Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-08-06
MEETING IN, COLUMBIA.

DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN COLUMBIA.
Columbia has been at work for at least two weeks
preparipc for the grand meeting which took place
m fuesday night, of last week, and it may be re-
corded here that the Democratic demonstration was
a great triumph, and will be a source of encour.
agement to the Richland Democracy for many
months TO come.
The procession was in itself grand sight. Many
liantly Illuminated The stores occupied by the
Messrs. Hope, and Mr.. Palmer were decorated
with banners and notices. Nickerson's Hotel was
ornamented with transparencies, and was blaze
of light. The Phens1 Office was embellshed with
garlands, and upon the balcony of the PhGRs1
building, as the procession passed, there stood
thirty young maidens representing the States
of the Union. .-t
Prominent in the procession was carriage bear
ing huge transparency, which presented four
sides, surmounted by q revolving tnrret: On the
candidates for President and Vice President
mour and Blair-fanked bya representation Of the
Goddess of Liberty" and Justice, with the
scales. On the front, Fourth Ward Democratic
Club, with representation of q corpulent indi-
vidual proclaimng to scalawags and others to clear
the track-around which were ten stars represent
ing the Southern States The back of the trans
parency represented two lean and gawky figures,
carpet bags in hand, departing Northward on the
election Of Seymour and Blair. The monitor pre-
sented the emblems of the farmer and mechanic
Democratic; Radical implement Buffers spoon
the South Carolina Treasury" BE sure OF your
The local transparencies distributed through the
procession were, many Of them, unique in design
and varied in style. One presented a correct pho
tograph>of the ''New Stats House, " with "bar-
room," and cockpit" on either side. 1--WE are
coming, Father Abraham-$6."
A very truthful device was Andrew johnson,
the faithful sentinel on the wateh-tower of Iber-
ty." with portraits of Washington and Seymour,
with palmetto gracefully intertwined.
s'Natiye and foreign citizens, colored and white,
are interested in the success Of the Democratic
Democracy means peace, RadicaHsm, war
'Richland Democrats, bestr yourselves. " 1--WE
work for those who work for us" "We are sure
to win." Seymour and Blairforever," and many
others. -
The oolored Democrats were out in strong g force,
bearing banners and transpare1cies. The young ny!
Democrats" were also on hand--bearlng at their
head, young America gees for Seymour and
Blair"
Arrived at the hall, the vast assembly quietly
took position outside, whilst Generals Hampton,
Kershaw, MCGOWAN and Chesnut, Colonel Thom-
as, Captain Stanley and others, assembled and took
sests In the hall, which was crowded with Colum-
bias fairest daughters.
On motion Of Colonel Thomas, Captain Stanley
was chosen to preside, and the organization per-
fected BY the election of the following officers
e-Presidents-Joh Mckenzie, j. Meighan,
J. G. Gibbes, John Alexander, Captains j. 81.
Kinsler, w. 81. Stack, E. Perciyal, Dr. D. ".
Ray, Colonel Fl. J. Caughman. Secretaries es-R.
O'Neale, T. j. LaMotte. Captain Stanley, with
few pertinent PREDATORY remarks, introduced Gen.
Chestnut, who was the first speaker Of the occasion
and who was followed by Generals S. MCGOWAN, j..
B. Kershaw and Wade Hampton.
General Wade Hampton on being introduced,
was greeted with immense applause. Indeed, 1t
was many minutes before the audience could be
sufficiently quietedr ITO permit him to speak. He
said he had hoped that after having listened to
the eloquent speakers who preceded him, they
would not desire him to address them; not only on
that account, but because his voice was weak
There were many present who had frequently heard
him address larger crowds, and when very different
kinds of noises than peaceful acclamations saluted
their ears but tonight, for the first time in his
life, his voice had failed him. General Kershaw
had referred to the advance of the cavalry in the
campaign of to- night; and he desired to add, that
of it, and felt great confidence after hearing the el-
oquent remarks of that distinguished General, as
they made him feel secure as in the days OF 9TH
er and more sanguinary campaigns He always
felt safe when he knew Kershaw was on his flank.
He preferred to postpone any extended remarks
tonight, as he would have an opportunity at an
early day, and desired it, to lay before them the
history of the New York Convention, and what
part was taken in it by our delegation. A voice
Il So{S Co. xry hot
can be done to-day ~ General Hampton received
the interruption with great good humor, and con-
tinuing his remarks, said that when the Southern
States were invited to take part in the New York
Convention, he was clearly of the opinion that they
should accept and should go there and meet the
Northern men face to face, and tell them that they
had surrendered in good faith and that enthey
said they wanted peace they meant peace, just as
when they had said war, they had proven that
they meant war. He believed, then, We should
let them see we were not all freeaters, as many of
them believed us to be, but that our arms had
been laid down in good faith, and we desired to
unite heartily in the restoration of political and
material prosperity. And the result had proven
the correctness of his views. When our delegation
arrived in New York, they were received in all
quarters and on all sides in the most hearty man
ner They were urged to participate in all the de.
hberations of the convention, and were consulted
freely IN all matters OF moment. Ihe same recep-
ton was given them by the members of the Sol
diers, and Sailors, Convention, which was also in
session at that time and such of its gallant men,
bers as McClernand, of Illinois, said CALAMITY, that
they desired to extend the right hand of fellowship
to the men whom they had been fighting, and who
had now laid down their arms. To them he had
replied, that for himself, his delegation and his
people at home he accepted that hand in good
faith. [Cheers ---.a:, :
Now, if we wish to see the State restored to all
its former prosperity he appealed to the people to
bury all past prejpdices and passions in one COM
mon grave, and in solid mass, without regard to
color, to rally around the standard of the New
York Convention He spoke to the black man as
well as the white, for he believed as firmly that the
interests Of the two were inseparably bound up in
a common cause, as he believed that God ruled
over the destiuies of the people. IF they attempt
ed to draw line of demarkation and array them.
selves against the whites, they would be pressed
from the soil and endure the fate of the Indian.
To prevent result like this-one which he truly
deprecated he had been the first man in South
Carolina to speak to them and advise them as to
their true policy, and they knew that he would moi
deceive them. A colored man-'That so-God
bless you. "
When, seven years ago, the State had called
upon him to serve her in the field, he had obeyee
oil fbof ht