The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-23

0TRoOLY LoU"-A NEoPHITE MAKES SPEECH
FUN AND FURY-A DARKEY THAT CAN'T BE 'sPU1
OUT"
AS is always the case when the Republicans
call meeting, even though the call be anony-
nous, the Club House last evening was crowd
ed to sufocation. The audience was, o1
| course, composed almost exclusively Of ne
groes, but it was noticeable that the platform
held quite number of white persons, who
have not hitherto affiliated with the party, and
were rather ungraoiously described by one oi
the colored speakers as ''whitewashed Demo
Gratis" Many of the members of the Conyen-
tion, and some officials elect, were also
sandwiched in the dusky crowd. The
impression which prevailed seemed to
be that the object of the meeting was to
"let off steam''-in other words, to indulge in
the usual star-spangled glori6cation over the
recent Radical success. The mistake, however,
was quickly discovered, for no sooner had q well
drilled, but strange colored man taken the
chair, than somebody in the audience shouted
out, 81 nominate Hon. Gilbert Pillsbury as the
Mayor OF Charleston" Equally we'll drilled
cldquers, now commenced their work. and in
less time than We can write it, a broken, jagged,
disjointed and discordant chorus Of shouts,
yells, screams and squeals broke upon tie air
with lustiness which recalled the tender
memory of Isaiah Rynders and his ghosts Of
Tammany Hall. As soon as this vocal turbu-
lerce subsided, committee of three was ap-
pointed to announce to,hiss Radical highness,
G. P, the distinguished honor which their
majesties, the people, 30 wildly wished to con-
fer. Of course G. P. was easily found, but 80
much was he astonished at. and 80 little was
he prepared for the unexpected demonstration,
that he brought with him a written speech,
which, for thirty minutes, he struggled over
with vehemence worthy Of resuscitated, stiff
necked and perverse Pilgrim Father.
We have neglected to state that, while wait
ing for the arrival Of the hero of the evenings en-
tertainment, MIR. Fred. A. Sawyer was called
upon to make speech, which he did, taking
good care, owever, not to endorse the nomi-
nation made, and to state emphatically that
he was not prepared at the present time to ex-
press his opinion as to the fitness of any candi-
date. "When," said Mr.. S. "a man is nomina-
ted as Mayor by the Republican party, he shall
receive my undivided and hearty support"
DR.. A. G. Mackey also made speech, but
without in the slightest degree sanctoning the
premeditated effort Of Mr.. Pillsbury's colored
cohorts to take the wind out ofthe sails already
set.
Then came the Hon. G. P, whose address
may be briefly described as homeopathic
compound Of politics, religion, education,
ethics, State rights, woman's rights, and
woman's wrongs. His sharpest point-the
home thrust Of the entire effort-was quota
ton from Scripture: sold things have passed
away; all things have become new. There is
neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither bond
nor free; there is neither male nor female. Ye
are one in Christ Jesus" Whereupon the
claquers again gave the hint, and the audience
went into ecstacies, over what, from their
hearty haw.haus, they must have regarded
superb joke. The concluding portion Of the
address was disquisition on the manner of
administering the city government, and the
the purpose.
The quaint curious face Of @. P. Leslie, the
'.irrepressible," from Barnwell, was now dis
covered, and the calls for him were long and
loud, intermingled with fainter demands for
"Collins."
Leslie appeared; 80 did Collins. Leslie said
1t was evident that some Of the audience want
ed to hear the other man. AS for himself he
didn't know Collins, and he didn't want to
know Collins, but if the meeting wanted to
hear Collins he would give place tc Collins.
Thereupon Collins put his hand in his pockets
not signeda paper stating that he (Collins) was
gentleman. The audience began to hiss. Sam
Dickerson, colored man, grew noisy, and
some Of his friends on the platform had to
squelch him. Leslie looked at Collins for
minute, smile rippled across his face, and he
replied: "Why come to think Of it, Collins, I
believe did sign paper Of that sort for you
one day, when you were walking with big
dog, but declare rs almost forgotten it.
Faith, replied Collins, who has strong
touch Of the ''rich Irish brogue," want yez
to understand that if it was big dog Twas
walking wild, it was not SHUT" sob, WELL"
said Leslie, slet's shake hands. You de q
gentleman. Get up here and talk to the peo-
pie. never heard you before, but I'd as lief
hear you say something to the friends as any
body in the crowd" Thereupon the twain en-
braced, the audience hi hid, and Mr.. Collins,
who is the druggist so largely advertised in
the recent proceedings of the City Council,
made strong, hearty, whole-souled, enthusi-
astic Pillsbury speech, in which he let the cat
out Of the bag by stating that he had been in
vited some days ago to act as the chairman of
this meeting, and that he was prepared TO de-
fend his friend against all the aspersions Of
malignants and malcontents. His speech was
really good of its kind, and neatly dropped Mr..
Collins plump into the Republican ring. Col
Inns being exhausted, Leslie was again called
for and talked radiantly for ten or fifteen min
utess about Barnwen and things in general.
The things in general didn't, however, appear
to sui Sam Dickerson, who proceeded to in
terrupt and denounce the speaker converse
tionally-once rising as if to address the au-
dience. The audience shouted sput him
OUT" sshut his mouth" &C.; colored men
on the platform got mad and said
Sam Dickerson couldn't be put out. Samuel
suggested that ''theyd better try it." Would
they 'tread on the tell OF his coat?" Things
began to look squally, but Sam subsided for
the moment, and the cloud passed. Every