Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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fit* ?utMl* tafitittK. YORKVILLE, S. C.~ THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. 21,1876. COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION. Governor Chamberlain has issued his proclamation appointing commissioners of election for the several counties of the State. The following persons are appointed for York and adjoining counties : York?J. L. Watson, B. F. Briggs, W. A. Moore. Chester?T. M. Graham, J. W. Gourdine, W. A. Walker. Lancaster?J. C. Clinton, D. C. Wolfe, M. J. Hough. Spartanburg?S. T. Poinier, Joseph M. Young, Sr., J. S. R. Thomson. Union?James H. Goss, Charles McJunkin, F. M. Farr. ? SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ?F. J. Moses, Jr., and Judge Shaw have submitted the Circuit Judgeship question to the Supreme Court for decision. ? A military post has been established at Lancaster C. H., and Company L of the Second Artillery, has been ordered there. ? John Wooten, who has been in the employ of the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad for some time past, died suddenly in Columbia last Friday night. ? Robert Barnwell Rhett, Sr., long identi fied with the political history of South Carolina, died in St. James Parish, La., on the 14th instant, in the 76th year of his age. ? On Friday morning of last week, while a young white orphan girl was gathering beans, near Jonesville, Union county, she was apnmaoliAH hv a nAcrrn man who attemDted to f J o A outrage her person. Her cries and shrieks for help probably caused the villain to desist before accomplishing his object, and he fled to the woods. His name is given as Perry Morgan, hailing from Greenville, and is described as being of copper color, about 5 feet 1 inch high, weighs about 125 pounds, quick spoken, walks fast, and is rather impudent when spoken to. A reward has been offered for his arrest. ? On the night of the 11th instant, between twelve and one o'clock, a Are occurred at Union C. H., by which H. L. Goss' new brick building was destroyed. The first story was occupied by Mr. J. C. Wallace and Mr. M. B. Friedberger, as dry goods stores. In the upper story was the County Treasurer's office, a tailor shop and several rooms occupied as sleeping apartments. The fire broke out in the tailor shop, which belonged to N. B. Fair, a colored man, who lost everything, amounting, it is said, to $250 or $300. The fire occurred on the night of the torch-light procession in honor of the Democratic candidates, and was caused by the accidental burniag of a wheelbarrow full of fire-works?two eky rockets shooting through the window of the 8hop on the second floagr-q?,the building. inv. losses are, H. L. Go?, building $11,000 in8k-ance $7,000 i'7. lace, fLQfldgiJ&aflk-nn inanranrifl?moat of goods saved in a darfoq^ed condition ; M. B. Friedberger, $7,000 insurance?but little saved. H. H. D. Byron, Treasurer, lost his Ivwly-a Vvnf norrnrl mftof rJt VilQ nfllOl" nmnorfv UUUAO) UUU QC? T WU UIVOV Vi U1B VUUV4 W*V|/V? VJ ) damaged. A movement is on foot to make good, by subscription, the losses of Fair, the colored tailor. STATE POLITICAL ITEMS. ? The Columbia Register says that ex-Governor Scott has declared for Hampton. ? The Leslie faction was whipped out in the Barnwell Radical Convention a few days ago. ? A colored Tilden and Hampton Club has been formed in Lancaster. ? Senator James M. Smith, a Republican member of the last legislature from Barnwell county, has renounced Radicalism, and returned to the Democratic fold. ? L. Cass Carpenter has been nominated as the Republican candidate for Congress in the third District. Col. D. Wyatt Aiken is the Democratic nominee for tfie same District. ? Three of the Griffins, heretofore influential white Republicans of Abbeville county, have announced their determination to vote for Hampton. ? The Republicans have nominated S. J. colored. as a candidate for Solicitor of the second circuit, and E. M. Brayton for the fifth circuit. ? Mr. Biggs, of Greenville, the bugler of Hampton's cavalry in Virginia, expresses his desire to blow his horn on every stump from which Gen. Hampton speaks during the campaign. ? Mr. J. G. Thompson, for some time past the editor of the Union-Herald, has resigned the position, the principal cause therefor being his determination not to support Elliott and other objectionable names on the State Republican ticket. ? The State Democratic Executive Committee have appointed J. Adger Smyth, Esq., of Charleston, to fill the vacancy on the committee from the Fourth District, which was occasioned by the resignation of Col. J. H. Evins of Spartanburg, candidate for Congress. ? The Republican Convention of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which met at Winnsboro last week, failed to make a nomination for Solicitor. The News says: "There were at first three candidates in the field?Couch of Chester, Pelham of Lancaster, and Mackey of Fairfield. There were twelve delegates. Four from York and two from Fairfield were Mack* eyites, three from Chester were for Couch, two from Lancaster and one from Fairfield were for Pelham. Couch was soon out of the way in consequence of a very truthful and creditable letter written by him to the Register concerning a little disturbance in Chester. His men went against Mackey, and hence there was a tie. The race stood six and six, and it was at one time thought that Mackey would turn the tide in his favor; but not so. Pelham continued to get two votes from Lancaster, three from Chester, and one from Fairfield?James-June. The convention remained in session, with short intervals for rest and wire-pulling, until twelve o'clock at night, when it adjourned without making a nomination. There were upwards of thirty ballots." It is understood a new cocftention will be called. ' ? An enthusiastic Democratic meeting was held at Abbeville on Saturday last. A despatch to the Columbia Register, represents the procession as having been three miles long, including 3500 mounted men, 300 of whom were colored. Addressee were delivered by General Hampton, General Toombs, of Georgia, General Gary, Col. Simpson and Colonel H^^^iken. One of the notable events of the oca speech from Judge Cooke, in which he announced his purpose to lend all his assistance "to the good work of electing Hampton, and not only Hampton, but the whole Democratic ticket." He said, "he had been a Republican from principle. He had joined the Republican party with the hope that they would give the State a good government, and had clung to it, hoping and trusting for reform; but he could place his hand upon his'heart, and say that it was utterly impossible for it to reform. He said he was a better friend to the colored man than Chamberlain, aod asked his colored friends to go heart and / kon/l nntVi him Hp nrnp.laimed the man (Gleaves) who was Dominated for the second place on the Republican ticket, to be as corrupt as Whipper or Moses. He said that Elliott was nominated for Attorney General for the purpose of permitting the stealing to go on unchecked, and Chamberlain, in voting for him, was as corrupt as Elliott." HERE-MENTION. A meeting will be held at Denver, Lincoln county, N. C., at an early day, to make arrangements for a preliminary survey for a narrow gauge railroad, from Woodlawh on the Carolina Central Railway, to Newton or Conova, on the Western N. C. Railroad. On Tuesday morning of last week, the train on the Richmond and Danville Railroad was thrown from the track, by a broken rail, a few miles beyond Greensboro, and about twenty of the passengers were wounded, though none seriously. Among the wounded were Dr. A. H. Davega and son and daughter, of Chester, who were on their way to the Centennial. It is rumored that the Indian war is to be vigorously prosecuted during the coming winter. Ex-Governor Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, is dead; aged 70. His funeral, at Richmond, last Thursday, was largely atten I ded. The September reports to the Department of Agriculture show a decline in the average condition of the cotton crop from the remarkably high figures of July. A convict in the State prison at Auburn, N. Y., who had been an iomate for 29 years, was accidently killed on Thursday last. The reported capture of Tweed, in a Spanish port, seems to be confirmed. The President says he is in possession of all the facts relating to his arrest. The Democratic Convention of New York re-assembled on Wednesday of last week and nominated Lucius Robinson for Governor, in place of Horatio Seymour, who declined. Mr. Robinson is the present Comptroller, and it is said his nomination reconciles all former differences in the party. Union Cotton Mills, in Randolph county, N. C., with seventy-five looms already in operation, have just been furnished with additional machinery costing $22,000. The yellow fever is scourging Savannah, Georgia. On Friday there were twenty-seven interments from the disease. Great destitution prevails in the city, which can be relieved only by public charity, to which object, Philadelphia, Charleston, Atlanta, Augusta, and other cities, have nnnnanncilt. Monnn/loil "All tVlO nlH mPTTI. ^UUCIUUOJJ IWJjUUUUVU. W??V WAV* U.V.M bers of Congress from Georgia have been renominated. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Miss M. Sue Walsh?Clover Female High School. W. H. McCorkle, Real Estate Agent?Land for Sale. Clark Brothers?Cotton at 15 Cents. H. F. Adickes, Jr.?Crockery?Groceries^Fistols?Economy. ? W. H. <fc J. P. Herndon?pettSn^-Flour?Cofifee? Watt Ploj^^IoJflSses?Leather?Bacon. MEETING AT HICKORY GROYE. On Saturday laBt, the Hickory Grove Dem- * ocratic Club held a meeting at that place, thirteen miles west of Yorkville, on which occasion a number of speakers?among them Col. Evins, Democratic nominee for Congress from this Congressional District?were invited tn attend. There were nresent about three hundred persons, of whom probably fifty were colored. At 12 o'clock the meeting was called to order by Dr. R. T. Allison, who moved that J. C. Chambers preside as Chairman. The motion prevailed unanimously, and on taking the chair, Mr. Chambers briefly stated the object of the meeting to be a discussion, by some of the candidates, of the issues involved in the present campaign; and after bespeaking the patient attention of the assemblage to what would be said, he introduced COL. J. H. EVINS. Col. Evins opened his remarks by saying it ?- rtr>r\lrt Wttb a pleasure iu uiui iu meet tue pcupte ui York county on the present occasion, and also to be the bearer to them of cheering news. He had never seen the people more determined than they now are in every portion of the District that he has yet visited; and not only was the determination to rid our oppressed people of bad government prevailing in this Congressional District, but, for the encouragement of his hearers, he would say that the same sentiment pervaded the people of the entire State. He congratulated the people upon the fact that after various expedients, we at last have men as standard-bearers of the Democratic party whose names appeal to the highest sympathies, and in whom all classes of the people can implicitly trust. He then asked, Do we not need a change in the administration of our State Government? Have we bad a government since 1868 that has given protection to the rights and property of the people of the State? He said it would consume half a day were he to attempt to review the wrongs inflicted upon our people. South Carolina of j ' to-day is not the South Carolina of yore; but j I only a sacred memory, known as the "Pros- j I trate State." But, said he, we now have an I opportunity to right all these things. We : have men on the Democratic State ticket com- j petent to worthily fill all the positions to ! which they have been nominated. Never, in I the history of the State, was a ticket placed before the people so entirely unexceptional? bearing the names of honored men who ; had not desired nominations, but had been sought out by the people, and put forward as ; the exponents of honest principles and a faith: ful administration of the laws of the State. I After the bitter experience of the last eight years, what excuse has any one, having the j welfare of the State at heart, for not support: ing such men ? Have you not been oppresj sed, your rights disregarded, your money stolen by exorbitant taxation, and squandered in i a manner unexampled in the history of any I State? The times demand a change; the | people demand it, and we must have it. I Ho fVion rovipwpH t.hp n*st TjPaiRlat.ilrPB of i I uv ?"v" ? x D ? | i the State, since reconstruction, and the char- i acter of those composing the legislative bo- j dies, and asked why such men, of known inI competency and void of principle, should be , I trusted. Every year, since reconstruction, we 1 have been growing poorer and poorer. Our income has been consumed by the Legislators in riotous living, corruption and extravagance. Under such circumstances, how can a people grow prosperous, or be happy and contented ? As an instance of the enormous hirden of taxation heaped upon our people,: Bedited the case of a tax-payer in Greenville, i who last year paid a tax of thirty-seven dollars. He was an honest, well-to-do citizen ! who never owned a slave, and now pays tax ; on about the same amount and valuation of property as that on which he paid before the j war?the results of the war not having materially changed his financial condition. This gentleman, Mr. Hawkins by name, feeliDg the burden of the taxation of the past eight years as compared with former years, had hunted , up some of his old tax receipts for the purpose : of comparison, and found that on the same j I property which now costs him thirty-seven ' c dollars in the way of taxation, he paid a tax, t before the war, of just thirty-seven and a-half ? cents. These enormous taxes have gone into t the hands of the tax-collectors and the State < treasury, but what benefit have they brought 1 you? There are no public works to which t we can point. No beneficent or charitable t institutions have been created. No works of j internal improvement have been projected or carried out. With the exception of a rookery e on top of the State House, liable to be blown t down at any time by a gale of wind, you can 1 point to not a single expenditure of public 1 money having the least semblance of justifica- 1 tion. The State administrations, including \ public officials and legislatqrs, have been one \ big steal from beginning to end. Public offi- ( cere have entered upon their duties besotted, f poor and ragged, and soon after arrayed them- t selves in fine clothes, built palatial residences, ? drive fine carriages and horses, all of which a has been done by the people's money. t He then reviewed the promises to the col- f ored people with which the Republican party e first started out, and asked, what has the par- t ty done for these people ? They promised a t magnificent free public school system by which t all the colored people and their children v could secure an education. But where are !* their schools ? Echo answers, where? They t have consumed the school-fund by extrava- t gant and riotous living, or have stolen it. Then, colored people, with this one fact be- b fore you, are you willing to trust them ? They ( tell you not to trust the white men; that they t will return you to slavery, deprive you of S your right to vote, &c. But I tell you that li any man, white or black, who tells you these v stories, lie3 when he tells them. Neither the b white men as individuals, nor the Democratic t party, desire to deprive you of your freedom r or your rights as citizens. ^ Look at Arkan- e sas, Georgia, aud other Southern States that b have been redeemed by the Democratic party o and are now under Democratic rule. Have $ the colored people of those States been de- a prived of their votes or put into slavery? i Will your representative, Davies, publicly ii tell vou so? Your advisers and party leaders b may^f^j you such stories in the dark, but they y dare not tell you so openly and publicly, n The colored people of Georgia, so far from r being oppressed by Democratic rule, are in a u prosperous and happy condition. I have had e opportunities of personally observing their p condition in that State, and am prepared to r brand all stories of their oppression as infa- n mous lies. The Democrats of Georgia have b not stolen the school fund, but it has been sa- r AWK./vvvmiaI-A/] +1>A llrtll f 1 Af? f\? OAI- 11 ureuijr appivpntibcu iui tug cuuvcawvu ui w< *< ored children. There is a college at Atlanta, e under State protection, for colored students, d and one at Athens for the whites, and the h Democratic State of Georgia gives annually if eight thousand dollars to each of these schools, b treating the colored people with the same fairness that they treat the whites. Money fc is appropriated for school purposes and paid c out and applied to such objects. There n are forty-two thousand colored children at- I tending the free schools of that State. How fc many are attending the free schools of South u Carolina? \ Your leaders tell you we want to keep you t ignorant. This is false. We want you to ii acquire both education and property. But t notwithstanding all the professions of your f Republican leaders, have they shown that 1 they want you educated, or that they desire a you to acquire information and intelligence ? f No. They only want you for their dupes to ( keep them in place and power. They prefer j that you should remain in ignm^aee^tMf'tfiey" a may steal from you, and, though your votes, 1 plunder all the people of.tfte State. r The speaker said he had met Mr. Wallace 1 krif troi/ifl nonxraaa otifl nn nPlfVlAr f UUl bUiV/O UUllUg bllto VUU T UliW) MUV4 vu MWSVMW* ? occasion "would Mr. Wallace give an oppor- c tunity for a fair, open discussion. Mr. Wal- s lace would not speak first and give him an ( opportunity to reply ; nor would Mr. Wallace reply, or attempt to reply, to any of the state- r ments made by toim. He cannot reply to t then*,-urged tbo-epeaker.?Hep-the apeaktrt^ "8 had made similar statements to those uttered e to-day, in the presence of three hundred col- s ored men who ha(f known him from child- <3 hood, men among whom he had been raised, f and he asked them if there were any present c who could say he had ever deceived them in r his life, or if they then thought he would de- t ceive them, to step forward and say so; and t there was not one to say he had ever deceived c them. t Stories of slavery, oppression, &c., are told c you by office-seekers and office-holders for the * purpose of keeping themselves in power, and v keeping you in a state of bondage worse than t slavery. So long as they can flourish by t poisoning your minds, so long will they con- a tinue, well knowing that when concord is re- c stored between the two races, their occupation a is gone. He said the policy of Mr. Wallace ' had been to keep up the spirit of ill-feeling F and animosity; that according to the pub- t lished record, from Republican sources, Mr. Wallace had voted against every measure t for conciliation that had been introduced in g Congress. Mr. Wallace knows that as soon t as there is a good understanding between the F two races, his party can no longer fill the pub- c lie offices, and he is, therefore, opposed to real i peace. t The speaker next contrasted the pecuniary u condition of the colored people of this State t and Georgia, asserting that in the latter State * they own real estate of the value of five and f a-half millions. Is this, he asked, oppres- e sion ? There is no reason, he argued, why the colored people of this State are not equally v prosperous, but for the high taxation, oppres- a sion and misrule that has characterized our t State government. Nor, said he, never can c you be prosperous until you put faithful men a in office. Would you trust a known dishon- p est man in a business transaction ? A public 8 officer stands on the same footing. He is but fc the people's servant; and while you would t not trust a known dishonest man with your l money, you trust men in office, year after p year, who have been stealing all the time, p They promise reform, but do they do it ? The t best way to reform them is to carry out the a Bible doctrine, not to lead them into tempta- 1 tion. Let us not elect them, thereby placing c it in their power to plunder the people. 0 He then eulogized the character of Gen. Wade Hampton, and said that if he is elected s Governor of the State, he will be Governor i< over the whites and blacks alike. He told t his colored hearers that Hampton ftd been c as good a friend to their people as they had p in the State; that he was the first white man t in the Southern States to advocate negro suf- g fragc,: that at the very time he was advo- c eating is, ?heir present champions, Morton, of Tr./4ianr. o n/I m on fVp t fl tl t nlftSQ wh f? T1 fl W 111 f the bloody shirt so deGantly, were opposing it, sa} ing the colored people were not yet ready for enfranchisement. He asked, cannot the man who theu had the boldness to advocate your enfranchisement, be trusted now ? He has never done or said anything to deceive any body, and would not deceive the humblest colored man in the State. He is pledged to honor, and he values his honor ! more than he values his life. You can trust him and implicitly rely upon what he says. He next discussed the question of taxation, and proved to his hearers that after all it is the laboriug class?those who till the soil? who at last defray the enormous expenditures of our State Government. He said that the 'argument had been used to the colored men that by a system of excessive taxation the white owners of the soil would be taxed out of their possessions, when the colored people could step up and buy them ; but, he asked, under that system, would you ever be able to do it? Are you not as poor to-day as you have been since emancipation ? A law that oppresses one class of people is equally oppressive to the other. Grind down the white owner of the soil by oppressive taxation, and the colored man, dependant upon his labor, will go down with him. Under an oppressive system of taxation, the laboring classes will never be able to acquire wealth. Hence the ' greater necessity to the poor man for reform. The speaker next reviewed the public acts of Governor Cl^ipberlain, and his connec ion with the State Government from recon- i itruction to the present time, holding him squally responsible as other prominent officials, though he gave him the credit, since he lad been elected Governor, for making efforts it reform, which reformation, the speaker conended, can never be made in the Republican jarty. The speaker took the position that ever ince Governor Chamberlain's advent into his State, he has been the compauion of poitical thieves and corruptionists. He has >een connected with them, and must have lad a knowledge of their stealing, and a man vho abets stealing, who silently looks on j vithout exposing it, is as bad as the thief, j ^nvflrnni* Chaniherlain was a member of the I inancial board. Aa one of the members of he board, the funds were in his trust. The State is bankrupt by the loss of these funds, ind why does he not account for them ? He akes to himself great credit for his action to >revent Moses and Whipper from being seatid as Circuit Court Judges; but in that ac-' ion, is he not actuated more by love of party ; ban the welfare of the State? In his letter o Morton on that subject he admits as much, j vhen he says his highest ambition is to keep South Carolina a Republican State, which, he speaker contended, means a repetition of he wrongs of the last eight years. The sinking fund commission, said the peaker, was another public trust held by jovernor Chamberlain, and every dollar of hat fund has been stolen and lost to the State. He also said that Governor Chambersin had been concerned in the railroad ring, fhich, through one Kirapfon, of New York, lad purchased every dollar of the State's inerest in the Greenville -and South Carolina ailroads, for which no account had been givn to the public. Another public trust held iy Governor Chamberlain was as member f the land commission, which had stolen 700,000, and he has never been able to ccount for a dollar of it. And yet this is he great reformer. All the Republican nomsees for State officers, except Elliott, have een in the same positions for the past two ears, and what have they done in the way of eform? Chamberlain has attempted to cary out a few reform measures to save the reptation of his party; but where were the othr State officials and the majority of the Remblican legislators? The only measures of - /** i..j i it. n* eiorm were enecieu oy me j^eiuuviane uuority in the Legislature. If Governor Chamerlain believes th6 issues before the people ise higher than party, why has he gone back a the mire ? Is it too much to ask any honst man, that if Chamberlain'was honest unler the positions he occupied, would he not iave exposed the corruption around him ? It i a safe rule to judge a man by the com^R^* ie keeps. The speaker admitted that Governor Chamierlain is a man of fine intellect and high ulture, for which reasons he held him still aore responsible for our present condition. Ie had the eloquence and the influence to iring about reform in his party, but did not itter a word until the party was threatened vith excision. Just previous to the norainaion of Moses, the speaker, having confidence n Chamberlain's ability, and having a hope hat he might be induced to do something or the good of the State, addressed him a etter deputing the sad condition of affairs, ,nd asking him to come to^thejescue of-ther >eople, by using ins infitfenceTor reformation. 3haraberlaiir "promptly answered his letter, .cknowledging the correctness of the charges, ,nd promised to exert his influence for reform ; >ut when Moses was nominated, if he did tot have Chamberlain's influence, he, at least, lad the benefit of his silence. No man, coniluded the speaker?and he uttered the words m his own responsibility?is as much respon ible for our prostrate condition as is 1). ?i. Chamberlain. The speaker appealed to the people, in the tame of good government, and the honorable names on the DetAocratid6tote ticket, to tand firm to the nominees and give them an arnest support. He said, do this and we will ucceed in spite of intimidation. He then adIressed the colored men on the subject of sufering themselves to be intimidated by their iwn race. He told them they ought to have core independence than to suffer themselves o be intimidated against voting for men of heir own free choice and selection. He said, me argument brought before you, is to Btick o your own color, which is very well if your olor is in the right; but if it is shown to be n the wrong, it is your duty then to vote vith the party that is in the right. He hoped he colored voters would think and act for heraselves, and not be driven as so many heep. He told those who would have the nanliness to act independently in the election, nd vote the ticket of their choice, that they rould have the protection of the white peo>le and every agency of the law, and that hey need have no fears. After making a most eloquent allusion to he presence of the aged Daniel Seahorn, a ;entleraan ninety-four years of age, who had teen invited to a seat on the stand, and corntaring his action on this occasion, with that if many young men who had not sufficient nterest in the welfare of the State to attend he discussion, and assuring his hearers that inder the banner of Peace the Democratic icket will succeed, and our grand old State narch on in a career of prosperity never beore known, the speaker concluded his renarks amid the applause of his hearers. I. D. WITHEBSPOON, ESQ., ras next introduced. He congratulated the issemblage on the able speech delivered by he distinguished speaker who had just preceded him, and heartily endorsed Col. Evins s the standard-bearer of the Democratic >arty in this Congressional District. He aid, We are assembled here to discuss, peacea>ly, the political situation. We are oppressed >y bad government as the people of no State lave ever been, and we must avert the impeding calamity of such oppression by the leaceful agency of the ballot-box. We have teen taxed nigh unto poverty and are?poor; md though it is bad to be poor, when we ose our liberty, we lose all. Let us preserve iur liberty, which we yet can do if we will mly be true to ourselves. As to political parties in this State, the peaker said the difference between them ex3ts more in name than anything else. Call hem Kepublicans or Democrats, the question f greatest concern to the people is that of tutting honest and faithful men in office, and te was present to-day to speak in behalf of ;ood government, faithfully administered by competent and honest public servants. He alluded to the condition of the colored teople when they were first vested with the ranchise, and of their minds having been corupted by the carpet-baggers, who had used leceptive words and false promises, that they, rho had been bummers and camp-followers, niobt. nrnsner at our exDense. The colored ? ?? I 1 ? ?1 >eople have now exercised the rights of free* nen for eleven years, and we think it is time or them and the white people of the country, vho have a birthright interest in their native kate, to come and reason together. He was ;lad to notice a number of colored men presint, and he asked from them an attentive learing, that they might be convinced that a vhite Democrat is not so dangerous a charac* er as he is sometimes, no doubt, represented o them. Speaking of our State Constitution, he said le had no objection to it. Its framers were he first to violate it, and it is the mission of he Democratic party to be the first to honstly observe it and honestly enforce the laws inder it. He then briefly reviewed Governor Chamberlain's administration, and said his irst public acts, in accordance with the spirit >f his party, were to keep up strife. He said Hoses, who was the worst man that they could. iave picked up in the Republican party, had >een elected Governor of the State, and yet inder all the misrule of his administration, iow did the white people of the State act ? Chey were forbearing Deyond example, and o better their condition were even willing, to ake up a Republican. The Democrats had herefore supported two Republicans for Gov ernor, hoping to purify the Government; but failing in that, and the Republican administrations having failed, it# is now contended that the Democratic party is the only party that can save Republicans from their own misrule. He said that objections had been made to the Democratic county ticket, by colored Republicans, that there are no colored men on it. This, he explained, was, first, because there are no colored men identiGed with the Democratic party competent to 611 positions of nublic trust; and, secondly, had such nomi nations been made by the Democratic party, the colored people would have been disposed to ostracise him, as they did DeLaney, the colored Republican candidate for LieutenantGovernor two years ago. He spoke of the incompetency of the colored man not in the spirit of derision or disrespect, nor to reflect upon his character or the honesty of his intentions. To illustrate bis position, he said that on account of the limited information of the colored people, (which he conceded was not their fault,) and their want of experience, they are incompetent to make laws for the governing of a State, just as he who had been educated to another pursuit, is incompetent to shoe a horse, make a pair of boots or build a bouse. He said he did not use arguments to the colored people in a spirit of begging them for their votes. He spoke to them as if addressing a jury?laying before them the facts on which to ponder and make up their minds when the time comes for voting. He said he would do Governor Chamberlain all the justice that is due him, and give him credit for what he has done in the way of reform. The Governor has spoken in favor of selecting the best men for office, and to dothat, it is the duty of all to rally to the support of the Democratic party. You must do that, or go back and retrace the steps of the Republican party. The speaker argued that the Democratic party is the only party to save the State, under which all good men, black and white, should rally. Addressing himself directly to the colored people, he said he came before them with no false pretenses and with no words of flattery. He said he had always respected the colored people, and been ready to aid them in any way be could, but now that he is a candidate, be would not say that he loved them better than ever. He would show his friendship, however, by discussing with his colored hearers any question on which they desired to hear him. This is the way, said he, for us to come together. Let us interrogate each other, and see if by that means we cannot come closer together. You repose such confidence in the white Democrats as to trust them with everything else except your ballot; now let us see why you cannot trust them with that. Are you afraid, if the Democratic party should come into power, that you would be placed back into slavery? [Cries?No 1. No! We are not afraid of that.] Are you afraid you will be deprived of the right of suffrage? Now, (addressing himself to a colored man in the crowd,) come forward and let us talk this matter over; do you have any fears that you will be deprived of the right to vote ? "No," was the answer, "we do not fear that." Well, asked the speaker, do you distrust us? Why, then, are you afraid to vote for us ? The person thus interrogated hesitated in his reply, when a white man volunteered the in-t&rtn^tioj^thft^^htt<^nd^rfljUxod--the colored"] ? J .1 rr~>r~iL_ T man naa laaen au uaiu iu tue uuiuu ucoguc never to vote for any but Republicans for office, and the fear was that he would peijure himself by votiDg for a Democrat Mr. Witherspoon dispelled this idea, telling those in bis hearing that such an oath was not binding; when the colored man withdrew, remarking that "it is curious we can't come together." The speaker again adverted to the utter impossibility of depriving the colored people of the right of suffrage, which right, he said, is engrafted in the constitution, to change which, requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, tarad a ratification a majority vote of all the voters in the State. Another colored man, who wanted information, said one reason why the two races cannot come together is want of confidence. Yes, said the speaker, you are right; that is it. Now come forward and let us talk. You are the man I want to talk to. You have been frank and met me more than half way. Now ask me any question yon will, and I will answer it as honestly as I can. The man, several times, said "want of confidence about our rights is the trouble," and at last his words were explained to mean that if the Democrats were placed in power, laws would be passed bearing unequally upon the two races; that the legislators would discriminate against the colored people by passing laws to nnrwaaa tKflm TKo QnP?lfPr nrcrp.d 11 noil his ?v? -r --o-- ?i hearers that no such thing is desired or contemplated by the white people, and cited Southern States in which the Democrats are in power and yield to the colored people every right and privilege that the whites eDjoy. He then told his hearers that the whites are more interested in their progress and advancement than they themselves, giving among other reasons that as they advanced in material prosperity, so would the State and all the people advance and prosper. He reminded them of the manner in whichf under Republican rule, the school fund had been squandered. He also advocated a reduction in the number of public officers, and favored short sessions of the Legislature, and a reduction in legislative and governmental expenses. He asked his colored hearers to ponder well what he had said to them, and advised them against being led by designing men. He told them not to submit to intimidation by their own color, and in regard to a story said to have been circulated amongst them to the effect that a law had been enacted prohibiting the voting of a mixed or " scratched" ticket, that it is only a sample of the falsehoods which are daily told them, and that they have the right to place any names they may choose upon their tickets. The speaker then appealed to the white men to forget, in the struggle, old differences that have heretofore divided them, and for all to unite upotrlthe ticket in the common cause of self-preservation. fin \fr Withppunnnn retiring. the Chair man announced that as a free discussion was desired, and as Republican candidates were present, permission would be given them to speak; whereupon NEUSON DAVIES, cnlnrffljrRennhlinan candidate for the House of Representatives, took the stand. He said the meeting was in accordance with his feelings and thanked the civil rights bill for having brought the white and the black man even thus close together. He said public discussion was desirable; that the Democrats made charges against the Republicans, the truth of which could be best ascertained by arraigning the Republicans in person. He then denied that .he had ever voted for a corrupt measure in the Legislature, aud that for one he went there anxious for refnrm TTfi said thfl charpe had been made that Col. Beatty had been dropped from the Republican ticket because he is too honest a man to suit the purposes of the party, when the truth is, he was not renominated because he had plainly said he would not accept the nomination. He objected to the Democratic party because they are a State-rights party, and would ignore the colored people because they say the colored people aFe not competent to represent them. As to corruption, he said that Moses had received fifteen thousand dollars from the Democratic or Green party for appointing commissioners of election. He said he had no apologies to make for having voted for Moses. As to a charge that had been made in regard to relieving the sureties of Treasurer Rose, he said be was not a member of the Legislature when that was done, and said that the Democrats of Greenville bad asked similar relief for a former Democratic treasurer of that county. He said that he had voted in the Legislature to sustain Governor Chamberlain's veto of the tax bill. He next spoke of the conduct of the slaves daring the war, and said that they were peaceably and * friendly toward the whites when the war end- n ed; but when the white people returned to their homes they commenced killing the ^ blacks; and if the Republicans are robbers ? and thieves, as is charged, the Democratic a party are murderers. He said the Democratic party had noro ina- ? ted a straight-out white ticket throughou ;the hi State, which he said was to be elected by the f Mississippi tiger policy, which he said, ^ cording to the newspaper reports, was to levy si contributions for election purposes, and at the g>lls to trample down citizens with horses. ? e said if any in this State sell their votes to e the Democratic party, they will next be beg- a ging the Government at Washington for protecfcion. He then spoke of oppression of the colored people in Georgia, citing as an in- 1 stance the chain-gang in Augusta. He then read the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and remarked that Gen. Hampton had said in a public speech that they are null tl UVino tiara ranlioH thflt. it lc auu VU1U. Wi* Xifiua I1W?W ..... bad been published in the papers that Gen. g Hampton had made such an utterance; but g] the General says it is absolutely false?that d he never uttered such a sentiment in his life, p The speaker resuming, said the Democrats ar- el gue that if the Republicans fail to do right to i( cast them out, which means that 65,000 men fi shall dictate to 97,000. tl He then said one speaker had already pro- ? posed, if the Democrats obtained control of f( the State, to change the constitution. Mr. a Witherspoon here asked an explanation, when b the speaker asked?"Did you not propose to* o: change the school laws and the mode of dis- u tributing the school fund?" To this Mi, j Witherspoon replied that the Democrats pro- a pose to administer the school law fairly and C honestly, and that if measures were adopted si to prevent the school fund from being sent to o Columbia to be handled by officials there, ? when it could be retained and disbursed at u home just as well, he did not think the color- n ed roan would be injured. The speaker then ii said, under the present arrangement we receive b more money for school purposes in York e; county than we pay out in taxation, and cited u the prosperous condition of the schools in p Broad River township, where, the past year, $601.86 had been disbursed for school purpo- j ses. The speaker then said the question had e been asked, what has the Republican party Q done for you ? He would ask, what has it p stolen ? and reply, the Black Code, the whip- t, ping-post, and the statute for a colored man ^ to sell a chicken without the written permis- a sion of his employer. M MAJOR J. F. HART p spoke next, lie said that as one of the ef- r fects of bad legislation, the value of property tl -in York county had depreciated from six e millions in 1868 to about four and three- A fourths millions last year; and, asked, Does I that not exDlaiu to vou that we are getting 1 poorer and poorer? We are now payiDg nine- d ty thousand dollars tax in York, which, with c tax of other counties, after- various manipu- <n lations, has finally reached Hardy Solomon's c bank, in which members of the Legislature d are stockholders; the bank suddenly suspends, ri and that is the last we know of our tax. He ti then exposed the corruption of the public p printing ring, and the extravagant expenses tl j>f_ the Legislature of 1872,. and spoke jtL. scathing language' of ihe venality and cor- a ruption of the Republican party. He said b such arguments as bad been brought by the C speaker who preceded him were unworthy, e and contended that what is to the interest of tl the white man is to the interest of the black si man. He said the credit that Nelson Davies d and his party take for sustaining Governor a Chamberlain in his veto of the tax bill, is tl due to the fact that Chamberlain, seeing it o would sink the'party if it became a law, tl threatened members that if they did not sua- tl tain him be would refuse to sign the Legisla- i tive appropriation bill, and thereby deprive i< D3CIDucro UI HJUII pi?Jr r A HIP) uw;. n -w w ||-incentive, and why they voted to please the U Governcr. He next exposed the pay certifi* c cate frauds of ex-Governor Moses, which, at tl Governor Chamberlain's instigation, gave rise tl to what are known as the?Big and Little Bo* si nanza bills?the best compromise he could 1 make?and to pay which claims provided for q in the bills, we will be taxed for the next p three years. tl He said some colored men bad objected to a the York Democratic ticket because no col* tl ored men had been placed upon it. To this e be replied that no capable colored men had 1 applied for membership in the Democratic a party. He said it was not because the Dem- t< ocrats would ignore the claims of the colored C man. He said there are colored men in the h county, who, if they would identify them* h selves with the Democratic party, would be h nominated for office. There was a colored tl man before him, who, were he in the Demo* sj cratic party, he, for one, would be willing to r< see go to the Legislature. He could name t< another whom he would be satisBed with as a u member of the Legislature. He said since tl 1868 Democrats have voted for Republicans, d and now we ask Republicans to vote for us. g He argued that as the Republicans have done a nothing for the relief of the country, it is ne* S cessary to try Democratic rule, and told .the a colored people to vote*with the Democrats w now, and if any of the colored people who C joined the Democratic party were found capable, after trial, in the next election, their g race should be represented on the Democratic n ticket. He then eulogized the county Demo- I cratic ticket, and said they expect and intend gi to carry the election, which, he said, should k be conducted fairly and honestly. sj wKAvir ifenwARTw. ci colored, Republican candidate for County t' Commissioner, was given an opportunity to c speak. He created much merriment by say- P ing that the white gentlemen who had ad- ^ dressed the meeting bad appealed to the colored people to help save the State by voting d the Democratic ticket, and he would appeal Cl to the white people to help the Republicans n out of this struggle by voting the Republican 0 ticket. Old issues had been brought up by * p .l 1? L..* ?L ??? A some 01 [DO 8pt)tm?r?, uui iur Ills pari* uc woo willing to let bygones be bygones. He did n not wish to allude to the days of slavery or ? any question that slavery would suggest. He a saw before him the old gentleman who bad 0 whipped him many a time when be was a boy, ^ but he had no hard feeling for him. He 0 would not say but he needed correction, and d was perhaps made a better boy. Any way, P he intended to ask the gentleman to vote for him, just for the sake of old times. As to ^ voting, he hoped all would be allowed to suit ^ themselves in the exercise of this right He said there are good men on both tickets. He thought the Republican party is improving, 01 and attributed the hard times, so bitterly com- S1 plained of, as much to the low price of cotton 01 and the failure of our people to raise their a own supplies, as to any other cause. He spoke for sometime in this strain, and after " closing was followed by 01 T. J. BELL, ESQ., 11 for whom loud and repeated calls were made. ^ Mr. Bell spoke in his most scathing style, ar- .j raigning the Republican party for the misrule a and corruption that has marked its course, for q years, from ballot-box stuffing at Bethany pre- ? cinct in this county, to the heaviest jo*bs pot ^ up by the officials in Columbia. For want of j? time he said he could not do his subject jbs-' tice, but promised to again address the people J of that portion of the county when there was ^ more time at his disposal. He spoke to the e( colored people of his own and the efforts of tj other white men in their behalf, pssunng tnem ^ that the Democrats were their best and truest j friends, and that their policy, if elevated to ! power, would be to enact only wholesome . laws, under whioh both races could live peaceably and prosperously. At the conclusion of Mr. Bell's remarks, ^ the following, resolutions were submitted and ^ adopted: V Resoliied, That we hereby endorse and. ratify . the nominations of Samnel J. Tilden for Preefr it dent, and Thomas A. Hendricks for Vioe-Presi- ai dent of the United States of America.' ' rr f - * Resolved, That wo hereby endorse and ratify the nominations of Wade Hampton for Governor, ni nd W. D. Simpson for Lieutenant-Governor of ae State of South Carolina, and all of the other ominees of the State. Resolved, That We hereby ratify and endorse ae nominations of I.D. Witberapoon for the petition of Senator tot York county, and the other omlnations forthe House of Representatives, nd county officers. Resolved, That we hereby ratify and endorse the latform of principles of the Democratic party, as undated and promulgated at St. Louis, and ubsequently affirmed by the State Convention in le city of Columbia, and.the County Convention i the town of Yorkville, and promise our hearty nd undivided support to all of the nominees pf *id Conventions in the ensuing elections. Resolved, That in the person of John li. Evins, f Spartanburg, we recognise a lit and suitable inclidate to represent the Fourth Congressional >istrict in the Congress of the United States of inerica, and we hereby pledge him our mpst ardial and earnest support-in the enspf%i;el4k> on. I'' Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. t ' [ ? H 7, ? 'i LETTER FROM CHESTER. r Chester, September 18/1876. The Chester "boys" who participated in ie grand Democratic meeting at Union, on tat Monday, returned on Tuesday. They ^ ave a glowing account of the procession and seeking. They heard several of the stanard bearers of the Democracy, tad were leased with their speeches. The colored lement was well represented in the processin, which was mounted, and numbered about fteen hundred men. On Monday night, lere was a beautiful display of fireworks, rhich, however, was attended with a very nn- irtunate result. At a late boor of the night, fter the close of the Democratic jollification/a right light was observed by Mr. J. D. Means, f this place, which, upon eu?ninatioB,pn>ved ) be a fire in one of the s'tbres opposite the fotel where-hewaS stopping/' fle itfeed the larm of fire, and with the aid of the other Ihester "boys," who were soon on the* spot, acceeded in restricting the fire to the lhnits f one building. The citizens of Union, m onsequence of their not having fefijre organ* sation, are said to have been entirely, iguoint of the mode of extinguishing fires, ami i the assistance they rendered were guided y the directions of oar Chester men. Genral Hampton congratulated our young men pon saving Union, and told them they bad roven the power of organization. Thursday was the greatest day, and. Than* ay night the greatest night, that Chester has ver witnessed. At an early hoar of the lorning mounted companies fiom' different ortions of the county began^phor' into )wn, and as each company rode throtlgh oar lain street, tbe welkin rang - wun sooths ox pproval. Whon Rich Hill and Blackstocks, rith their large number of colored men, apeared, the enthusiasm of the vast crowd # eached its highest point. About 11 o'clock he procession, composed of a company from ach of the following places, Me AHfcysMillj fcCoouellsville, Blackstocks, Rich fiillj iancaster, Cannel Hill, Roesville, Lewis1 .'urn Out, Hacelwood, and Chester, and uner the command of Gen. W. A.Walker, hief marshal, aided a number of a^Wrtant jarshala, began the march througHpurprinipal streets. Streets, windows, piaziaa, in* eed, almost every place, where a foot could est, were occupied by persons, anxious td ob* lin a view of, the grand procession, oofo* osed (H>y Colonels Rion, Evinsand You mans, in carriage, and proceeded on itswaytoa eautifuF grove, the' scene of'the speaking. In arriving at the grove/ Ger W.A.Walfcr delivered a few remarks upon becoming he president of the meeting. G. J. Patterdd, Esq., then read a set of resolutions, enoreing the Democratic nominations, nation* I and State, opposing any interference by be United States military aothorities with or State election, and promising to defend he colored Democracy in tbe enjoyment of heir political rights to tbe fullest extent. Lfter the resolutions had been read, the preslent of the meeting introduced to the vast udianoa, Col, J. Fphib A-ftar rgfarrityg- ? 9 the auspicious opening of the Democratic anvass, and the enthusiasm that prevailed in be Democratic ranks, from tbe mounta?ns.to he seaboard, he began an exposure of tbe ins of the Republican party apd its leaders. 'he question being asked by him, in coass* uence of the wrongs perpetrated by the pposition, if there should not be a change in he government, an answer was given in the ffi.matina sWk n.raof tmnllim tTfl Uil UIOKl *0 nivu gfVMv .... ? ? bat the Democratic platform1 was Inroad Dough for ail boo eat men to stand open*'' 'he colored people were appealed to, to come nd stand upon this platform. They were )ld of the happy condition of their ossein V Jeorgia; that under Democratic rule they ad become the owners of five millions dolire worth of real estate. They were told of ow well the Democraey had provided forbe education of the negro in Georgia. The; peaker referred to the absolute necessity for sform in this State, and exhorted bis hearers 3 go to work, and work with their coats off, ntil the 7th of November. He appealed to>? bem by the sacred memories of our gallant ead?of those who bad fallen tm^the ensan- uined field of-Manassas, of those, who weary nd worn, had died in the valley of the heoaodoab, and or those wno dm perunea mid the cannon's roar at Gettysburg?to -ork earnestly for the redemption of South 'arolina.9 Colonel 3. H. Rion being introdneed/ be^ an hie speech by referring to the nnwilftngess of the^Repnblican speakers to meet th^ )ewocrat?with the view of discussing the isnee of th&day. He said their object was to eep the colored people in ignorance. He poke of the union of hate that the Reparian party had given, and contrasted this with lie union of brotherly love that the Demoratic party proposed to bestow. The colored eople were specially addressed, .and told of lie impossibility of the Democra. putting lem back into slavery, even jf it was. their esire to do so. The State and Unlted&ates Destitutions forbade the execution of such is leasure. Moreover, a due regard for their wn interests wonld not allow the whites to Enslave the negroes. And m bill'pmasldl; Democratic Legislature, providing for-the 3peal of the emancipation ojftuie of the tate constitution, before it can become law, just be approved by a majority ofvoters f the State; and as the negroes outnumber le whites, they have the approval or defeat f the bill in their own hands. Colonel Rion welt at length upon the high taxation imosed by our Republican rulers, and spoke of a falling with the greatest severity upon the. tborer. But I have not the spaoe to refer > his remarks upon this point with parties irity. He was followed by Colonel Youmans in ne of the most eloquent and; entertaining seeches that I ever listened to. - While Col* nel Rion's effort was marked with argument,, d that of the most oonvinoing character, le distinguished lawyer from Omtrmbia bar* ied the crowd with him by-his flights of ratory. The vast assea^lage^ "Who were loved at will by his demimaatioM of the* rongs of Radical.rulers, and.his earnest and o^uent; appeals to the Democracy to right leir wrongs, gave evidence of their endorselentofhis remarks with thundering applause. rant, lielkuap, KobesoB. -rorer ooieuat, Honest John" Patterson, ex-Governor Moses, ere held op in vivid colors to the acorn end idignatioo.ofthe people. J&t the ekiqnent leaker attained his greatest eloquence ia delaring onto the colored people that those of tern who desired to vote the Democratic tick; should he protected in the enjoyment of lis right, though the street* pf oar jtowht ow with the blood of white men in the eneavortp establish this right,.M tb^ pbae f his speech the resolutions that had beep in- > ;odu?d by G, J. E^iwwwbpti, end the meeting eame to an end. In the afternoon, a mounted company from lock Hill rode into town with the view of ta- \ iug pah in thetorch-light procession at night. 1 fben they appearedon Main street, arrayed L i red sashes and presenting a fine appear- A ace, they were greeted with great cheeripg. ctuated by the same motive, a considerable M a tuber of enthusiastic Democrats arrived by Wj -t r iir \ JiiiL_^ag_kli