The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-08-03
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Our Charleston Letter.
CHARLESTON, July 81, 1867.

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CHARLESTON, July 81, 1867.
-, AS. q sequel to the Radical Convention, i
which last week discussed State and National
politics at Columbia, q public meeting was,
called, and held at Hibernian Hall last night.
The gathering ostensiby was designed to be
general in it's character, and the advertisement
apnoupping it invited all who favored recon-
stgNction, on the, Congressional plan, to be pre-
sont, and participate in its proceedings but
4ealIyi 1t was intended only to stimulate radi-
calism, and thc wiro-pulling committee had
carefully arranged that, nothing should be Said
OF done which would initiate against the in
aercsts of the great. Union Republican Party.
'fr About thousand persons were present. of
whom not moro than fifty were whites; and
curiosity probably influenced many of these to
.attond. The meeting was organized on mo-
tion of e. T, Wall, (colored,) by the election
of DR.. Mackey, Post Collector, as President,
f.. A. Sawyer, Esq, Collector of Internal
Revenue, Major d. T.Corbin, United States
District Attorney, T. j. Robertson, Esq, of
Columbia, and four colorcd individuals were
chosen Weep Presidents, and II. Judge Moore,
David Barrow, and son of Africa were re-
.questcd to act as Secretaries. aq
Upon assuming the duties of his position,
DR.. Mackcy addressed the meeting, stating
briefly the policy which would govern him i'll the
exercise ofhis duties as Moderator He stated
that as the Union Republican Party invaria-
bly, upheld the Congressional legislation i'll re-
gard to reconstruction and the Democrats as
invariably opposed it, he could regard the
meeting only as one of that party and that
though there might be present those who were
not yet prepared 10 unite with it, that he would
give hearing to any person who was disposed
to advocate the adoption Of Congressional re.
nuircmcnts, butlwould. bo compelled to restrain
any one who should oppose, or attempt to'dis-
tract the harmony Of the meeting, by The intro
lduction of opinions or sentiments, calculated
to initiate against this great object M
Upon tho conclusion Of his rcmarks-Col-
Hector Sawyer was loudly called, aud in response
arose and spoke at some length. Ho began by
stating that lie had been al heart Rcpubl-
can, since the existence of the Democratic
party in 1860, and that now he had no hcsta-
tion in stating that all his sympathics were
with the Union Republicans Hc referred to
the former conditions of reconstruction i'm.
posed, and animadvertcd in their'rejection; he
alluded to the generosity of the Government
in their conduct towards us; 'J and asked
whether, in the history Of any country undor
the sun, there. was ever any rebellion against
the authority Government, which has been
dealt with morl lcnicntly than this" lie cx-
pressed his qualification at the emancipation Of
the negroes and avowcd his belief in the pro-
pricty and justice Of granting an unqualified
suffrage. In this connection he saii
81 do not believe thatI have q right to cast
= ballot, to exercise right or power, and that
tho 1ttlll nan whose skin is little darker and
whose Intelligence may bp; no. less than my own,
should be deprived of political. power. So long
e:'s the Southern people kept in quiet certain
number Of slaves, it was manifcstly impossible
Tor those slaves to enjoy rights of political
character. Since their freedom, there has been
no stopping until they were made citizens of
the several States Thank God We think it is
sright-wc know it is right. Instead of being
AZ. element Of constant dscord and fear, they
arc an element Of strength to the community
from the very fact of their political equality p
Continuing, he urged that all the whites,
who were not disfranchiscd should register,
and cooperate in bringing about the rcstora-
tion of tic South to its former position in the
j. Union and expressed his belief, that the in
jtoligcnt portions Of the people arc now willing
"to take any step that will put them in proper
oI,k.n 4 L. T.. - L