The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-04
Significant Indications of Public Senti.
ment in South Carolina-PubIic meet
ing in Pickens,

The citizens of Pickens district held
public meeting on Monday, 18th instant, to
take into consideration the situation of
political affairs Colonel r. A. Thompson
was called to the chair and addressed the
meeting advising the people to accept the
terms prescribed by the conqueror as a means
of restoring peace and quiet to the country.
A committee of sixteen, with Major J. NJ.
Adams as chairman, prepared business for
the meeting, and submitted the following
preamble and resolutions, which were adopt
ed:
Whereas, we have but lately emerged from
long and bloody civil war; which has left
us PROSTATE and ruined at the feet of our
cOnquerOrs, and in which all has been lost,
save honor and a small pittance of property;
and whereas, though it may be humiliating,
it cannot be degrading to submit to the
terms imposed by the conquerors, however
hard they may seem to be; and whereas it
must be evident to all thinking minds that
any further resistance on our part direct OF
indirect, to the powers that be. must result
in bringing upon MS additional evils and
humiliations, and serve to change our con-
dition from bad to worse, and place in serious
peril Of confiscation the remnant of property
now left us, making beggars of our wives
ard children: and whereas the Higher Lam
makes it imperative upon us to provide for
those whom nature has placed under our
care, the more especially when plunging
them into irrctrievable ruin can do us no
good; and whereas the party now IN control
or the Government at Washington is sus-
tanned by large majority of the people of
the North, is overwhelming in its power
decisive in the annunciation of its princi-
pies, and peremptory in its demands, which
are only heightened in severity by our delay
to accept them; and whereas the Demo-
cratic party, with which we have hitherto
acted, represents no feasible policy or prin-
cipies, is corrupt in its organization and
management, and is supported only by
respectable minority; and whereas IL grand
moral and political revolution is sweeping
over this country with irresistible force,
which is but Il portion of that great ground
swell of progress, the effects of which are
being felt throughout the world, and it has
in all ages and countries been found vain
and futile to oppose such revolutions; and
whereas we are convinced that the party in
power do not wish to destroy u.s. or even to
drive US from the country; and whereas it is
no longer question whether the freedmen
shall be admitted to vote. but the question
really is, whether the white lnen who aided
in the war against the United States shall
continue to exercise that great privilege;
| and whereas the colnred vote in South Car
DINA outnumbers the white vote, and will
inevitably defeat it if the two should be
brought into antagonism and whereas there
is no natural enmity existing between the
two races. but, having been raised together,
their sympathies are in accord: therefore,
be it
Resolced, BY US, the people of Pickens dis
trict, South Carolina, in mass meeting as
sembled, that in good faith, and without re-
servation we accept the plan of reconstruc
! tion laid down by Congress in the Sherman
! bill, and the bill supplementary thereto.
?. That it is the duty of every good citi
zen to come forward and in good faith lend
his assistance to the reconstruction of the
| State under the Sherman bill, and thus put
an end to the evils Of our present condition.
3. That we will Jointly and severaliy use
| our best eXertions to enforce the laws and
to secure to all persons. irrespective of race,
color, or previous condition, full protection
| for life. liberty and property.
i. That every respectable Northern man,
! or foreigner, who brings physical strength
| az capital into South Carolina. should be re-
ceived rs a friend and treated as such.
5. That in future no qualification for of
! ice, from the lowest to the highest, will be
! exacted among us, save that of merit.
| 6. That the security of our political insti-
! tutions demand that the highest facilities
| for securing elementary education to the
masses of the people be guaranteed by con-
st5tutional provision.
7. That constitutional provision should
| in, made for the exemption of every man 5
homestead from levy and sale, that our pop
! Niation may become fixed and permanent to
| She soil
s. That the laws of this State require
modification in many respects but more es-
wcialy should they be so changed as to do
azvay with imprisonment for debt, except in
cases of fraud, and corporeal punishment for
! crime or any other cause.
8. That we congratulate ourselves that.
being under military authority, we have
placed over us that humane and enlightened
soldier and statesman, General Daniel E.
Sickles, the commander of the Second Mill
tary District, who is disposed by all proper
means to soften, as much as in his power
may be, the unavoidable seventies of militia
~ rule; and that in carrying out the ardu-
Gus and important duties of his high Office
he will have our goodwill cooperation,
and support.
TO- That. ,leprecating anything like party
feeling and disavowng partisan motives. we
universe speedily to bring order out of con-
fusion, and pray Him to send His richest
blessings upon our whole country, that we
may once more be able to utter with truth
and fervor the sentiment dear to every true
American heart" Liberty and Union, now
and forever, one and inseparable."
PUBLIC MEETING IN LEXINGTON
A meeting of citizens in Lexington dis
trict, irrespective of color previous con-
'dition, was held in the courthouse on the
'oth inst The meeting was largely attend
Led, and was presided over by Judge L. Boo
ger, who declared himself where he had
always been. in open, avowed, and persis-
tent opposition to the dissolution of the
Union, and ready and willing to adopt anv
and all suitable measures for its speedy and
permanent restoration. At the conclusion
of his remarks, committee of nine citizens.
six white and three colored, was appointed
to draft resolutions. During the absence of
the committee, the meeting was addressed by
Col. Moore of the 9Th infantry, and several
colored speakers, who were vehementIy ap-
plauded.
The committee to draft resolutions report
ad the following, which were unanimously
olonte3 amid ohparipr.