The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-26
Grand Democrats Demonstration In
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bPEEOiES OFtGENERAL HAMPTON. HON
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sInfoNToN, &C., 30. q 81
Early yesterday morning, says the
Mercury, of the 25th. the city; was
agog with excitement about the forth
coming Democratic ratification meet
ing and general demonstration. The
preparations gave new life to the
city, and especially to the neighbor-
hood OF the Charleston Hotel, where
star-spangled banners were flung to
tho breeze, and platforms, banners,
transparencies, &C., became the
order of the day.
On General Hampton's arrival. he
was met at the South Carolina rail-
road depot by an escort of citizens.
specially delegated for that honora-
BILE service, as we'll as by q throng of
volunteer welcomers, who could not
restrain their enthusiasm until the
evening. A few words, inaudible to
outsiders, passed between the Gene
raj and his escort, and then they left
the depot, and, entering carriages,
proceeded to General James Con
uer reSlQenCe.
The ladies began to assemble at
the Charleston Hotel before 6
o'clock, and, by the time the meet
ing was organized-about half-past
3 o'clock-the piazzas of the second
story and the drawing-rooms were
filled with large and enthusiastic
crowd of fair ones, The platform
was erected in front of the vacant
lots Just opposite the Charleston
Hotel, and was handsomely orna-
mented with transparencies and
flags.
The scene before the organization
of the meeting was very effective.
The street, from Hasel to Hayne,
was filled with men. The upper
piazza of the Charleston Hotel was
packed with ladies. The ward clubs,
arriving in order, produced some
sensation, but Ward 6 certainly sur
passed all the others. They came
round the corner of Hasel, headed
by band of music, and discharging
fireworks, and bearing aloft trans
parencies with inscriptions for Sey-
mour and Blair. One of their trans
parencies was particularly striking;
it represented the departure of the
carpet-baggers, singly and en- n,asse;
on one side was lean, lank, slab
sided individual, bending beneath
the weight of well-loaded carpet
bag; on the other side was a train of
carpet-bags, becoming beautifully
less in the distance, as they disap-
peared North, South, East and West,
as was indicated by a sign-board,
composed of knife, fork, a spoon
and ladle.
A prominent feature of this process
sion of Ward 6, consisted of 400
colored conservatives, who behaved
with the greatest propriety through
out the meeting, and, at the close,
marched off in q column of fours,
cheering for Hampton.
An immense crowd having assem-
bled, the meeting was called to order
by Colonel Carew, who nominated
Hon. Alfred Huger as President, and
n number of ce-Presidents and
Secretaries.
Hon. Alfred Huger, assuming the
Chair, delivered short address, and
by the clearness and power of his
voice, as we'll as by the beauty of his
sentiments, and the elegance of his
diction, created profound impress
sion. AT the conclusion of his re-
marks, Mr.. Huger introduced the
Chairman of the delegation, Hon.
J. B. Campbell, who, in very COM
plimentary language introduced Gen.
Wade Hampton, whom the crowd
were waiting for, and whom they re-
ceived with the most enthusiastic ap-
plause, giving cheer upon cheer, fir
ing off Roman candles, &c. AS soon
as quiet was restored, Gen. Hampton
spoke in substance as follows:
FELLowCITIzENs OF CHARLESTON: :
I thank you from the bottom of my
heart for the kind reception which
you have vouch-safed me, and I only
regret that my voice is not strong
enough to make myself heard by all
of you, that [ might tell you how
profoundly I am touched by this
manifestation of your kindness. I
have been suffering for days with q
very severe cold, and I will not be
able to say much, but I hope that you
will not on that account think that
feel less.
I recognize on all occasions the
right of tha Dpop1e tn danoopd FROM,