New-York tribune., 1867-04-05
SOUTH CAROLINA.
rnr NrGEo MEETING IN cnARLEsroN.


I have been some weeks earnestly studying the
character aud disposition of the freedmen and have
talked with them publicly and privately and was
therefore somewhat prepared for what have wit
messed this day in Charleston yet must own that
am astoniShed indeed overwhelmed with wonder at
what have seen, aud so are many OF my Northern
acquaintanccs who were present. They unhesitat-
inglv pronounce that meeting one of the wonders of
the age declare it one of the most orderly, atten-
tive. and intelligent of the many have addressed.
As to numbers present yOu will it vari0usy es-
tmated The editor of The Charleston Mercury was
overheard to say to Rebel sympathzcr that there
were not over 800 voters present" Gen Scott, who
is at the head of the Freedmcns Bureau here, has
had much experience in estimating crowds, both in
military and civil life. and he declares there wcrenot
fewer than 900 present at time In this fully
agree and believe in my ability to count crowd.
i know that 10000 can stand easily upon one
acre. That gives four feet to each one. When closely
packed they do not occupy half that space. Whoever
stood upon the platform to-day and looked down
upon the crowd knows il was packed TO the very ut
most possibility of cl0seneSS upon full half acre,
while full acre the outside denser than peo-
pie could stand comfortably. Beside when first
went upon the platform, and when the crowd was
much less dense than afterward. | stood up and
counted heads upon right angle lines, through the
mass divided into quarters. These lines averaged
10 each. Multiply 40x40-1 GO0-that by 4-6,400. |
fuv lpicNr there were then present Zoo less than
at one time an hour later. Great numbers also went
away because they could not hear, and new comers
were constantly arriving. ~
The military took no part IN the meeting. lney
simply took the plccautOn 10 have guard ready 10
que any disturbance: for detectives had reported
that ufiaus had been hired 10 create trouble; par
ticularly 10 attack the torch-ght procession.
At one time a bagPa9c-Wagou driven by whlte
man. was driven through portion OF the crowd, as
fully believe for the purpose oi incltmg attacK SO as
10 make m excuse for calling III the Rebel ponce.
/ That mean rusc failed. Several times | saw the
| de,.,e mass before me sway back and forth like
: field of waving grain l am told and believe the
| cause was the attempt OF some mean Tree niggeTS
not freedmen. who were bred to come ana MAKE
"A disturbance. let II I've understood that there are
/ "lnean EiCgers' well as mean wllltc men; some
! who are ready 10 sell themselves and their race 10
ihelr Rebel masters livery parry anu eHgly Hy faf alhf
! has its skuloers dcSelters ana traitors ne freed
| mems army probably has fewer of this class than
| any other organization IN America. Tony mind this
meeting is q strong proof OF the fact.
Ii was presided over by ii. Judge Moore. That Is
! his name, not his title. lie is the publisher OF me
Charleston AdrOcac Il religious paper of the NJ. j..
Church and not politician. His object Is 10 elevate
/ and train and not ride the black horse" lie made
brief. pertinent opening address, explanatory OF The
object uf the meeting which was 10 see n the people
would IL. n the platform Of the Union Republican
I ualfy Of South Caluha." which had been prepared
/ b. q committee of thirteen Of their own number ap-
J pointed at previous meeting ana when had htfh
reported TO and approved by large meeting AT Aiih-
tary Hall and lJ 1t reformed 10 the people III mass for
/ their approval. Aud by them II was tins day most
! heartily approved. This platform WAS read 10 the
/ people 10y the Rev. L. Adams. "a fuI bi0Odcd AM
/ can, and have seldom heard better reader a.,
The speeches OI The CoOrcd mon, some O; WiCh
were written carefully. and some spoken wholly oil
hand. all iUlly equal 20 any that / nave ever
heard where speakers aud audience were all white
/ would Gladly give the names OF those men OF marx
among this race Of orators and voters hut nave
! lost my memorndum: and can only recollect +. H.
J CORDOBA. Mr.. Adams Mr. Cam, ana young man VINO
/ is an editor of Tie Le0deT.
! From the speeches and responses TO questions and
the hearty cheers given sentiments expressed you
/ n morally
1 follow nor trust the men among whom you nave
lived long, ~ one OF the men SAID. as we can see
OF remember the marks oi the hlavc-diivers IaSl
/ uuOn Our SCARED backs" Our former masters,
! said one of the speakers profess 10 be our pest
friends. How long IS 1t suco they discovered tle
/ value OF friendship! Since the passage OF the
Military bil-sncc we acquired the right TO be free.
Not one hour longer Before that, were almost as
! do,yntroddcn az we were before emancipation and
I every day our condition was growing worse. Nowt
/ is every day growing better. All we want IS to hc
/ unitcd-to know strength and how to use IT. We
want maIy such meetings this all over the state"
/ That is true To enable these colored leaders IN
this new Union party To travel and hold such meet
| iugs, they need assistance They are poor Ihey are
! willing to work II then expenses merely can DC pro-
/ Vidcd for. That aid they should have IRON the
/ friends OF emancipation ut the North. ANY OF the
men have mentioned would be faithful trustees of
such "A fund Consult Gen. Scott or Chaplain french.
/ They take part in the movement, but doubtless
would name trustees OF fiind that would DO more
! good than any political subscription money over
The negroes are not stupid dull fools They can
not read, but they can udeiSand sicl addresses as
/ these to-day. They can also understand when one
of their number reads TO them and II IL charming 10
! see with what attention thcy listen. ! never adj
dressed an audience that thought Could appreciate
better. never saw stiller, attentive crowd.
| When the chairman introduced me as one ol lhe
editors of THE NEw-YORK TRIBUNE" was received
with shout. twice repeated, that almost shook the
bricks from that pride of south CarOlna-the
! Charleston ctadel-the State Military Acadclny-a
rival OF West Point, where generation OF military
these people understood what The NEw-fORk IIiB-
UNE is about well as those who sometimes meet IN
the City Hall Park. Perhap9 better 1Or tAey fei III
quite as much, and hear of It's principles, as they
exist in fact much Oitener. AT any rate they eyl-
IDENTIFY felt proud To it represented at the fist
and greatest Union meeting in Charleston, where ne
grOes allowed 10 be present III mass much more
10 be the who inaugurated, sustained ard con-
Quoted this meeting / was told by the chairman
that the people would rejoice to see TRIBUNE man
appear before them-that they understand perfectly
that it is their friend, and would appreciate IT'S repre-
! sentative doubted. and was urged to appear and
| speak. The result was very gratifying. AZ least
! saw many a strong man wipe away the falling tears
| and heard many voices thanking God that am
sure the few words spoken were appreciated and VIII
be long remembered. Indeed, my hand was 0iten
grasped and thanks uttered as passed through the
crowd and along the street afteTward Have these
people no soul no heart. no Understanding. hre
they too dull 10 appreciate what they hearI Are
they too stupid to comprehend Wat thoS hgnt t , anu
! stand up before 1000 of them upon Citadel Green
! in Charleston, South Carolina.
| In New-York such a meeting as this would have
been fully reported You will see how it is done in
Charleston. / noticed that the reporters took few
notes of white mems speeches, and next to none Of
! what the black ones said. The object is TO try to
prove what has been often asserted that the negro
has 10 brains. But facts are stubborn things and
ths meeting is one of the subbomeSt of the whole
LOT AS leave the city at 10 o'clock, the torch-light
! procession is moving orderly. The sidewalks are
lined with col0red women and children and evidently
the world moves. D. H.
CROSSING BROADWAY.
To De Edi,ar Of Tie Tribune.