The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-02-08
Our Charleston Letter.
CHARLESTON, February 9TH, 1868.

9 CHARLESTON, February 9TH, 1868.
The variegated collection of individuals who
style themselves Constitutional Convention,
and, who, with a negro constituency, presume
TO represent the people Of the State, is still on
exhibition at the Club House, and will proba-
bly, continue the show for some time, Sundays
excepted. Three weeks have already elapsed
since the assembly aud organization Of the
body, but the specific purpose for Which it
was ordered is as yet entirely unaccomplishcd.
The matter pertaining to the new Constitution
are still being hrooded over by several Commit
tees. and will consume considerable more time,
and elicit all amount of discussion before being
prepared for presentation to the Convention.
"Fcstinu lcmtc" is just now the motto of the
Radical Sololls and will probably continue to
be the embodiment of thcirpolicy, 80 long as any
"bills receivable arc left i'll tho vaults Of the
State Treasury, to be appropriated under the
S1l, pc, dt0 and the 20 ccn,s mileage ord,
nance.
The interest Of our people in the conduct OF
the great political monstros;ty rs it drags its
slow and Shiny length along, has very much
abated; and feeling of general Indifference as
to tho legislation of the pretendcrs, character
ICES our community. Few are disposed to echo
Governor Orrs opinion, that the Constitution,
chosen by the Conventions will long have tho
force Of law and the satires and criticisms of
the Mercury are therefore extremely popular
The. Constitution adopted will, in its main
principles, be thoroughly Radical though to
popularizc it some liberal provisions will proba-
bly, be Incorporated.
There is but little doubt that upon it's sub
mission to the registered voters of the Suite, it
will, by the manipulations of the Union Lea
gues and Radical Emissarics among tho ne
groes, be ratified. Tho election, however, will
~ 81.
and some of our papers arc urring the whites
everywhere to organize into Democratic clubs
and associations and unitcdly and exclusively
to oppose the tie .flcto establishment of the ne
gro government. The advice deserves thought
full consideration, and should receive it. To
my own mind it seems plain that the dangers
to be encountered during the interval between
the election, and tho downfall of radicalsm Mt
Washington, will bo best meet by general or
ganizaton of whites In Union there is
strength.
Theodore G. Barker Esq, during the ,far a
Major on General Wade IIampton's Staff. and
now prominent member of the Bar here, last
week, in the Court Of Sessions, delivered most
able and eloquent protest againsttllc dcspotism
now imposed upon us, receiving the sanction
of our State Judges. Major Barker was by
appointment of the Court, the Counsel of Jcnk-
ins, tho negro sentenced to be hung for the
murder Of Mr.. Branford and rcpricvcd scyc
raj times by General Sicklcs
His able effort was called forth BY motion
Of the Attorney General for the rcappointmcnt
Of day for the prisoners execution. The mo-
ton was resisted on the ground that the acting
Sheriff, having beey appointed under order of
Gen Candy, was pot qualified to execute pri-
soner. in his speech with feryer and olo-
quepco WHICH electrified his auditors bo eriti-
ciscd the military government erected oyer us,
and scathinsly satirzed that policy. which, for
tho sake of cxpcdicncy, would endorse it,
Judge Moses aisrcsardcd the protest, and de-