The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-26
THE RADICAL STATE CONVENTION.
tFnoM oun SPECIAL oonnraronpEsr,l

ooon tho lhenc oI curD-st?no gossip and Union
League discussions; and thero is probably at thi,
limo not an old mauma in town Interested in thc
subject who cannot give You disquiHition OH ihc
principles OF State Government Oh long as the
moral law.
Not by my means all Of tho hundreds OF negroes
In and around Columbia, howovor, arc abandoned
body and SOUL to tho now movement. Ono class,
represented by huch clovor, sensible, cautious mon
ns beverly Nash stand nIoof from tho schemes
which contemplate tho elevation of tho negro
Mt tho cxpcnso of tho whto man, and main
tain species OF ''masterly inactivity" contont
to wait upon tho developments OF tho future,
and desirous OF retaining tho respect OF their old
mnstcrs and friends. Tho consequence is, that
thoy Hre III measure politically taboocd. Nash,
ior instance, got into q snnrl with tho Freedmen q
Buronu, or rather with ono WR1eur, connected
with it, because, instead Of distributing the cloth
ing sent here FOR destitute freedmen tho material
was otherwise disposed OF "for the benefit Of whom
it might conccrn;" whcreupon Beverly mado ono
OF his fearless telling speeches to the ragged crowd
who were in Whiting, and gavo tho Bureau soycra
shots belwcen wind and wntor Then ho had moro
trouble, as tho representative Of certain colorcd
school interests. Ono OF tho officers was declared
to be Interested in land on which no wished tho
now .ciuol to be erected, and fort of clisolng
process was going OH, when Be, erly ngain bonn
bardcd the fortress, md compelled surrender.
Finally ho made spocch at tho mcoling in which
Gen. MADE HAMPTON originally appeared This
was the mnkinkcst cut Of aI Tho ultra radical
ism rampant in the I. D. could not brook consor-
vativo principles i'll tho heart OF oven negro. IIo
was an enemy in camp. Liberal thought and
bravo utteranco cost him his popularity, and
ndroitly conceived fnlschoods indusiriously circu-
lated, ndded TO Tho .,rcjudiccs which now keep
Nasl in the political background.
Another class Of ncgruus consists of shrcwd
anxious, ambitious mon, who havo their types in
the white race, and have taken to public lifo to
enjoy its fascination and rewards. They sit on
the platforms, 'sccopd tho motions, now and
then fro or q short resolution, and heartily APP
paud the speaker OF tho day, which, OF course, ia
tho kcy note for every body cso TO sholler." They
are utterly innocent of any Hevero attempts Mt
public speaking, but do vast nmount of work
outside, and especially among the Union Leagues.
Earnest, initiative; frequently combining much
hard scnao with tho Btalo pattudcs of tho TnAp.
STEVENS creed borrowed from their friends in tho
bureau; ready for nh argument; always primcd
with the ono idea-"wo re got tho majority, let's
use III religious believers in the right Of the nc
gro to hold Office; kconly upprccatve of tho omol-
rncnts lhereof; generously willing 10 servo tho
public in any public capacity; blindy devoted to
their party md without ono particle of real ILL
fccling for tho whito Such is another class of
colored men, who nro moro especially engaged in
blowing tho political bubbles of tho day.
Their number is not great, and, therefore, was
not surprised. on going to tho depot this oyohing,
to find that tho Charleston delegation, although it
embraced such distinguished persons ns Bowen and
LESTER, and MAckEY, Junior, besidos somo twelve
or fifteen colorcd delegates, was not welcomed by
moro than fifteen or twonty OF their compatriots.
1 may bo mistaken, but tho impression grows
deeper overy day that tho great mass Of negroos
throughout the State, yielding TO their own innnto
convictions OF right and duty, aro growing con.
serratSo, If not indifferent, and if left unlisturbcd
by ngtators would doroto themselves " u,g lss
rolop,iiriib OF prosperity ana let tho Statc takc
caro- of iteelf.
or the character Of tho Contention it is difficult
TO writc. tt will probably not embrace moro than
delegates.
Already thcro is some difference of opinion with
reference to tho organization, and I have boon in
formed that pretty kettle Of fish has been upset
between United States Marshal EPpINa and Mr. c.
O. Bowen, by reason of some Office which the latter
holds, and which tho former thinks dou't belong.
10 him.. Tint is about the long and short Of it..
sort OF CAUCUS js being hold tonight TO cnablo
Tho adverse elements to "harmonize." There is
also disposition on tho part of tho low-country
delegates to fost the former organization Oh the
Convention, on tho ground that this is only mn ad-
orrncd meeting. Tho delegates from the interior;
object, and will insist that this is an independent
and tho official starting point of State
Republican or Radical party With this WOW aomo
centrally located nnn will be suggested as tho
President of tho body.
Much debate ON minor topics is anticipated, and
perfect avalanche OF discussion on tho resolutions
md platform. Tho Convection will probably sit
Two days. - ~. -. tS>
General SIcKLns ia expected to como In for
more thnn mn ordinary share of attention,
and may possibly be formally road out Of
Tho Radical rank and file, which, of course, will
distress the General yory greatly. His letter to
Mr.. TnUMBULL is regarded as malicious aud
niquitous, aud his impertinenco in oven suggest
ing M amolioration of tho lightning OF Radical
wrath, is, I judge. destined to be rewarded with
much olocutionary rebulio. ..l
There is also great perturbation of
spirit in consequence OF tho appointment
Of Beverly Eush and Edwards, (colored)
on the list of registrars for Riohlnnd District.
They don't suit tho rising politicians Of tho State,
md learn THAI strong efforts will bo mado to in
duco tho Commander-in-ChoF to throw them over
board. Tho dissenHions promise to bo frightful.
Jealousy is already ut tho boiling point, and tho
tcmpestuous scramble for place and money be-
twoen tho various partes whito and black iorcibly
reminds ono Of BARNuM's "Happy Family" at feed.
time. ..f.. ti FELIX
COLUMBIA, s. e., July 2i.-To-day Witnesses
what may bo regarded ns on oyont in tho political
history of tho stato. whother tho Convention
now in session succeeds in organizing Radical
party or not, whether good or harm is dono, no
such spectacle has before been soon within tho
borders Of south Carolina. Tho gathering is not
largo onc-lcss than seventy five delegates, oil told
being present. tho fact that IL consists mainly Of
tho former slaves Of our people, who hayo for their
purpose tho creation OF party platform which
may totally change the political rotations Of tho
State, and that 1t is probably through tho influence
Of these same colored mon that we shall in come
why bo got bsok into Tho Uilion--it is this which
renders the occasion ono Of remarkable interest
oron TO nm outsider, aud makes IL point whoreon
tho future historian will possibly stop and dwell
Thorc are few whito mon prosont, except spoc-
tators-probably not moro thar ten or twelve,
and, with two or thrco exceptions, they DO not
woar Physiognomies which predict their fitness
for tho extraordinary greatness which thoy scem
TO think Is about to bo thrust upon them. Col
THOMAS II. RoBERTsoS and Mr. O. H. BALDWIN,
both OF Columbia, arc gontlemon OF wealth, and
probably will command much influence among tho
negroes; United Statos Marshal EPpINu OF Charles-