The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-26
THE RADICAL STATE CONVENTION.
rrRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE


all agog to-day in anticipation Of the arrival and
hospitable disposition Of the delegates to the
Radical State Convention. For weeks this event has
been the theme OF curb-stone gossip and Union
League discussions and there is probably at this
| time not an old mauma In town interested In the
subject who cannot give you disquisItion on the
principles of State Government as long as the
moral law.
Not by any means all Of the hundreds OF negroes
in and around Columbia, however, are abandoned,
body and soul, to the new movement. One class,
represented by such clever sensible, cautious men
as Beverly Nash, stand aloof from the schemes
which contemplate the elevation OF the negro
at the expense of the white man, and main
tain species of mastery inactivity" content
to wait upon the developments Of the future,
and desirous of retaining the respect OF their old
masters and friends. The consequence Is, that
they are in measure politically tabooed. Nash,
for instance, got into snarl with tho Freedmen's
Bureau, or rather with one WRIGHT, connected
with it, because instead of distributing the cloth
ing sent here for destitute freedmen, the material
was otherwise disposed of 'for the benefit OF whom
it might concern" whereupon Beverly made one
of his fearless telling speeches to the ragged crowd
who we're in waiting, and gave tho Bureau seyera
shots between wind and water. Then he had more
trouble as the representative Of certain colored
school interests. One of the officers was declared
to be interested in land on which he wished the
new school to be erected, and sort OF chiseing
process was going on, when Beverly again bonn
barded the fortress, and compelled surrender.
Finally he made speech at the meeting in which
Gen. WADE HAMPTON originally appeared. This
was the unkinkest cut Of all. The ultra radical
ism rampant in the F. B. could not brook conser-
vative principles in the heart Of even negro. He
was an enemy in camp. Liberal thought and
brave utterance cost him his popularity, and
adroitly conceived fasehoods, industriousy circu-
lated, added to the prejudices which now keep
Nash in the political background.
Another class of negroes consists OF shrewd,
anxious, ambitious men, who have their types in
the white race, and have taken to public life to
enjoy its fascina ion and rewards. They sit on
the platforms, s.second the motions, now and
then fire CD short resolution, and heartily ap-
plaud the speaker Of the day. which, Of course, is
tho key note for every body else to 'hollcr." They
are utterly innocent of any severe attempts OF
public speaking, but do o vast amount OF work
outside, and especially among the Union Leagues
Earnest, initiative; frequently combining much
hard sense with the stale Platitudes OF the THAD.
STEVENS creed borrowed from their friends in the
Bureau; ready for an argument; always primed
with the one idea-'swe We got the majority, let's
use it' religious believers in the right of the ne
gro to hold Office; keenly appreciatiye Of theemo-
uments thereof; generously willing to serve the
publ: in, any public capacity; blmdly devoted to
their party and without one particle of real i'll
feeling for the white Such is another class OF
;eolored men, who are more especially engaged in
blowing the political bubbles Of the day.
Their number is not great, and, therefore, I was
not surprised, on going to the depot this evening,
to find that the Charleston delegation, although it
embraced such distinguished persons as BOWEN and
LESTER, and MAGKEY, Junior, besides some twelve
or fifteen colored delegates, was not welcomed by
more than fifteen or twenty Of their compatriots.
I may be mistaken, but the impression grows
deeper every day that the great mass Of negroes
throughout the State yielding to their own innate
convictions OF right and duty, are growing con-
servative If not Indifferent and If left undisturbed
by agitators would devote themselves to the de-
velopment of prosperity and let the State take
care of itself. Z S
! OF the character Of the Convention tits difficult
to write. It viii probably not embrace moro than
eventy7dye delegates.
Already there is some difference Of opinion with
reference to the organization, and have been in
formed that pretty kettle Of fish has been upset
between United States Marshal FPPNa and Mr.. C.
c. Bowen, by reason Of some Office which the latter
holds, and which the former thinks don't belong
To him. That is about the long and short Of it.
A sort OF caucus is being held tonight to enable
the adverse elements to )" harmonize." There is
also disposition, on the part Of the low-ccuntry
delegates to foist the former organization on the
Convention, on the ground that this is only an ad
j3urned meeting. The delegates from the interior
object and will insist that this is an independent
concern, and the official starting point of State
or Radical party: With this view some
centrally located man will be suggested as the
President Of the body. - i
Much debate on minor topics is anticipated, and
perfect avalanche Of discussion on the resolutions
and platform. The Convention will probably sit
two days. -
General &oKIEs is expected to come in for
more than an ordinary share Of attention,
and may possibly be formally read out Of
the Radical rank and file, e,iwhicb, Of course, will
distress the General very greatly. His letter to
Mr.. TRUMBuIL is regarded as malicious and
and his impertinence in even suggest
ing an ameioration Of the lightning of Radical
wrath, u.s. judge, destined to be rewarded with
much elocutionary rebuke.
There is also great perturbation Of
spirit in consequence Of the appointment
Of Beverly Nash and Edwards (colored)
on the list Of registrars Tor Richland District.
They don't suit the rising politicians Of the State,
and learn that strong efforts will be made to in
duce the Commander-in-C Chief to throw them over
board. The dissensions promise to be frightfnl.
Jealousy is already at the boiling point, and the
scramble for place and money be-
tween the various parties, while and black, forcby
reminds one of BARNuM's 'Happy Family" at feed
time. FELIX.
COLUMBIA, s. G., July N.-To-day witnesses
what may be regarded as an event in the political
history Of the State. Whether the Convention
now in session succeeds in organizing Radical
party or not, whether good or harm is done, no
such spectacle has before been seen within the
borders Of South Carolina The gathering is not
large one-less than seventy-fve delegates, all told,
being the fact that it consists mainly OF
the former slaves of our people, who have for their
purpose the creation Of party platform which
may totally change the political relations of the
State, and that it is probably through the influence
Of these same colored men that we shall in some
way be got back into the Union-it is this which
renders the occasion one Of remarkable interest
even to an outsider, and makes it point whereon
the future historian will possibly stop and dwell.
There are few white men present, except spec
tators- probably not moro than ten or twelve,
and, with two or three exceptions, they do not
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