The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-09-07
I Poiitical Meeting as bolton. 81 .

SHYo~ 49, ehAo P"POls q AhSo huuDST
of citizens assembled at Bolton, on
Friday last, Goth ult We were not
present, and are indebted to others
for the information which follows:
Major John B. Moore was the first
speaker introduced. He announced
himself in favor of the Convention; ;
declared the interests of both races
were Identical, and that it was their
duty to treat each other kindly; told
the freedmen that their white
neighbors were their only anu best
friends; denounced in strong terms
all secret political societies; admo-
nlshed all classes to avoid conflict
of races, and assured the freedmen
that arraying n black mans party
against the whites would prove dis
astrous to them.
Col. W. d. Wilkes next addressed
the audience in q lengthy speech,
mainly directed to the freedmen,
and entering fully into their history
as q race and introduction into this
country, giving them praise for past
behavior, but especially during the
late war. For this and other reasons,
the whites of the South were not
only willing, but anxious to promote
their welfare. He favored the State
Convention, and declared that while
some good soldiers were opposed to
it, he knew that the greatest opposi-
ton came from men who were in
soft places during the late war.
Hon. j. s. Murray was then intro
duced, and in On able manner ex-
planned the object of the Government,
and demonstrated the necessity for a
stable Government at this time. He
then gave II brief history of the intro
duction of slavery, and of the con-
tests to which it led. Having re-
marked that all were citizens of q
common country, that God had cast
our lot together, and that we must
live together, either. as friends or
enemies, he then warned the colored
people against emissaries from the
North, whose motives were selfish,
and whose designs arc destructive of
their best interests.
He also urged them not to ider.:fy
themselves with any. party; showed
that the Republican party discrimi-
mated in favor of white labor, by
heavily taxing cotton, which was un-
just and oppressive. The speaker
explained their civil and political
rights, and declared that when these
were secured to them, their destiny
would be in their own hands, and
that with industry, economy, educa-
tion and moderation, bright career
was before them; but if they reck-
lessly made the white man an enemy,
and brought about O conflict of
races, their destruction was certain.
Hon. j. l.. Orr was then intro
duced, and. addressing the whites,
advised them to register and vote for
q Convention, rs it was folly and
madness to attempt to defeat that OBJ
ject. There were GO, 900 negro voters
against 80, white, and as the Con-
vention would look to the interest of
the black man, it could not be ex-
pected that one of them would vote
against it, He then admonished the
freedmen that they must be indus
trious and save their money, and re-
minded them that if they attempt
oppression of the whites now, While
in the majority, it might be visited
upon them in the futuae, when the
balance of power would be different,
as no more negroes were to be
brought to this country. He dis
abused their minds of the idea that
they would obtain lands from the
Government, and showed that this
was not even desirable upon their
part. The Governor presented every
phase of the issues before the people,
with great force and ability, to the
satisfaction of his hearers. We re-
gret that fuller notes of his speech
are not at our command.
The regularly invited speakers
having concluded, it was requested
that J. p. M. Epping, of Charleston,
be allowed to occupy the stand.
That gentleman made short speech,
endorsing, for the most part, the
speech OF Gov. Orr, but advised the
blacks to adhere to the Republican
party, and recommended to them the
Union League. He favored high taxes
upon land, but told the negroes they
were to have no land given to them.
He admonished them agaista conflict
of races, declaring that they would
find 100000 whites against 4,OOO,-
600 blacks, and that the conflict
would be short, and result in their
determination.
Wilson Cook, of Greenville, and
Elias Cnnady, of this village, both