The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-03-27
Public MeetinR.

of the citizens OF Richland District
was held in Gregg's Hall, yesterday,
al &c i2 clock. q number of colored
men congregated in Che hall, and re-
mained during the entire meeting.
On motion, John Mckenzie, Esq, !,
was requested TO act as temporary
Chairman, andlGeo. Symmnrs, Esq.
Secretary. A Committee, consisting
of Messrs Robert Bryce, J. D. Pope,
T. W. McAIaster, D. B. DeSaussure
and L. P. Miller, was appointed, to
prepare business and nominate per-
mancnt officers. After a short alb
sence, the Committee returned, and
through their Chairman, reported
preamble and resolutions, favoring
the formation of Democratic Club,
to act in harmony with the Democra-
tic part5' of the country; which were
adopted.
A committee, consisting of the fol-
lowing gentlemen, was then appoint
ed, for the purpose OF nominating
officers for the association: Messrs.
j. G. Gibbes, DR.. D. 81. Trezevant,
r. Fl. Walton, E. Hope, DR.. Weston,
A. Palmer, John Waties, John
Adams, John Dent, DIR. Darby, On
their return, the following report was
submitted and unanimously adopted:
Pyesident.-Capt. VIM. B. Stanley.
Vice- Presidents. Mckenzie,
John Meighan, J. G.. Gibbes, John
Alexander, DIR. d. w. Ray, j. G.
Lykes, John Dent. W. H. Stack, E.
d. Gilmore, Preston Bookter.
Central Ececu.iUe Committee p.
Thomas, F. W. McMaster, Presley
Brown, Edward Hope, VIM. Swat
field.
.Sec,'etary.-Richard O'Neale, Jr.
Treasurer. George Symmers.
Committee on Correspondence. -Jo-
seph D. Pope, DR.. VIM. Reynolds,
ID. B. DeSaussure, Jasper Roath, E.
r. Dorsey.
Col. McMaster and D. 3. DeSaus-
sure, Esq, were appointed n COM
mittee to conduct the President to
the Chair. On taking his seat, Mr..
Stanley stated that he was Demo
crat-had lived one and expected to
die one. He was disfranchised, and
for that reason preferred not filling
the Chair. Col. McAlaster replied
to these objections, by stating that
this was Constitutional organiza-
tion, and it was hoped that all the
disfranchised would be enfranchiscd
ere long. The Vice-Presidents pre-
sent occupied seats on either side of
the Chairman, and the permanent
Secretaries took their seats at the
desk.
The reading of the Constitution
was then proceeded with, and dis
cussed section by section.
Sections 1, 2. 3, 4, 5, G, 7 and s,
were adopted unanimously, without
discussion. The ninth section was
read, when Mr.. White, of Gadsden,
moved that the words, "any male
citizen" be substituted for 'sany free
white man." He asserted that he
was not n radical; and he believed
that there were o number of colored
Democrats. The United States Con-
gress had declared the negro citi-
zen, and it would be as easy matter
to stem the current of the Nile with
bulrushes as to stop this thing.
Col. J. P. Thomas seconded the
motion of Mr.. White, and an animated
debate ensued, participated in by
Messrs. Ficking, Pope and others;
but as the whole matter was reconsi-
dered, we omit our report of the dis
cussion.
On motion of D. B. DeSaussure,
Esq, the word "twenty-one. in same
section was stricken out and "cight-
cen" inserted.
Mr.. E. Hunt desired that the Pre-.
sidcnt should explain the meaning of
the term Democrat" but as the
question was not pertinent to the
matter under discussion, he was de-
clared out of order.
A misrepresentation having arisen,
n discussion ensued. Col. McMas-
L.. III - 4 4