac.d one mi.d, resolve that so far as in us lies Sot'h CarclIma sha,ll be re deemed, and show that the promises we have made to all races and all classes have not been made in vain, but im sinccrity and good faith. -and from that moment the doom of those who have ground us to the dust, who have revelled mn every c.ppe..,--a anid wro,n-'. will have bea rrevoc~aOly tAd. jApples-.I Gentlemen. p.ont rum aza', to thaul: yon for the conddare~' von have repco-nd in me,s and to express the iioe tL. dan we enal have adjourned. nram one s-ctkiu of the Staic to the other it will be stared tha.t, at the handsl of this Convention, the Commoonwealth, ic deed, has sugfeied no detdiment. (Applausai rich. Esq., of Barnwell. and Mr. W. GI. Rot, of Charleston, were appointed temporary secre Telist or counties was then called, and the credentials of delegates were presented to the secretaries. The soillowing counties were found to be represented: Charlest',n, ?mm ehaw, Fairfield, Spartanburg , Darhinstou, Chester, Pickens, Ander.son, Laurensi. Orange burg, Horrv, Marion, Richland, Newberry, Lexington, 'Edgetield. Chesterfield, Colleton, Lancaster, Union and Bar-nwell. Y. J. Pope, Esq., of Newberry, moved the appointment of a commiittee, t o >n',ot or onc delegate from each county represe-nted, to re port a list of otlicers for the permanent orgaml zation of the Convention. The mxotionl was Techair announced as sne-h commiittee Messrs. Y. J. Pope, of Newoerry; .J. A. Hoy t, of Anderson; W. s:ngleton, of Barnwell; Ber nard O'Neill, of Charleston; 3. E: Byrd, of .Darlington; tHem-v Barnes. of EdgeneCld; David Provence, of Fairtield; Edward Wdson, of1 Cheater; E. F. Malloy, 'of Chestertield; Henry Buck, of Horrv; 3. M. Davis, of Kershaw; 3. T. Craig, of Latnrens; 3. B. Irvin, of Lanca-s ter: F. S. Lewies, of Lexington; W. 3. Mc Kerall, of Marion; F. T. A. Rtogera, ox Pick ens; P. C. Felder, of Oranrgeburg; C. P. PcI ham, of Richland; S. C. Meaus, of Spartan burg, and W. H. Wallace, of Union-. . The committee theni appointed retirea and subsequently returned, and reported the Zol lowing nominations for permanent- ofticers of the Conveution:1 For President.--Wom. Shaiinon, of Kerohaw. For Vice-Presidents-J. P. Kinard. of New berry; S. E. Means, of Spartanbtirg; F. 1%. Mc Bee, of Pickens; 3. B. Witherspoon, of L caster; J. E. Byrd, of D)arlin5itoni; A. Melehers, of Charleston;'James Kennedy, of Ri hland; Henry Barnes, of Edgetield; Moses Benson, of Chester; Marlow Cochrane, of Charleston; M. Caldwell, of Orangeburg, and 3. Gibson, of Williamsburg. Secretariem-IRobert Aldrich, of Barn well, and W. G. Rout, ot Charleston. It was mnoved and eartied that a committee of three be appointeJ to eendne-t the president elect to the chair. Messrs. Buist of Chaileston, McCants ot Fairfield, and Fenwick of Charlestou, were ap pointed such committee. On taking the chair, Colonel Shannon said : nnnaax or colONEI. w. 3. sanr.GoN. kr-;ends a*uL Carou, ian---Sur prise and em -rrasment truly suppress the wotds of grat dwhich the emotions of my heart would tt' t., A'a obscure man --a stranger in my pr y se land-called from the employments own na' fe, I can see nothing in the past of of private ge should call me to the distin ycaer ition pfpeiigoe h aro aons of our own mnotmr Caroina when all are prompted by the desire to battle as best they ..a. to tath paent erent that in the >ast, perhaps, I have given some evidence of tevotion to her. [Applause.] In her hour of eed I promise, as I know you are all ready to ull, a greater degree of devotion and loyalty han we felt in her hour of triumph and of Trandezr. I commend you to that spirit of de rotion which in all of the past has actuated the *ous of old Carolina. I know that with nost of us, who have adhered to the State intil the present, that devotion will last while ire exists, and as the shades or death shall all upon us, we will c:ll our sons to the Litar of our country, and, as Hamilcar did Han iibal, swear them, but more holily, not to sate the enemie of our country, but to ove that great old country. I Applause.] Por myself, with an interest in all the ast of Cainlina, I claim an interest in all ier tutire. While lite lasts, I shall be ere. Born and matured on her sod, edacated n hr schooh and coileges. and never ,avinr passed a day in my life beyond her or%id;rs that was not one long aspiration for return, I shall spend the r.ct of my day. i her t,oson; I shall rest there whether the leel or the oppressor treads upon my grave, or vether thc sun of liberty shall shine upon it. Applause.I I believe that, South Carolina, of -ight, belongs to us. For one, I intend, and doubt not that you do, to stay here; and vhen we determine to stay here, if ,here is a remedy for the oppressions inder which we ~ sufer, shall we, by uasterly inactivity, invite still further ag rressions ? [Applause.} Every true heart in he State must answer, -No!' I believe in th e aw of progress. I believe that the present ondition of affairs in South Caroiina is tem >orary. I should distrust the providence of aod, it I believed otherwise. The son of ro2ress may be obscure, but it will never be n,cvhed while God endares. I believe in the ,rogress of God's ordiuances, and I believe hat the present anomalous statr- of attio nust end. If thOy .10> nto end. we are utter y aiegraced and ruined. Shall we wait until bose who are oppressing us shall cease to op >ress, or shall we, by every means in our >oWer, attempt to cure these evils? I judge 'rors the many intellizent faces I see before me, epresenting all South Carolina, from the nountains to the seaboard, that the hour has ome when the :late has determined by every ecitiniate meatis to shake off the burdens vhich oppress her. And although, fellow citi :ens. he miss in this assembly ruany of those vho have shed honor upon our State in the >a=t, and I regret their absenee, we will at ept to guide the State in her destinies with ut them on this occasion. hoping soon tohive he benefit of t.heir counsals. But I am sorry, inprrpared as I am, I ha .e trespassed so much won your time. I commend von to the guid me of that God whose people I believe we re, confdent tat the aspirations which tend owaris Him will be responded to if they are vorthy of Him and of us. [Applause.) General M. C. Butler. of Edgefield, moved he appointment of a committee on platform, to onsist of seven members, which was adopted. The president announced as such committee, lessrs. M. C. Butler. E. C. Keitt, G. L. Buist, r. B. Kershaw, Benjamin Hairingtou, Thomas iregory and James B. McCants. F. W. Seibels, Esq., of Richland, moved the .upointmeut of a committee of seven to whom il resolutions introduced in the Convention hould be referred, which was carried. The president announced as such committee, blesrs. E. W. Seinels, J. P. Thomas, J. D. Kennedy, F. W. Dawso i, C. C. Boyce, A. A. iarper and J. 0. Crosby. W. T. Gary, Eaq., of Fdgefield, moved the ap >ointment of a committee or ten to wh m hould be referred the questiou of the number >f votes to be accorded to the different coun ies represented in the Convention and the nanner of taking the same, which was carried. The president announced as such committee. iessrs. W. T. Gary, James M. Davis, W. E. ilarshall, Jonas Byrd, B. J. Witherspoon, J. A. lovt, A. Sm.the, J. P. Srbage, E. T. Malloy d B. P. Todd. J. P. Thomn , of Richland, announced the eception of a communication fiom Geueral Foh A. Wagener, of Charleston, which was ead, and on motion, was referred to the Corn nittee on Platform. General J. B. Kershaw read a paper contain ng his views of the principles to be enunciated , the Convention. They were 1. 1 he indorsemeut of the Fifteenth ameud nent. 2. Accepting the results of the war as veri ies havin: the force and obiigation ox law. 3. Recognizing tne ersting laws of theS tatL .s bringing the peopl; in entire harmony. 4. Recommending tiat the Convention norui iate nl; members of ti-c Republican parts, ^hic is so largely in the majority in the stare. Oni motion of General K,ashtiv, the paper va.s referred to t he Committee on Platform. E. C. Keitt, Esq., read a paper, which on notion, wazs reterred to the same committEe. On motoon, the Convention then aijourned SThured.ty. at 10 o'eloak A. M. ma'ind Day's Procee-dinig-. CoLmmIa, T'hursday, June 16. The Con ventioin again met at 101 o'clock, at outh Carolina Hail, and was called to order iy the president, Co;lonel W. M. Sbannon. Mr. B. K. Kinloch, of Ch.arleston, ofe,red the olloing resoiution: Resolre:, That, with a view to tne proper esting of the delegates, the secretary cali the onnties alphabetically as repres-mtcd in Con rention, and that as caeb county is called its leleates take their seats together. Which was adopted. On motion of Mr. B. O'Neill, o' C'harleston, he. vice-presidentis wer request?-d to take lf-i .wats on the plat frmi. Ttie ,eer&ary procer-dell to call thie counties ,n acOrdane wvith the resolmion '.fi Mi. Ein oh, and the erin1reiii (Meg~ations to.bk I hir :.elts toyether. General M. C. Butler, in behalt of the Com :nittee oni Plattora, submitted their report, ias follos : This 2onvention, representing citiaes of outh Carolhna, irrespective of party, assemn led to organi::e the good people oI the State n an effort to reform the present incompe ent extravagant, prejndiced and corrupt ad. inistration of the State Government, anid to g ablih instead thereof jnst and eqeal laws, )rder and harmony, eeonomy in public expeni litures, a strict acc:>unitabihtfy or oftlee-hlders, d the election to oftiee only of men or known onesy aiid integrity, doth declare and an onune the following principles upon which nen of all parties may umte for the purposes dforesaid: First. The Fifteenth amnendm.ent of the Con itton ot'the United States havine !:een, by ie ropr-.1i.bc.iitoroglaimed r'atified by ho requisite n.umber of States, e. 1-. een received and acquieseed in as law in all he States of the Union, ought to be fairly ad. ainistered and faithfully oiieyed as fiindamen al law. Second. Tbe vast changes in our system of tovernment, wrought b.y the international war etween the two sections of the States, and 'llowing in its train, are so far incorporated to the constitutions and laws of the States, tnd of the United States, as to require that he be regarded as verities, having the force ma obligation of law. Third. This solemn and complete recoani ion f the esistmng laws brings the people of suth Carolina into entire harmony upon all luestions of cLi and political right, and should unite all honiest men in an earnest and letermined effort to establish a just, equal and aithnl administration of the novernment, in :he interest of no class or clique, but for the ,enefit of a united people. The committee also recommended the adop ion 01 the following resolution: R?esoled, T'hat this organization be known ts the "Union Reform Partyv of Sooth Care General Butler, from the Committee onl Plat orm, submitted a report in reference to the ommniction 01 General .Tohn A. Wagener, md recommended that the same be la'd on the able and be printed with the proceedings of he Convention, which was adopted. Mr. E. W. Seibels, from the Comamitte on gsointions, anniounced that the committee aad no resolutions to report. Mr. W. T. Gary, from the committee to whom vas referred the qnestion of the manner in rhich the vote of the Convention shall be alen, and all matters coming before it, re aorted the following as its recommendation : 1. That all questions shall be determined by c itra -cce vote, unles seven members of the Convention shall desire a vote by counties. 2. That in voting by counties, each sounty ihall be entitled to the number cf votes equal :o Its representation in the lower House of the aeneral Assembly. S. That the cha.irman of each delegation on Lhe call of his county announce the voto of his lelegation. Mr. E. S. Keitt, of Newberry, moved that the report of the Committee on Platform be taken from the table, which was carried. ihe president announced as the pending question before the Convention, the report of the Committee on Platform. REMARKS BY MR. KEITT. Mr. Keitt referred to the solemnity of the oc casion on which they had convened, and which alone had impel:ed him to speak. He did not like the platform which had been reported. ft contained within itself only a recognition of the past, and was confined to the limits of this State. He refeired to the history of the past, and drew an analogy between the position of our forefathers a hundred years since and the colored people prior to the war. By the revo lution our forefathers secured freedom. which they did not concede to their slave3. Though they had eves and ears, they neither saw nor heard that which was deniand-d in ju tiee to an oppresseu ra. .. And as the Almighty had hearl their prayers, ao, nearly a hundred years later, Be heard the prayers of the enslaved black people, and they were given freedom which had been vonelafed to the white rarce throughout the war of the Revolution. The speaker compared the slavery of the colored race to the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt, and President Lincoln to Moses, both of whom, when they had led the enslaved people out of bondage,had been gathered to the homes of their fathers before the truition of their hopes was realized. At the request of Mr. Y. J. Pope, of New berry, the report of the Committe, on Plat form was again read. In sustainiug the report, ieueral J. B. Ker shaw said : EF.MARKs OF GENERAL. KFR33Aw. .1ir. P,esider-I desire, and 1 think it pro per, to say something explanatory of the view and purpose entertained by the nrovers in the matter of the platform. and the preeise idea which they endeivoreu to cxpre:s. and to dem onstrate, if I can, that they have, in the result or their labors, embodied that idea. You, Mr. President, and all the gentlemen of this Con vennions, are well aware that it is a pecu!ar and difficult thing which we propose to ac conplish is this platform. Uri to this time, there have been two peoples ai South Carolina whose interests are identical, whose feelings and sympathies upon almost all subjects are identical, but who have been brought into direct and even angry antagonism upon politi cal subjects. And that antagonism has been wrought, not upon any sound or truthful basis, but by the artful interposition of a different people between those two fraternal races of inhabitants of South Carolina. That different people have artfully seized upon and interpos ed certain pre-existing facts to lay the founda tion of perpetual discord b-tween this Jacob and this Esau, in order that they may iniquit ously profit thereby. [Applause and laaghter.] I am sorry to say, for my race, that tha artful intrigues of these artful men have, to a certain extent, entendered antagonisms in tte hearts of the whites toward the colored races, an antagonism that did not exist -efore they in tervened. On the other hand, we know that our eo:ored friends have acquired false ideas as to the intents. purposes, sentiments and feelines o, their white brethren from the same source, and that when we approach them in the words of conciliation and kindne.ss, they are assidiously taught to regard u as ser pnts in disguis-, who seek to enter into and disturb that po:itical paradise which these parties have constructed for their own benet. [App!ause.] ' herefore, when we approach them to o13er the hand of conciliation to our friends on the other side, the have to guard against a double misconstruction. We have to guard adainst our estrene but honorable and cv r-to-be courteously and lindly re ferr. d to old State Rights Secessionisis of South Carolina. We have, on the one hand, to emnvince and demonstrate to thenr that when we do approach our brethren on the other side it is not with the view to eutrap theta into a position of dishonor and dsreputc. On the other hand, we have to convince our colored friends that we approach them in all sincerity, kindness and fidelity, to stand by what wea say here to-day, (applause ] and to ak them to unite nith us in an houest, fra teinal effort to upheave the old State of South Carolina and place lier upon a greater cmi neoce than she ever attained before. [Ap planee. j Well, sir-, what have we t- do the lirst thing? We have first to demonstrate to the white peo pit oh S.,ah C.r'lina that there i.i no trap in this thiun for in ano ri-,r udes. t.nat the.r dignity ard their honor, and even their suti mients (becausc- sentiments are soelitima sx cred things,; are not comupiun.=e'd in these niovements. h1ow do we do that. We du it by meetire this objection. That class of men sey, "-Wa regard this F'ifieath amendmient as lav as much as .cou do. We know that ir s a ixed fact. We know it because, in our every day's experience, we go to the polia and ask these people to vote for our candidates, and we know that t.hey sx,reise the functions of ofic, and that they are fixed upon us as law. But we cannot say in our- conscience that we approve of the process by which this thing ha~s been brought about.- Now, Mr. President, when we construct a plattormn. we must lay its foundations broad and deep. We must respect the requisitions of the most extreme and the mst conscientious scrup'es of both parties. With that view, the language of these res.oln tions has been framed. They deal with these things as facts, having~ the sanctity or law, ae qured by that vast change m our system, irought by the war and the circumstances which ensued. We did not go back and say th at we can tirace .-we do not require these par ties to subseribe to a form that they can trace -coatituion.id argumnents in favor of every priosition contained in these measures. Wve t,oing therm to lie point that they comit. themt selves to the anetity acquire-h by fuorce of cir eustancos; aid I think any wau who regaids them as facts accomnplished, rust i-egard them as having acquired the sanctity and the obliga inn and force of law. If they come up and take their stand-point there, they have a rieht to claim the co-operation of every honest col ored man in tieState of South Cazohna in this movement. Because it says, although some of us may not agree with these things as right fully done, we regard them as having aequired that sanctity whieb belongs to aesuowlged raw, and we are going to deal with them as law, and we n;aan to carry them out practical ly in all the relations of political lite. [A. plase.] Mr. kPresident, I am not going to inflict a speech upoii this Convention; but i felt it a duty to explaini Ihe idea upon which this plat form was prepared. The language was care flly weighed and considered before the paper ns hi-ought, to this city. They were twice writ ten andi rewritltten, and amended and cor reeted. 'I boy were tead and wcighed word by word by vour committee to a late hour last night. -inewn h,,t one verbal criticism which has been mands upon tnesn reso!ntions. The emit tee, in order to meet tue moat. ex r'-me sensitive views which conld be enter tained on the subject, have determined to re commend a vetrbat alteration in the resolutions by striking out the word "verities," where it occurs in the last hina of L,ie second resolution, an: to substitute therefor the words "accona pished facts,'- so that it will read that they be regarded as "accomplished facts having the obligation of law." Mr. President, a few words more. The ques tion came up before the committee as to wheth er they should recommend any course in re gard to the nomination; and, inasmuch as that question will be discussed before this Conven tion, I avail myself of this opportunity to say that I regard this whole movement as being blown to the wind if this Convention should separate without a nomination. (Loud ap plause.] If it is true that these evils exist which are the occasion or the assembling of this Convention, then, sir, it is true that we should labor faithfully and earne-stly to over turn those evils. [Ap.lause. I It ms true that, wherever these evils exist, we must fight them ceaselessly and earnestly, and leave the suc cess to the God of'iTruth. [Applause.] I have no hesitation in expressing my hionest convic tion that the discassion will eliminate truth to suchm an estent that, if we do not succeed in this canvass (as I trust we shall) it will be the end to the reign of corruptmu in South Caro lina. I have no fears, speaking as a Hebrew of the Hebrews, and biought up at. the feet of Gamaliei and inspired by the wisdom, genius and eloguence of Calhoun, for the honor of the white r-ace of South Carolina--none whatever. I think it canot be tarnished by the gentle men I see around me. I do not believe that in the humblest village in South C.arolina ten men can be found who would sully the white race o: the Sta:e. They stand upon a basis mu herent, natural, and p'laed fsr beyond the reach of any unworthy son to degrade them in any respect. Mr. President, we are, after all, two peoples. God has made us two peoples, as he made Ja cob and Esan, brethren of the same womb, cause our destinies have been cast upon the soil of the same State for generations, and we have ties and aflinities which bind us together as against all the world; and separated though we be, I do not believe any reasonable white man can hesitate to say tbat the day will come, and soon, too, when around the white race will be found, to a man, the whole colored people of South Carolina, standing by them, and claiming their help against all outside inter ference. [Applause.] Mr. t"resident, we are to have upon this soil an invasion by all the nations of the earth-a social invasion, which we shall most heartily welcome. We are to have the Chinese, the Germans, the Italians, the Swiss, the Poles, the French, the English, the Scotch, the Irish, pouring in upon our soil to develop the resources of the State; and when that invasion comes, inevitably our col ored citizens will tind themselves in the minori ty. Where, then, will our brethren und their streagth ? They will find it in a union Of hearts under the old flag of S.uth Carolina, which, thank God, bears its motto yet, 'While there is life there is hope;' and while we have hope, we will end":asor to maintain what we conscientiously beiieve to be right. [Prolong. ed applause.] FURTHER BEMaKS BY ME. EEITT. Mr. Keitt said that the position which he held in reference to the report of the Commit tee on Platform was this, that it embodied only the past existing facts. Be thon.ght it should be progressive. It was confined alone to the State, while, in his view, it should go out. In support of the report of the committea., Geneial W1. C. Butler, of Edg field, said: gt2avrUrs oF GE.NEsL, BUTLER. Mr. Presiden (tad <eiitleiiairfl the (I.ur'er tiwn-laving had the honor of inrroducing the platform which is the subject of discassion, I feel called upon to endorse what has fallen from my distinguished friend. i[ ever there was a time when the good scuse of our people, black and white, should be invoke.d in deter mining what is best for the interests o;' South Carolina, that occasion is the present. We have assembled for no child's play, but to show our earnestness in a movement that promises to redound to the common good. We are not here foi the purpose of skirmishing, or inter changing random shots with the opposite par ty, but to work like men, like the children of one mother, for her welfare and her pea:e. (Applause.] Now what are the issues before us? On the one side we see a long, dark line; on the other an array of pale laces, in hosetilc antagouism, while all around us are political valtures, flap ping their wings aad goriug themselves upon the carcasses that tall beneath their blows. That, sir, is the picture, and no manii South Carolina can deny it. But, I ask, is that an tagonism a natural one? Bas it been pro duced by natural causes ? No! Biack and white, we are a common people and have a common destiunv-and there is no reason why we should not no united in all our purposes, sive that between the two iaces an element has been interposed which has the cunning to promote strite. And the object of this plat form is to neal .he differences that have arisen, and to reconcile all uisunderstsndings that have occurred. [applause.] I am fr.aiuk to concede that the misfortune has ben partialiy of our own creatiou-i refer to the white pro le of South Carolina. We ha'.e never put ourselves in a condition it which the colored people could vote for us. I tell the truth as it stands, and desire that it sh-ll be rre.ly ven tilated from oue end of the State to the other. We have never put ourselves in such a position that the colored cit;zdrns of South Carohna could heartily sustainus until the present m ' went. Do you ask why? I propose to an swer the quention with a short rsone of the condition of arlurs sinco the close of ttie war. Y.u will remember that we returned home in 1865, after having laid down our arms. Chaos, confusion and anarchy reigned. What was first done? Te people assembled in pri mary meeting; they sent representativ.s to the then President of the United States, An drew Johnson, to set forth tue circumsiances of the country, to acknowledge tiiir acquies cence in the results of the struggle, and to ob tain counsel. Mr. Johnson said, return to your State. 1 will appoint a Provisional Governor. Organize your Conventioa; popularizL' your State Government; rep:al the Ordinance of Secession; recogn.ze tht.' emancipation of .lavery, and observe your paroles. These w:re the teruis, and i a.peal to history to prove that the t!onulitiOns imposed Were fauibfully ob arved. and the astruetiuns of the I'resident of the United St.ites were teligiously oneyv. Wh.t roaiitted? Congress met. Bit Cougrres repudiated these terms o reco;lstructiun. Mr. .ohnson insisted and appealed to our honor, our character, our self-respect not to fall into te trap which this Radical Congress had sot. That, too, is history, and wh:,t was more atural thani that they should look to the conm mon chief of the armies and navies of Ihe United States tor their protection and peace. What followed? The convention in Philadel phia. It was said tar and wide the Democratic party will triumph, and you will be successful. We sympathized and labored, but again we were deluded. Congp-eas met; the antagonisim etween that body and the President cauinr ned to increase, and between the upper and te nether millstone we were ground almiost to powder. Nlow. sir, the peonle of South Car lina propose to take cart- of themselves, with out reference to the Democratic party - with out reference to any party, but lookiiig solely to Cue interests of the State. [Great applause.j We are told by some o? our D)emocratic friends that this is in~consistent, and that by adhering to the fortunes of that party we shall eveo tally bring about a condition of thingit that will pjractically solve the problem of our salva ton. As to the charge of inco:ssisteiiey, let me refer thn.' ?telmen to) their own act, when. in 1865, they met andz repe'aledl the~ Ordci ance of decossion, and ie.:oymzed the emian epation of slaves. It was dumy then, it is idty now, and there is no more meaonsistency in this movement by the people of South Caro lia thain there would be in my taking the ears on the Pacific Railroa l, instead or tiawellmnr across the country ini a wagon. 3 ne beateii track of our torefathers is not to-day the sbrest route to success. We must adapt ourselves to circumstancEs, and the cireami stances whieb exist impel you and me to a couse of action which, in a certain degree, makes us turn our hacks upon the paat. W~e have to grapple with events, and recognizs thing as they are. [ ApplauseC.] No man has a right to violate the law, tinless lie determines upon revolation, and that is the fund.inmental piinciple which underlies this plaa.form. It sets forth that such and su..h acts have been passed, and are the laws of the land, conse quently that it is o..r duty, as eitizens, to re onize and obey them in go)od faith, truth and sincerity. [Applause.] Now, what do the colored people of South Larolina say ? 1 have heard their arguments. know the infflueueis brought to bear upon them, and hetore I uoish,. it may be ocessary for me to call names, for I believe in speaking the Er.elih language bluntly whenever truth rlmands it. TXhey are told that we are simply the rebei Democracy in disguise, and have come here for the purpose oi "leieiving them. 'Ihe moet infamous devices are resorteu - the purpose of deluding these poor p)eoplo. Why, sir, we had a delet ation of' eig ht from Edgefield, but the morning hefore I started the rumoer was clic ulated that there would be a mob at ithe depot in Columbia, and that every 'oloed delegate would be beaten or killed. They were told that they could get no place to lay their heads, and at Edigetleld Courthouse olored men who dared to be ind'ependen'. were absolutely iimidated and run from the public square. There are certain people who speak of this as the "June-bug Convention." Well, there are some burs which ate much more offensive than June buits. (Great applause aiid laughi ter.] They call us the "palpitating rieform ers," and pretend to treat the movement with contempt. yet the organ.of that corrupt party devotes tour columns every morninr to the ~snsson of the queel,io. To my mind, when ajournal or a party is forced l.> resort to such .gnments and etlorts, it is an evidence t h at they are in a straightened condalou. [Ap plause.] But 1 may be asked why, if I can adopt such a platform...one so closely alliedl to that of the ftepnbican party, and fully expressive of its ideas-f do not join the Union League and go into that party. My reason is this, because that league is a vehicle and mneans to entrap nd deceive and compel a man, by iaths, to support only those persns who may ba nomi nated by that body. I am in favor of the freest nd fullest exercise of opinions.iand, for one, I do not propose to sustain any organization which cramps me with fetters in at slavery worse than a,ny that existed in this country. (Great applause.) The object of tbis move net is to disenthral those who are thus bound hand and foot; to let them think for themselves; act like independent citizens, and to achieve results that will prove the vn tue, Let me mention another incident. At the k mt meeting mn Edgefleld, whben these colored peo- Iti ple came in from the neighborhood, the m leagues had their runners in all directions, saytng "Don't go near them; don't hear them; ul they mean to put you back into slavery; get "' into the woods-any where-but keep out o> cc the meeting." U" I paid to one of these representatives, "If co you have any ar~unient worth he:iring, come atl out into the broad daylight; don't -o under be cover of the night and attempt to deceive thes n: people in the sthal! hours of the niornting as if e. you were afraid of honest infuieccs. for i ex- in pect when the Fifteenth amcndment is ratified wt on the 4th of July t o address that crowd." ri He said to me, "I don't think yon will he di allowed to do it, sir, but even if you were, i's in ni 'se G) talk to tt i ijfye, he's tl iw se1se." lwi That is the style in which these len speak of ut the colored people, whose v.tcs hava given th them the lhe and iustenaue which they en- cs joy to-day. It is t.naeh facts as these that w. p: want. Let the truth be elitminated, and when tat it stands furth in all itis naked strength. we br deserve to be defeated if we cannot nao it as "I a weapon with which to dt-stroy these 4,ne- :io mies of the peace and prosperity of the SLtte. vi [Applause.] im Why, sir, I see every day of my life men who an were raised upon the same breast, in an atti tude of bitter hostile antagonism, and yet m when the people of the State cone forward thl and say we recognize events as they are, and sit we pledge oiselves to abide by tlhea, wha nh is the reply ? "Don't. trust them; thry ar= de- n ceiviMr you ?" ci Now, I propose for a moment to ingnire iu'o lit tie character ofi the pre3:nt admim;itration, a and I do 81 upon the principle, it you will par- da rlni the h(,melv exores.i:oli, t.hat when I go a th oinmg. I go;" 1ihing. I Laughtc-r.J We are At asked what objection we have to that .viniun- co istrati,moi I answer, becauts. it has nis (. t - an ried oat Repulilican praincipleC. Thle Eae- ar ive of Souti Carolina was el e'i coniesed- art Iv by the colored vote. How have those peo- pr pie been rewarded? I speak of my own coun- ilt ty. Out of twenty apposltments o1 niags- ati trates by the Governor, there was but one fro :olored person, and he was afterwards retnov- su id ior doing justice between a White man and era a black man. So much for EF1gelield. he He desires to establish a constabulary force - in South Caroh.i. What does he do ? If he pa wants a jail cleaned out or any other dirty tic work done, he picks up "a nigger" at 31G per mouth; but when lie wants his fancy riding ,ntlemen,with nroadcloath clothes and breast- by pins, to travel leisurely over the State on tolrsebwck, at $93 a month, he send-i to Ohio. [defy the administration to deny it. a Now, is that Republicanism ? Is it carryiua m )ut the promises or the professions of ne th par- C ty? No. sir; and what is more, when you ask Lhm why they don't give some of the inte't- o ;ent colored peop'e these appotntmcnt:, the inswer is, "Why, they arc not qualfled; the aiggers haven't got sense enough." Mr. Presi lent, it is false. i hero are within my kno. - kdge, and within yours and that of every memtber of this Convention, thirty or forty col red men whom we would t-ather see occupy in tlieso offices, than a large pori ion of tihe white nn who have been appoutedl. Ihey tt are content to let the blaelt m.ii do their dirty td work, to wheedle and dejude him until his votel is seenred. and then tiy lay him ai.de to ei preserved for tuture use. Now, in this platform we recognize events d, as they are; we pled;; ourselves to do jnstce, th and it we sav to the coloreut people yon s hall e partieipate in the oifices and emoiunents at e our disposal. as men of honor I insist tiat it, shall be done, and that. we htal not, like t his imported crowd, say, , "i'he nigger is good of enough to vote, but the is not good e:itIgh t hold office." [Great aplsuse.j These are facts % hich th;s Republican ad miniatitron do not care to have ventilated. h 'hey would keep them in the baek:round, if they could, and let no honest white man iu vestie ate. Co Some of my triends say, "Go lionie without inU making a nomination. Wait. and appeal to the agnanimity of these men!" Why, sir, Noll tiht as well appeal to a higbwaymlan not to take your pure. Il la present goveriment want us to lie supinely on our backs while the of icers till their pockets. Tney tear to havei as talk to the colored people, and wonld be rateful if we would cont.inue to staid auif as we have been f( olshly doing for the laIst. inr years. For one, however. 1 prop:)e to step to the ront, and grapple With thuig. as thi'y ar. - [Applause.] To recognize thei ill all thuil power, ian. to rt:arl I he Fiteenth ham Uendil "hs onef ror the a l:i..n1ii1,t1iaedi Uhts fc i . al. [Apptanso.] u Look where we may, the tendency of the to tim is towards the etarn:emint or poinlar (', rights. The Get man Cottederatiot has s; ttil , to into greatness tunder the nale power of the sa illustrious ltanaici. The French demn:tmd 1 Reform, and tha F.mneror conicedes it through on the medium of the Plebiseihuin. The people atn of Great Blritain demaud Reform, and at is r*u granted by that strong government. $pain is ch eacipating ber slaves, at.d Russia her serfs. th All he civilized countries of the earth are en- tt gaged :n the same progre-ssivo movement, and ha why should we in Amelica lag behind in the fei race? Sitr, it is in pursuance of these great be temands of lhe hour that we coucede what ye has been erabodied in this platfo:'ra. If we ad nto other reason, thie motive of progress . t,ione would be a suflicient excuse for the pasi liou we take. [Applause.] 'The ditfirence be tweeta the i.overnmenits at the' Old World andI the New is, tha,t when Reform is dlemainded here, st.itesmea are sagacious and ymold to te pre-ssure, at the same time that they pre ierve the diguny and integrity of the govern te ment. In America, however, we tear things e ap by the roots. We endanger and impteil t the existing stale of thiings, and turn the bat tenm up, lea vitng the roouts to etre in the sun. 1%w, sit', all thte Rlefoirm we nrge is it thes d managemnit ot theo sifairis oh the State. . tis tot a questOton of olitics, not a quest ion of power, butat' trnt h hoor and virtue. Aid P so eineere am I it this declaration that 1 hecre m-* publicly announce that if thie Executive cf .i outh Carolina. can satisfy ime that tha- charges o ade against him and hais associates are false, a will withdraw my, oppositioni. tel There is another point to whicht 1 may al nde in this connectio.a. It has been the effort f the Governor of South (Carolina to tix ulpOion he people of tne State the stain which woiltdAt atttach to an organized band of Kut-Ktut, sud a prejuhice the world against those ove-r fhom he oftcially pr-esides, betraying a mca- w ignant pariasaiiship atnd recoigmizmg no in-t luence, no demianid save that which emanates ha 'rain those to whoma lie was elected to onice. a Mr. President, you remember that in 1868 a oored man, by the name of B. F. Randolph,wi ra murdered in Abbevilte, Lee Nance was dso murdered in Newberry, and Mairtini in Ab- 11 evie. What was the u/loW'en/ ?Thie mur- i erer of Raudolph goes to the Ex scutive ot .e State, with the blood uponi his nanas, and a icknowld]ged the deed. He was consigned to s :he ptentuiary, hbu. without trial or judicial s nyesigation. Why was that ? it was neces- i tary to carny an election, and tis ani was d aanipulated to eenre a confeassion which it was supposed could be effectually used ag itnSt de he people et the Stat.e. What followed ? T'hieo unrderer was perrmht.-d to escape, and puouc e pinion behoeves, from all the circumatances, x that it was with official canuavance. Hie goe. at large, and finaliy returns to his home, wnere b e is permitted to stalk abroad in detiance of the law, until his mouth is forever seated by a pistol shot discharged by one of the repressu-0t tatives of the government. Theme was no it- h retigation, and to-day the blood at Ranudolph h taint the hands of the Executive of South an aroina, and his spirit calls in tones of vdn-th geance for judicial redress-.b Yet it has been fond convenilent for that b ame public functionarv to charge this assas tatoin upon the Ku-Klux of the State. is lie ph member of that organization ? If not, yv i!s lid lie fail to bring the criminal to justie ? pa Why was Talbert permitted to escape ? Why' e lid he roam ar. large filled with a secret of 1ot eath and political machimaationi until hilt own ? ife was suddenly brought to anl enad. ..it' And with .iueh circumstances starmag ts in thi mhe face, ive ar asked to lie supiunely on our Ex )aeks, and make no sig'n for relict. Sir, I be- Set teYe such is not the will or mdeeriuinatioin ot in ;he people ot soth Caroliiia. We are beat on tme Refr, anid Reform v,e will havse. jEnthuvas- dt :ic applaus?.] W Look at the land comsmi=sion. Thiousa ids eel >f dolar.s have been expended to buy homes ant or the homehess. But the cry- fia riscen, and tat. nll contine to rise, louder and more p)ower- tar 'ul. "Where are the homes they be ve purchas- wb td?" Fcr one I want to see that law execnted, cha > executed in a spirit of justice--execuitedso Sot bat poor colored men and white men through- Th t the State may enjoy its benefits, which is bet iot the case at the present time. We want the mg~ ruth in this matter; but the citizens of South inf. .'arolina have been debarred from the e-ijoy- [ At nent of the pr-ivii.eges promised. Thiey knows Ha mothing of the manner in which the money ap.. ha' .mprie ,aben expnnnd, but they do or iow that it the records could be examineu a le of corruption would be told that neither ountain nor cavern could hide. [Applause.] 1 must apologtse for tre-passing so long >on the time of the Conveurion. (Cries of ro on, ;;o ond."] 1 have only this to say in nelusiou : We may honestly differ as to the lhey wbich should be pur;ued in the present ntingeucy, but we have reported a platforn d adopted a party :;ame. Now, what will the effect of an adj)imrila.ent wtlhioit tOii *ionis? My owu onitlion is, that, baving hibited our earnest.uets andl siccerity, hav demonatrated to the colored people that do not intend to intercere with their vested hts, it is our next duty to noninato candi tes for Govei nor aid L.entenalnt-Governor, order that we may have standard-leareis to will personify the principles we have en cialed, publish theml to the world, and be e standard-bearers around whom the people n gather in their contest for ithe ri;lt. [Ap tllC ] Let us t be proceed to make these mhilations as sool as the platfoil shall have en adopt.ed; and witn that is done wi will ang our banners on tihe outer walts," and tmd those c;ario:1 uotES which wili ral all to love peac:!, prosperity, an idonest govern mnt, and dasire ihe ailust.ratu,n o equ:l d exact jui13ice to all men. [Great :tpplaus .] 1Te want the goveruteeit ti) the hands of a tl who will recogn:ze his responsibinty t) people--the source of a'l power- 1ad not upon his throne i,su1nr procl-tnations ich are but "airY Itulhinrs," and consider t the interests of the pub w. Let a man cc p the gubra atoriai eb:ir t SOuLh C:io a who will say to alt the people, I hold the is which pt:l'it' on; ih ,1 ill perui vlr his tv ttriessi :d : .litiif:ilv; who will see tat i5W:a ate executed aid ryhts aeprpre-eived. 1 I belevi that ts"e hall ae c.ed. I have fideuce in the good :-euas of the maise3, 1 when a!l the racts 1r :set. rtl, n1 hen 1ien no longer 1int imilal1 by the rale, and pertmitted to enjov a free d'elieion. of the ti.iples eibodied mC this platlorm. when the luence of inioti Le-:tgnes no lunger traItels Arnerican citizen and he dares to break fee ul the slavery of that organiZ'tion. We alil ceet in securing to South Carolina a goi ment just, generous and poteut, in wtuch r humblest citizn will feel a pride. tev. Jonas B3yrd, a delegate and colored itor, of Charlestoa, a ddressed the- Couven n in suppo't o' the report, as follows E7A1nEUs oF REV. 312. BYRD. Vr: c.ic'i' !ase;:- 1rruel:-.ie'-1 fe4l bonnd every impulho of r heart to rise and say a wor.le in beh:lt of :he Srate ofSou'h Caro a. [Applanse.] Before I proceed fur:her >w ine to retar to a tact which I have i;m taicated to several gent.lmen in the City of arles!on, and c:hich I think it appropriate mentlin here. It is thi : I have rezretted .y muich, and I rever can cease to teal that ,ret, that our peop:e did rot accept the ies of the war at fir;t and have joined heart I hand together as we are this day. lAp use.] There would have been. thea. no mi for the imposters who have invaded our d. [erewed appiause.] We wou!d h:ve m. tioueh of two I1ces. a people uutetd, Iling tegethe:r ir the efiort to ras. the Sta. nI the )npoveriahment resulting from war. 'auein- her a:ricnltural I.'m and its in siries, and bringing to it iucreas.d properi App!anse.j But the mtiatortnue Is that d:d not do it. La-t n;ght, 'vhen our presi t was making his addres.:, and he spoke of whites. seeking the co-opiration or the ured voters, some man in the andien:-- ak -'Why did not you do it bconer?" I deare tpre-:s my opiion of the iudividu. Ulu :el that quastion, and it is this : He is one those eutilemen who diililr-s to See any co :ration be:wei the colorel and white :ers, bee.anne if there sla l be a -ou:i under .nding between them. he will be cut onl from ther oppt.rtunmty of hving off the State. pplanse. ] tir. President, I c:tme untrarmmelled to this vetion. but if I ever was in earnest I an i. [Applause.] I believe every word .ieh has t.ln tron the lps of General Lut and (eneral Kershaw. Sir. 1 have full, u: ted co:tidence is South Carolioa and her .s. [Apalause.] I see lhere Colonel Sitmons I 'r. .iitell. The;r :tuhers were nic asso .tes, and these, their s:ms, have bean born raised since I lived in Charleston. I e ne that city in June, 1815-ifty-ivo yC::rs ago. IiaainlyI should 1::Ow ny people iron A to and that I do; and what a onut It Carolinian IS you h hc g1m1g to do, tha he w:ll do. pulau-ls. They d1;o't say on;' thing and ra ano: r. They r.ird the;r honor too w1h for tat . [.\.plau.'. J I lnoWt the peo Ili whoca I 2ti pei:il, and I:ad I tot tbh I hieai t;ever wonid have isnt iny tout in h..s i.entiion. [At planse.I sonie Ot my friends d ti that l was gotin_ back on my lace. id I, '-Pooh-jpojh ! nonse:.se! [Apph.uns.] 11 ke a brick out of your house. I must take it t mmne also; for lo0 you not see that :t I irunmig tny'race into any risk, I should r myself into the same risk ? I see my nay ar' 1 kncw what I am doinr. If I theught are was the least intention on the part et the 1orm party to do otherweise tha:n what they e laid do~wn im their lat form. I would saf my right arm to be severeJ from any body ore I would become a delegate to tts Con 'ad now. Mir. Pr esidienit, in referentce to the ir parry in this cany.ass. We have no ani sity azainst theum. They came to out State swaurs fromt the Norna, when the smol:e a scarcely e!care:I iroat the battle-hid. aat ware their purposes in comning here? y had next d ie to nothing whetn they .de their app.e:aanee among us. and as for ir morals, thiey had none. [Lau-,:hter.] v they are gentkefnieu ot leisure ! [lRenew laugbter.] Thiey hold a full haud ot trumps, 1 are ymiing high, how, j:ti anti the game every deal. [Pirolonlged laugiiter.1 Th'ley pted as a motto. "Lands for the I.auidless !" :1t, mtouer was voted1 by the l,egislait re to rehase lanuda for those who had no land, and ntmisioers were appointed to mna-- the ichases, and the money put in their hands. ey purcirsed lauid, payin thie owners there $30000, and pocketine $90,000 themselves the same transaction. [.applause' and laugh ] Olnly keeping three tmes as much for mseves as they expended for the poor d Samaritans that they were. [Laur.hter.] d vet we must say miothng of tutese jtus al. becaus' they are the act of our iends," th, Republie:ms? Well. I am a Ra b!icau, but I want to kmow if tany cenitletaant o alls hantself a Repubbieau with i indescend shake bands with a man who with the other d is picking his pocket. ? [Langhter and ;lause.j r. President, God being my judge, I say hout the least hypocrisy. the-re is more pie hee felt against the negroes, as you call us, the orth than there is in the South. [Ap use.] 'The South has played with an open d atd has shown you ber cards. Bat when rthen peole conic among us-(I do not all, for there -ure good and had among alt ses)--they say one thingi to us. when thme: an antoth&. In a R tuctal p:Lper cdt yes:et rit, is atated that th~e colored delegates ate a to come her-e, and that while :hO white egates are stop)ping at th.- hotels, the 00o :d delegates are eating in the kitcheus. Nir, m well situated in a nice boarding house. s true we are not at the Colutnbia [hotel; as for myself I ptefer tO stat whetre I am; I have always had the desire to let every nenjoy himself according to L:s oiwn mind teeig, so loe;g as lie d:.ea not tre.asa5 on ter.i. I huorn ef m;;n. Northiera men wcho le c ae South and rear: ied S )ti ern tide. they have been more rigid and exactinig 02 t sla.vem than Southern masters as a c.ass. aplause.] I. kiicw them and could call names, I for bear. td now a word in reference to the Phos :ate bl~l-- [(laughter]--anotheCr high-handed u' wh:ci .heer meni htavi imposed upon the ;r ien of thit Stle. First, they said they llid eCit thte bill through the Legishlure teti I .~n,u-aiid dollaria. Tihie munvt wats Li. Tie thousan.d more was w:mied. and 'agii also, and atlast the bill was passed otn..hboth houses, andi it went. to his 11evl who vetoed it and cCitt it to the sate in which it originated. A caUCUS meet Ia be called, a-ad au addit.ional anum of r- is wtanted,. say somie torty thousand iis morL; -*.e a that miodest sum and can ag.un pass tIs bill iu sp)ite of his E. en's veto !" Theh money is forihe mang, l the but p)asseS--a tiamohnl of houiest legis on, and culve osting some St0;000! [!iaugh ]1 ha,ve thie highest rr--gar:i for the firm ch got that charter. [Ltughtei'.] Their racer and credit s and high. not only in th Carolina. but in the North and mn En:rope. v are gen:lhemen, and I say that because it angs to them. But the Legislature in pass that Phosphate bill was guilty of a direct -ingement of' tbe rights of the poor man. plause.] It was nothw.g less than that. -I it niot been passed, the poor~ man could agone out and co-mid hai niade lis two or t--e dolmar a m i awgaarg phoapates to support and eau dares not dig a poun ily; but now h own loot, and Leeause ths - before hiS State have given a monopoly o . of Is beds to a corporation for which gi received $G 000 to line their own pock they will let the poor man go to the devil. piause.] And so, gentlemen, it will ever be with them and the colored citizens of this State. They are willing to keep up the prejn delit' between the two racts until they have ac eomiplIted their purpose. and then they don't care wh^t hecmes of those upon whose votes t hei Lave ridden inato power. [Applause.j Mr. Presid::nt, t.hce men are at work. They h::vc a nice plau up<t which they are opera ting. Thty are already sendin out me-n into every county, who are instilling into the minds of the people the idea that this Convention is ouiy an artful scheme to carry our race back into bond:ige. They vay to the people that, iotwit.ft anding the Fifteenth anndment, if t he leform party getinto power, t hey will take the ballot from them. 1he idea is preposter Ons. ' he Reform party could not, if they would, and they would not if they could. [ Ap vlause. 1 This w a sort of flauk movemnut theyi :re att;pting, bee-tuse they are afraid to approach squarely in front. To meet this, c.nnmittece stiould be appointed in every county 'o s peak to the colored people, to rea s,ot ith them. and teach them to distingui:h betwren their frietd and their foes, who are disiracma the uanec of Republican. These miu c:re uothi:" for the colored people of this State, except to make what they can out of t hem. [Applause.] You should remind the pcope that. they were cheated at. the last State lectio. R.:miod thei of the land and the tniles and thr hoies which were promised thorm. [Applause itnd laughter.] How in in,iously they duped our poor ignorant people in the coautry who ecme out to a man and worked with aUl their hearts ard souls to se cure the stc.:c.s or these adventurers! They prois:ed eso m ay acres of land, and yet not a c..lorel mian has received an acre! They provot,ed tbei mun!es and corn and bacon, and y et a mul;: nor a bushal of corn or a pound of bacou has ben rereived by a colored man who vuted f:r them' But these men got thi-ir places, ,ot their rwlaries, got their bribes. and u:e. who had not a dollar when they arrived are sporting fast horses, riditg in sulendid cairiages, living in fine houses in grand style, wild, the poor are m:itn of theni without shelter. [Applause.] G,ttlemeu of my rare, I want you to tell your lriends over the who:e :cnrth and breadth of South Carolina. that this Couveniioni has been held fer the purpose of uniting ail the friends of trood governnlent in an lIort to save the old .thipof State which, under its precent hands, seems likely to be wrecked. [Prolonged applause.] . Colonel J. P. Th amas. of Riculand, in sup port of the report of the committee, said: MIEtArES Of CLOtEL TSOatAS. 1ir. Presbent -1 feel it incumbent upon me, as a member of this Convention, and as a white minn of South Carolina, and having a full sense of my responsibility before the God of Tiuth, to express my earnest and hearty apprecation: of tihe adimirabla sentiments which have just fallen from the lips of the delegate from 'uailesoi [131r. Byrd.] I ani free to say, sir, that the sen:iments which he has uttered would do honor as the utterances of any m a ofany race, in any conotry, and at any time [AppiauseC.] Sir, this lteform movenient, in its inception, dt not limeet with the approval of me judg ieUt, and it was bccausc I had become, :o tar as our co:or,ed eitizeus were concerned, a doubutng Thomas. ILau,thter.] I had made appal after appeal t.> them, it is true, upon less high grounds than those upon which I now stand. and my appeals have been treated, with but a i;-w exceptious, as the idle nind . which is regarded not. And feelinr. sir. that st:utinicut which is imtorn in the breast of every reau, it seemed consistent with my prin ciples, my sentimenti and my dignity to close the argument, so far as the colored main was e-ncerned. 1:ut, sir, I am tree this day, and in all candor, to declare that I recede trom that proposition. [Applause.] 1 believe, before H:gh Heaven, that in hits canvass we can use the eleme:t of truth and go torti conquering and to conquer; that the colored man and wuite ii.m, aeiz.ng with muscular hands the banner of l.etorm, have vithin their power to plant it on the ver- cit. .t i our conquerors. [Ap plause ] Sir, I can very well conceive that the blessin;;s of Heaven itself may have rested upon the ii:ception of this movenent. Iuduig in somewhat in the imagination, I may sug gest that the genius of Charity, the genius o.f tharnioe, an<t the gemus of Patriotism, met touer for high converse and noble counsels, and that under the influence ot that Heaven horn spirit, it occurred to them, in behalf of C.arolna, and of truth, to aunrurate jnst such a movemenit as we have this day inaugurated [applausej---anid as I honestly suppose, insu :urated it upon theo basis of tr-ath, which in the end will give it the amplest success. bir, as I muterpret this mtovesient, it is a movement in behaif of South Carolina, and for her prosperity. Throwing aside the prejudice oi color and of race-throwing aside the stan darfs of patty--it becomes us, on this occa sion, to lit ourselves to the heights of generous pa triotism, and, with one mind and with one soul, and with ranks closed and banners flying. to moove con to the rescue and redemption ot the Palmet to State. [Applause.] M1r. President, I will say to you that with thme :a.mendmentt proposed by the hionorable~ mem her of the committee [deneral Kershaw] I cor diaiiv endorse the proposition contained in the pl;.f.:rm they have reported, anid in maaking that endorsemnent I contend that I sink no prine;ule, that I violate no sentiment which I shall inain!ain in the ruture. as I have mn the past, as being essential. in my jud2ment, to thle p:rmnanent interests of good government. That plat form has mty hearty concurrence, and rpon me personal honor, and with my respon etlbi;itV.~before Heaven, I declare miy purpose and firim resolve, in good faith to stand by it through evil report and good report, and un der all circumstances to make good the noble enegy of the ciored deiegate from Charles toil, who last spoke. [Loud applause.j Sir, in the p.ast. the honor of a South Carolina gen tleman has been like the honor of Baysrd, whether he were rich or pocr. When t he true men of South Catina, from whatever walks of hte they come -whether native or foreign born, when they meet and send forth pledges in be alf of South Carolina, I give my word, sir. that those pledges dil he redeemed. [Aj. plaoee.l ":r, the great movement in waich we are ...:ged rises above the level of party to the dignity of a great patriotic work, and in that spirit we have under.taknen it. In that spirit let us press it and carry it on to its lorious logical consummation. I profess to eal with this quest:on fairly, honestly and concientiously; and I doa arraign the present regime. We do not demand that the Govern ment of South Carolina should be a white man's overment; we do nos desire that it shall be a blach mlan's government, but we want it as the gOventmnt of tIe whole people, to promote t'he properity of our common country. [Ap plase.] I wrould not ha.ve a pa:tial Execur.ve. eran if us par tiality wee. extended to me. I wolid haso e ur Ess*entive plant himself in the E.xec:i:ve chtairini the same spirit that a judne al:e3- lhs seat in th-tt august tribunal, and, wrth his eyes biind.d, discharge the duties of hs hirh oftcc. [Applause.] That is all we want. I arrairn the members of the preaent administi aiion in anotheCr respect: I arraign the manner in which other executive offcars have dischxaged th-:ir duties. I shall forbear using nameus. I do not niean to say that every man, of ttem is corrupt, but I da mean to say that there are winy men who form a part of the present regime, who have utterly fadled to discharge their d.uty with impartiality and common decency and honor. Sir, let us turn to the Legislature. We don't complain, and I don't complamn tk.at our Legistature contains colored members. 1 believe t hat in accordance wth the present s'aie of affeirs in this State, they are there by right, by equity, by policy nd by principle. [Applause.] They are en tiled to represenatauon, antd as a p.art and pa. cl of the body pohtic I concede to theo colored peole the riant to am implejust and equitable paricipation in the goiverunment and the affairs o the Slate. But, sir, I coiutend that it ma neither to the interest of the colored man nor of the whbite man that thme Legislature should be exelusively one or- the other. I do contend that it is neither to time interest of the black ni nor to the int.err st of the whi ne man that, in any contry, the labo'r ol the State should exclusivelv undert:ake to control its capita!. Sir, the 'legislative depatment of the State should not nave one interest r-epresented at the expense of thme other. I would prefer to imitate the admirable custom which is follow ed in the constitution of the Bavarian and Prussian com.ecs, ini which all the gm-cat inter ests, religion, the military, labor and capital, have thmeiir representanVes. That is ntiat we need. We stand upon the platform of a good, honest and just government. I heamrthv concur with the proposition which h. e.e ein m mye s.eemed and reepectel