Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-08-28

officers "f ,h" day, and hrGrrr i, sat
an audience Of which Nhhrvillv NIGH,
we'll rr proud whose inspiring pres,
one" NIGH; we'll imrart intellect, soul
aud voice 10 "lnIu,ncr itself.
The 1lon' Th"S. c. Perrin, the
President Of the day, in opening the
exercises Of tho occasion. presented
IAN ah!r and eloquent rNp"~i,inn @.
the objects which this celebration was
designed "a advance, and whilst cheer.
Ing tic hearts of his citizens
of the white race with words Of car.
nest hope and we'll assured trust
pressed upon tho attention Of the
blacks, s"mo lessons Of sage counsel
an" timely warming. lie reviewed
tho dark record Of the past, un,.
opened up the Frightening prospects,
of the future. After three years OF
uncNampIcl opprcssion-of arbitrary
arrests. OF military tribunals, of mill
tary hastilcs-wc had already seen a
partial restoration Of our civil rights,
and had 4 well assured hopc in the
triumph Of tho Democratic party. of
a speedy restoration to all our RIGHTS
Of citizenship. and our complete DO
liical cnfranchiscmcnt. The "cnd
which crowns the work" should not
only inspire renewed vigor in the
groat contests in which VIC arc cpra-
god, but should i'aprcss us with tho
necessity Of patient submission to
"thc powers that be-" as long as they
rcmain de J"cto governments. To
tho black race no urged, and pressed
upon their conviction, their utter in
competency to take part in tho gov
ernmont Of the country, but in behalf
of tho Democratic party guaranteed
them tho status in quo, and full pro-
lection of all just rights of person
and property. Tho namo of tho
Honored President 10 in itsolf towor
OF strength to any cause, and his as
sociatcs whilst drawing encourage
mont from his example, may VOL
hood those lessons OF wisdom which
his sage experience dictates.
Tho President Grst introduced the
gallant soldier and distinguished
young citizcn-a son Of Abboyi]lo
and ono whom bho delights to honor
Col A. c. Haskell, tho Elcctor for
tho Third Congressional District.
Col. Haskell gracefully responded
to tho compliment and gavo full OK
preston to tho flial devotion which
he entertained for his nativo District,
lllustrious rs tho homo Of Chovcs,
Calhoun and McDufTic, and cndcarcd
to him by tho scenes and associations
of his youth and carly manhood. IIo
made beautiful and touching aIlusion
to tho scenes which wcro enacted in
this very grove moro than seven
years ago, and which in part innu GIL,
rated tho cventfIl revolution; and
drew p!casing contrast and parallel
between those scenes and the ones in
which wo were now engaged. The
issues involved wcro tho Hamc-thc
objects wcro tho same-but the means
employed wcrc widely different. The
then "a now, was the
of tho States" and tour
Rights under tho Constitution" but
to secure thcSo, secession proved un-
availing and the bayonct was power
less to save. The sword of Lee rests
Idly in its Ecabl;art, and our arms We
trust arc stacked forever; but again
we are called to raise the same silIlcn
banners and bearing the same devices.
Tho contest is peaceful one, but in
wolves tho same great tissues. The
speaker presented the striking con-
trast between the principles and poll
cy, and The nominees OF the two great
parties. Grant and ColElx were true
cNponcnts Of l,aIicnlism, and the i'll
Of tho ono and the duplic--
ty Of the other received the unspar-
ing invcctivo OF tho orator. The sue
ccss Of Radicalism would intensity
tcn-told tho OWLS under whicl, we arc
now laboriug. The degree and char
actor Of Lheso evils received Il vivid
and just dclincation.
The President next introduced Col.
j. p. Thomas, the Elcctor for the
State at largc-ono who had given
the first impetus to the Democratic
movement in tho State, who has ever
since infused into it his own energy
and enthusiasm, and was now upon
the evo of "organizing victory" The
speaker responded in terms which
woll justified tho cncomiums which
had boon passed upon and which
showed that no botter selection of q
standard bearor could havo been