Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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. ~ . I ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ p ^ ^ I 'i y ^ / " " " ' | VOL. 3. * ABBEVILLE, S. C., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 1886. NO. 7 Why Smalls was Defeated. Beaufout, November 6.?I have been curious to ascertain and to estimate ' some of the principal causes that have contributed to Small's defeat, and find no difficultyn reconciling it with the steady loss of popularity and influence he has been expcrienceing for some time past. It is instructive as showing what. An habitation giddy and unsure Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart. There was a time when the re was ^ none found rash enough to oppose Small's even for nomination in his own party ; nuw there are any number of his focmer adherents that not only criticise . L?. r 1 *_ i nis acts, pronounce ins tauiis, uui presume even to dispute title to office with * him, to interrupt him rudely on the 1 stump, and oven openly to condemn ^ him when occasion require.s It is is a great change, attributable to the dis- k semination of educational advantages 0 among his race under Democratic rule. ' Foremost among the causes that in I this campaign at least haye injuriously I affected him must not be omitted the ^ light-colored distinction that, through c his sanction, if not his dictation, was r enforced in the late distribution of office * in the county in the last Republican * Nominaing Convention. The effect of * this is very clearly indicated by the di- * minished number of the colored voters 81 who presented themselves at the polls 11 at this election, in comparison with the * triple or quadruple numbers in formers ( campaigns. Especially offensive ' must ^ have been the exclusion of black candi- ( dates on the county ticket to the voters 1 of St. Helena Island, where the votes as ^ compared with previous elections scarce- 1 ly reached half its usual nunber, caused t no doubt by tho disaffection of ltepre- 1 sentative SUeppard and bis follow- t ors, who were ostracised in tho Nomina- t ting Convention on nccount of their t dark color, a light-colored Beaufort man f being put in his place. Tho same feel- i ing no doubt^pfrejitdieed ttiu sfriton-pure black voters in other parts of the district as well as in oth<?r parts of the i county, and kept the black people at ( Sheldon from the polls because of the ' slight to Mitchell, their favorite. Tho 1 same feeling no doubt influenced the * apathy and indifference of 4,Uedhot Joe i Tlnhinson." hitherto one of the most t mouthed and faith1111 partisans of his 1 party, who went down to Bluffton in a the interest of the Republican nominee \ to Congress and who went coon hunt- r ing the night before the election, and no c doubt will say that h<j followed his t game too far to admit of his returning in t time to see the polls opened. Certain it a is, whether through inattention to t Small's interest or to avoid having Col. t Elliott poll a full Democratic vote, he brought back a fifteen pound coon after s the election was -over, and which was v all he had to show for his services at a jhat ptecinct, which it is now said went r by default. It now trantpires that he c seduced the managers into the same a V sport by telling them he hud ,4a good 1 coon dog," and as there is no telling the 1 , distance that wo will wandor from the t main chance on a moonlight night in ' Southern woods when the dog trees a q possum or a coon itcan be easily accoun j ted for why the polls at Bluffton were I not opened. ( Joe tells it now that he bought a coon but Smalls cant bo persuaded out that > after he started out on a cold trail, Joe finally run up a gum tree himself or hid himself iu a hollow. At all events Joe c will never go on a "raccoon" hunt again a where Smalls is concerned. c Another case of enmity to Smalls, but r L for which I shall say he is really not to t blame, is his having foseclosed a mort- J gage of the property of a society in town \ which tho principal and highly rcspecta- ] ble old time maumas hud formed Tor mu , tual benefit and help during sickness, ? ti it .1 >1 a t? ? o _r li seems uiai iudi uchuvuiuiii ouuiwijr ui. ( the First Africanh Baptist Church had accumulated property and built upon their Lo^a society hall. The president the secretary and the Ueasurer, three three coloredjleaders in the Church with* out consulting the society of confiding colored sisters mortgaged the premises to SmtllB for about $1.1Q0 and made a 7 way wih the funds- obtained. When to the utter astonishmemt of the sisters the mortgage became due, Smalls as matter < < >V, of self-protection foreclosed the mort- i > XT A. tl _ .1 .!<t gag*). rerjr ii?uraiijr me aimura wore < inXnsed, but instead of visiting their i wrn^i upon the defaulting fiduciary offi- < cere in Whom they had for a number of I years reposed trust, they ascribod all i :hoir woes to tlio nctivo energy of Smalls ivho had invoked the law and consigned .heir accumulated savings to tho hamnor. Without discussing all that the suspicious old sisters feel and suy adout .he,transaction, they were down upon Smalls, who, they said made his money ;asy and could afford ,to let up on thom ;von if the surreptitious transaction be,ween the officers and himself was altogether square. In consequence the old votnen no doubt exercised their influjnce upon the church brethren and i - t ?. ii i r :auseu many 10 ausenu iuuiiism?u& uuiu he polls. In candor 1 must say that I lo not think thatkSmalls is as much to )lauie as the good old souls jBwho have indoubtedly lost 1 heir ^money seem to hink. At ^the lowe3t calculation he nust have lost at least 90 to 100 votes rom this cause alone. Another cause that has operated against >malls and would have operated against my Republican canidate, was that hcrcofore the leaders and speakers were >rodigal of promises as to what the Retubl.ican party would do for the colored rovers if Smalls were elected, comtnen:ing with forty acres and a mule through epaying the losses by the Freedman's 3ank down to any number of offices to )c distributed wholesale among the faith ul. rone of which promises havo been ulQlled. In this campaign the speakers ivoided making any promises whatever ind admitted that being in the minority hey could do nothing and with a Demo ;ratic (administration, which they said tfould indefinitely protracted, they rould expect nothing through a Rcpubican Representative. )This killed Smalls vith the most blatant of his coadjutors. iVhen he could make no promises even hey took little interest in the campaign ?'V\ ? r? A 1 I Vw* fAH ?A iivtii mi lii\; i v_i i 111 \ -1 |ji ions against jv Democratic administra-* ion as affecting the colored people's jolitical rights have been found unfulllllod. His majority was further"diininshed by an indifference amounting to ijffttbjrV ^ There is still another cause which has indoubtedly deterred many of the colored people from coming tip to the polls some even pretending that they had ost their registration certificates. It is said that a great many of the younger /oters have-been under the impression hat when thoy voted, their neglected iability to pay their poll tax was traceible, and that the poll lists could bo lsed by the constables and informers to epoat delinquents.- This has, no doubt ;aused most of tho youths who have atained their majority since the last elec;ion to refrain from registering and ha, ilso prevented a large percentage of voers from reminding the tax collector erf heir existence by coming to the polis. The leaders are beginning to say: 'We aid sojill the tjme that Smalls was the veakest canidata wo could have put. up,'s ,nd "that it was a;mistake on their part lot to have nominated Johnson or any ither professed Republican." But they re unmindful of some of the reasons I mvp inst ffivon. which would on mill v ? J O- 1 -'1 J lave operated against any Republican hey could have chosen. Others say L'here is no use of crying over spilt milk ,nd if they could not elect Smalls they >referCol. Elliott, and are glad that 3eaufort Jvill be represented by him in Congress. t. o. w. Will It; Ever Be Tried Edqefi^ld.C. H., November 9.?The :ase of the State against Wm Parkman ind about twenty defendants or as it is unra only termed the Culbreath lynch case was called for trial here this norning in the Court of General Sesonsi Fudge Pressley presiding. The State jeas represented by Attorney General Vfiles and Solicitor It G Bonham, the ippearranc.es for the defence being Senitor M. C. Butler and W. T. Gary >f Augusta. Upon the calk of the case Mr. Miles ?aid that after a conference with the soicitor he was prepared to annomnce that the State was ready to go into the ;ase and asked that a day be fixed for the trial. Senator Butler in behalf of $ the defendants then moved for a postponement of the case to the March term )f sessions on three principal grounds: First, the absence of Governor Sheppard ^ie of the leading counsel in the case, ind who could not possibly bo present >n account of official duties elsewhere, second, the illness of several of the defendants and their consequent inability to attend the trial; and lastly, the absence of material witness and without whom the defendants could not safel go to trial. In support of his positio Senator Butler asked leave to read se\ eral documents, one of them being a lei ter under date of November 8, froi Governor Sheppard stating that h would bo unable to attend. This h regretted vey much as some of the- de fondants had already paid him a larg proportion of his counsel fees and f<i that reason they were naturally anxiou that he should represent them persor ally, lie did not think that the contiii uance of the case would work any hard ship to the State or involve the count in extraordinary expenses or any otht inasmuch as the defendants were all o good and sufficient bail. Senator Bui ler further urged that in the absence ( Governor Sheppard the case could no be defended with the necessary degre of care that was desiradle, inasmuch a Governor Sheppard was best inforine as to the interests of the defendant from the fact that lie, of all the counst for the defence was most familiar wit the merits of the case. To deprive th accused of such a counsel, at such time would he thought result most ur fortunately if not fatally. Senator Bui ler then produced about a dozen affidi vits, all tending to prove reasonable ca ses for the absence of witnesses. H had no*doubt whatever that he coul bring all the grounds on which he aske for the postponement if it wns desire< Attorney General Miles urged tin the trial proceed. He thought it bei for the State and for the defendants, fc witnesses and for counsel. Ito coul not, however agree with Senator Butlc that the mere absence of some of the dc fendants would be a sufficient groun for a postponment. It would of court preclude the trial of the absent defer dants but the ease could go on as to so oral of the others. He thought tlx he sufficiency of the ground of delu on account of the absence of Goverrfc Sheppurd was a matter entirly withi the discretion of the Court. After a short argument by counsel o each side on the points above indicate he J udge said that the case was an ei traordinary one on both sides and li felt a grave responsibility in the matte It was of the greatest importance tin the docket should be cleared and it wa with that in view that the Legislutui had passed an Act providing that tli Edgefield* Court should bo held aftc the Richland Sessions, tn order tha there should be no embarrassment eith( to Counsel for the want of suffioier time, lie was the more anxious he sai tunt tne case snouiu oe trieu oecaut there would be involved in the procoef ings some points requiring mature judf ment. He regretted therefore that i the ncKt term of the Court there woul preside in the place of Judge Cothra some lawyer elected to fill the positioi and no matter how distinguished orab] he might be still he would be unable 1 handle a case of the kind under discui si on. In*reference to tho absence of Gove: nor Sheppard, Judge Pressley held th< there was no precedent to warrant hii in holding it to be a good ground for postponement of the trial in case othe able and distinguished counsel were pre ent. As to the absence of the witnesse he ruled that a continuance would b granted if the defendants submitted aflfi davits stating that the witnesses woul prove, and the prosecution refused toac mit such proposed proof as a part of th testimony. But the most important as pect of the situation, Judge Pressle said was as to whether the prosecutio intended to sever the case. Mr Miles then said that ho and solic tor were of the opinion that the detei mination should not be announced unt the trial was about to proceed . He sti thtedat the a ffidavits read by Senate Butler showed that the very two of d< fendants, Parkman and Holmes who tli State bad determined to try first in caf a ouvannro tcAc had. wore unable to e ? nv . ... , -?? 0 to trial. Judgo Pressley thon ruled thatunles a severance was had the defendan were entitled to a continuance on th showing made. Mr. Miles, however declined to mal the announcement as to whether a so erance would be made and the most e pecially he said becauso such a detenu nation, made a part of the record migl possibly embarrass his successor office. Judge Pressley then marked tho cai continued and it goes over as unflnishc y business to its fourth tenn on the Edgen field docket. T~ The Jones murder trial has been fixed for Monday next at noon. n Mr. Miles left hero to-night for Co_ e lumbia where he will meet the board of e State canvassers to-iuorrow. ii. v. t. Major Mills Finds Itiiilrond Building e Up-Hill Work. ir s Major Julius Mills, president of the l_ Chester. Greenwood and Abbeville k" Railroad Company, informed mo to-day that the corps of surveyors would reach 7 tht? Savannah River in about two weeks. !r He also said that the corps of surveyors n between this place and Monroe, X. C., had reached the North Carolina line, and would got to Monroe in about a week. The surveyors will survey another line 0 from the Savannah River, and another line from Monroe back to Chester. The d president has positive assurances that other first mortgage bonds of the road, when placed upon the market, will be b taken by railroad capitalists, and with u the money obtained from the sale of the a bonds he can and will build the road. He complains of not receiving that supt port from the moneyed men of Chester that be had a right to expect. Some u of our wealthiest citizens, he says, have not subscribed a cent, lie also finds d considerable opposition to township d subscriptions in aid of the road, which he regards as very unwise in view of the fact that the road when built will 3t add to the taxable property of the counir t *r tl?o vaUt a Vjl viiihui^U Wilt 1 <11 u V Ul lanu UIIU UL*d velopod the resources of the country }r along the line of road to such an exi_ tent as in a few years will cover the d amounts subscribed by the townships. te Major Mills is full of energy and ~ enterprise, and it is believed ho will buildjiis road notwithstanding the many serious obstacles in the way y 1 r The Farmers' Convention n . Aaccording to appointment, the caucus of delegates to the Farmers' Convention ^ met j'osterday morning at 10 o'clock at . thu Court House to arrange the prelimc inaries for the convention. They were in session only a few minutes, however. lt and the only action taken was to nominate Senator W. J. Talbert of Edgefield for temporary chairman of the convenie (>on' Subsequent to the caucus the delegates lt proceeded to Agricultural Hall, and at ;r 12 M. were colled to order by Captain lt i. lt. Tillman, who stated that he ^ would assume that duty in view of the fact that he was the Chairman of the >e Executive Committee appointed at the r_ April convention. He stated that owing lt to his having been called upon to frequontly speak through the state the ^ past Summer, he had acquired some ,n what a facility for extemporaneous n> speaking, but that as he could not follow his subject with that furae of state ? inent and logical sebuence that ho ob3" served in his writing, he would not attempt to address the convention extemr poraneously. He therefore, had writit ten an address, and would read it before ^ the convention. He then read tke ada dress, which, to begin with, alludes to >r the success with which the effort to organizo a farmers' movement had met, ?s notwithstanding the opposition the un c dortaking had received from the beginni ing- That opposition came usually J from those who hold fast to the public teat I- and it was natural for them to squeal e when they felt it slippin g from thei >- teeth. [Applause] He said, however, y that deepite the cold water thrown on n the movement it would be a success and would result in unbounded benefit to i- the agricultural interests of the State, p- which, he was sorry to confess, had gone down year by year until the situation *- was appalling. The organization of the >r farmers would unite them, and by their meetings and the eflicacions plans they ie would certainly deviso tho gloom would be dispelled and tho agriculture of the P State be put on a health)7 footing. If nothing else the methods of our agriulw ture would be changed and something ts done to avert absolute ruin. The farm's ers. he stated, wero ground to powder between the millstones of Western comce petition on the one hand and borrowing v' money at a high rate of interest with s- which to make their crops on the othor. ?- Tho organization of the farmos would |lt go far towards remedying thft' mightp evil which thrcntened to overwhelm the ngricuUuro of this State. rh It had boon charged, ho said, that the d farmers* movement was a political one, I but it had no more politics in it than tin farmers of the State had a right to as Kimilate with it. He himself was oppos ed to mixing politics with the movemen if the farmers could get their right with, out it, hut that the farmers intended ti right tlfeir wrongs, and that was al they asked. [Applause ] The politica features of the movement were to caf attention to the needs of the farmers anc plnce the situation as it is before thosi ^n authority, lie felt pretty sure thei their demands would be heeded, and'ii j ease they got what they wanted thei wouiu oo satisfied, but should tliey no receive the relief they ask at the propel hands thej' would rise in their and tnk< what they wanted. [Applause] II* thought, however, that they would ge all they asked, and stated as one resul of the movement numbers of member! had been elected to the Legislaturi pledged to their ideas of reform. The principal thing the farmers askec was the reduction of the taxes whicl burden him, and adoption of a less ex pensive system in conducting the govern roentof the State. They wanted abol ished all offices which had been estab lished for old fossils and broken dowi gentry, and he predicted that something in this line would be done when th< Legislature meets. [ Applause.[ II< protested that his remarks cast no re flection on present incumbents, but wer< intended to call attention to usefesi offices now existing under our govern ment Ho advocated the toal divorce of thi Agricultural Department from politico and wmts it placed into hands to whicl it properly belongs, namely, practical experienced farmers. Tho demand o the farmers was that the Argicultra Department, belonging by rights t< them, should bo turnde over to therr [Applause.] lie maintained that farmer were intelligent enough to manage thei affairs, and that if the leading men i the ranks would conic to tho front an consult they would not have to go t lawyers to know how get their politic and be told how to vote. The establishment of an Agriculture College, said he, would go far toward giving educated farmers to the Stat< and wouid disseminate that sciontifi and practical knowledge which the Stat so much needed, lie remarked that h had a letter from Gereral Stephen E Lee, in which the General informed hit that a college similar to tho Agriculturn College of Mississippi would erst, excli sive of the grounds and experiments farm, $100,000. Captian Tillman bt lieved that the $30,(XX) raised from th privilege tax on fertilizers and the fun arising from the land script, Hi additio to a snail appropriation from the Stat* would bo ample to suport the colleg and have all the work done that i now done by..the Agricultural Depari ment. In conclusion he urged conservatisi upon the farmers in their demands, an expressed his confidence in legislation t remedy the evils they complain of. I these wrongs were not lighted the would be on hand two yeare hence, an see that they would not be bamboo zled, in the next choice of officials. f Ar plause.] ORGANIZATION OF THE CONVENTION. At the conclusion of Captarn Tillman' remarks the organization of the conver tion was proceeded with. In pursuant* of the action of the caucus. Senator Tnl bort was tuanimously chosen as Chaii man Dr. W P Adisun of Abbeville Mr. J T. Duncan of Newbarry were electe< Secretaries. , A resolution was then onorea that tn convention proceed to enroll the dele gates by Counties. It was *noved that only those delegate be enrolled who were present, bnt upo a motion by Captain Tillman to enrol the delegates as they were elected fron the Counties, subject to changes by th( Committeo on Credentials, the first mo tinn was withdrawn. Some of th Counties elected more delegates tha they were entitled to under the call fo the convention, and it was necssary t remedy this matter. On motion, in wn agreed that the Committee on Credential be composed of a delegates from each o the County delegates and that eacl delegation appoint its own committee A a fA*nnAO nf f ho rlnluffA man. aiici a wiiitic.vv v. ...w ? v..-0? tion tho following Committee on. Cre dentials was announced; Abbeville?A W. Jones. The Committee on Credentials thei had a conference and anthorized the en ?. v11' fTi?BrTTWTTrwmTirW?rb mm !LJ?JumwJUMIuuajmmjuM ; rollment of the following delegates as - entitled to scats: Abbeville?J. L. White, W. P. Addcit son, A. \V. Jones, 11. \V. Iladdon' J. T. . Shclton. 5 Upon completing the roll of delegates 1 furtther proceedings were deferred until 1 7.30 at night' An adjournment was 1 therefore taken about 2 o'clock until I that time. J THE NIGHT SESSION. 1 Pursuant to adjournment the conven1 I tion met again last night at 7, 30 o'clock. ' I Senator Talpert, the temporary Presi' dent, announced that the next step to r be taken by the convention was a permanent organization. It was resolved J first to elect a prernanent presiding 1 officer, and nominations were announced 1 in order. 8 Mr. I). K. Norris was nomiated and " rccived the unanimous voto of the convention. ' * PREAMBLE. 1 We the farmers of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, recognizing the wisdom of the saying that in union there is strength have determined to form an organization for our mutual protection 1 and benefit. s Its objects shall be the promotion of v all branches of agriculture and the in9 augutation of a more rational and remunerative system of tanning. Those B ends are to be secured by organizing s agriculturaf clubs throughout the State to meet and discuss the situation, and bring the influence of the organized furB mers to bear upon the State govern: '' mcnt so as to obtain, protection aerainst - - *. ? J fraud and imposition, and to secure that I . j. fostering care so imperatively demanded " ny our languishing agricultural interest. 0 While wo shall as much as possible , ,-j '* eschew politices. legislation which affects s tho fanners injuriously or overlooks r them entirely will he our first ear? till j a rernoy be bad. We claim the right to do tins as citizens and taxapers and 0 invoke the assisance of all classes and 6 profscsins in securing reform in our j govprment and in placing our argicultural interests on u more secure and 8 prosperous foundation. ^ To this end we have adopted the fol? e lowing: COXSTITUON. e -raj 1 Article I. This Association shall bo n known as the Farmers' Association of . sn..ih r-?i:? ll Art. 11. The officers of thip Associa- ' tion shall be aiPresid >nt, seven VicoPresidents?one from each Congressional e District?\ Secretary nnd Treasurer and 1 j an Executive Committee of nine?one ? from c?ach Congressional District and 11 j two at large?nil to be chosen by the e members of this Association at the anja nual meeting in Xovomber. and to hold their offices for one year, or until their successors are duly elected: provided, n that the Executive Committee hold their j office one, two and three years, threb bo- ' I 0 ing elected annually. I e The first committee shall dnfRrmino ? ; ' y by lot the longth of their respective j terms. Aht. ll.f, The President shall have a \y ( general supevisioti of the afFaiiv.^of the Association; shall preside at its sheetings, preserve order; and regulate its discussions according to ordinary parl-j 8 amentary rules' anil shalt be ex officio a member of all committees. In his i !., 0 absence one of the Vice Presidents shal^ \ '* net. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Association, keep a record of * its proceedings, as also those of tho Executive Committee, and attend to the e correspondence. The Treasurer shall receive and'keep an account of all funds, and pay out the ,v 8 same by order of the President counter. n signed by the Secretary, making an an" filial report of such receipts and exendi- w k tuires to the Association. B Aiit. IV. The Executive Committed shall have the general management ind J?* 0 control of all business of the Asso^ia- A n tion, shall perare and issue a programme T, * r for its annual meetings, and make all ? needs arrangements therefor. They s shall tako whatever stops they may deem * proper t.o secure the organation of farmers* olnbs in every County of the " State, every Township if possible, and until this iftdone may appoint organizers X to do this work. : Aut. V. The regular annual meetings :[') / " of the meetings of the Association shaH;> beheld in the city of Columbia the sec\ .. - [Continued On nextpuye,] l ' . y * * S y' 3 '' " 'if I N .! i< sMeSSE" && .M && &<: