The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-14


HoUsE-THE NOMINEES GIVE DrNNER-THE
REPAsr, GUESTS AND sPEEcHEs-THE CAM
| pAIaN COMMENCED WITH KNIFE AND FORK.
To use the frequent phrase of speech and
ordinance, "without distinction of race or
color" two hundred and fifty persons last
night sat down to celebrate, with banquet,
speech and song, the formal organization Of
the South Carolina Radical Republican party,
the choice of its candidates, and the inaugura-
tion of its labors.
No such iollifcation has ever been seen in
the Palmetto State; no such congregation ever
assembled anywhere. 1t is therefore an
Event, and, M e,,rln. wa give it all the space
which the lateness Of the hour will permit.
We have stated the object Of the occasion.
By whom it was designed, we know not, but
the suggestion for a monster "blow out" met
with the appreciation of the twenty-six candi-
dates for the popular suffrage, and they con-
tributed heavily to make the night memorable
in the annals of the new political regime.
THE HALL.
The convention sdjourned at u NJ, when the
carpenters and cooks took possession.
The railing which for fifty days had shut out
"the people was removed; three lines Of ia
bles running longitudinally with transverse
table at one end o. the hall were speedily con-
structed flags were festooned, and viands
brought by the CARLOAD to appease the patient
appetites of the hungry guests. Wines and
liquors, various and profuse, were also supplied,
and the eating arrangements differed not ma
terially from all other displays of the kind.
Tully, the well-known caterer, furnished what
ever was required, and the general direction Of
affairs was under the control of F. L. Car
d oza, tho new candidate for the Office Of Sec
rotary of State. 4
assembled down stairs at nine o'clock, formed
in procession, marched and countermarched,
asce nded to the hall, filed around the tables,
made right angles with their legs Hereunder,
and commenced work.
DR.. A. G. Mackey presided, with General
r. Z. Scott on his right, and Major D. T. Cor
bin, United States District-Attorney, on his
left.
The other tables were respectively presided
over By B. F. Whittemore, F. J. Moses, Jr.,
and
Among the invited guests distributed through
the hall and sandwiched between members of
the convention, were several United States Of
ficials, attaches of the governmental machinery
and Northern residents Of Charleston. No one
was present in uniform, and there was an equal
absence of uniformity in the manner in which
the Caucasian and Ethiopian races fraternally
intermingled. White and black sat shoulder
to shoulder in the most republcan-like affin-
ity-the freedman who used to black the boots
of his competitor for Office, and the candidate
who used to pay him quarter for doing it,
and receive his bare-headed Salaam and s'tank
you, Mossa, for his generosity. ''Sich is life"
We can only add, $50 it, bootsl"
General Candy and staff were invited, but
not present; the General, however, sent let
ter, stating that he was unable to attend on
account of q severe asthmatic affection.
Before commencing the repast, a blessing
was asked by Rev. B. F. Whittemore.
The tables being cleared, the chairman an
nounced the nominees in the order of their ex-
pected official position, and they severaly re-
sponded, except Judge Boozer, who was abb
sent. Three cheers we're given for each nomi-
nee on rising, and three when he again held
his chair down.
The speeches were all Of the style with which
our readers have been familiar for q month and
q half, and some of them were prepared with
the usual after-dinner-like precision which
marks every well ordered banquet.
The extemporaneous efforts were varied and
funny, and the whole affair was characteristic
of the strange times upon which We have
fallen.