The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-10-21
Address of the Central Democratic Club to
the Democratic Party Of South Carroll

FEILoY-C CITIZENS: Tho election for President
and Vice-President of the United States is now
close at hand. The great principles involved IN
the contest tho magnitude of the interests at
stake, and the influence which this State may have
on the result, make this proper occasion to lay
before you brief address.
The tendency and purpose OF the radical party
as manifested in words and acts, are the absorIa
ton of the liberty of the individuals the destruc
lion of States tho subverson of the Constitution,
and the erection upon the ruins of individual and
public liberty, grand grinding consolidated des-
potism. Already it has made rapid strides in that
direction. Little, nov is left for it to do but to
fuse into one mass and then crystalize into per
manent form it's various acquisitions of usurped
power. It's capricious acts; its wanton cruel
ties It's corrupt practices; its enormous. bur-
dens YOU have felt and do know Against
these, and more than these, you are now called
upon to continue resolute fight with the
peaceful, though potent, weapon of the ballot The
Democratic party here and everywhere are striking
with you for the principles of liberty, and the
forms of Government to which we have been &C
customed, for o written Constitution, o Federal
Union and distinct existence of the States.
Surely, then, the principles of the contest arc
important, and the interest great. Arouse, there
fore to the magnitude of the emergency, and
snare no efforts for success. When the time Tor
registration shall come, let no man fal to appear,
and none fail to vote Let each one remember that
his individual vote may decide the election in his
own District, and that the electoral vote OF the
State NAV turn the scale in favor of the Democratic
party
Our people must not despond, nor relax their
efforts. if there should be failures elsewhere. On
the contrary, they will have reason to hope, and
much to stimulate them to increased energy, for 1t
is vet possible to win. State elections are infuen-
ced and sometimes controlled by local issues; and
it has often happened that these go one nay, and
in a few weeks thereafter, in the same place, the
Presidential elections another. This may be the
case in the present canvass; and, indeed we have
reason to hope so. Recently we have received re-
pors from all parts of the State, which induce the
belief that South Carolina with proper effort will
he carried for Seymour and Blair Let not the
failure to lo,so be ascribed to you.
The canvass in which you are now engaged, is
full of excitement, which will probably continue
and increase to sIe emit We trust therefore, that
it will not be amss to drop you word of caution.
The crin,inaity of few, and perhaps the indis-
cretion of many, have placed it in the power OF
malice and Misrepresentation to injure u.s. and Sc
riousy to damage the common cause. We urge
you therefore, not only TO prevent violence, but to
abstain from the appearance of it.. We are dealing
with o false and subtle foc-prolifc in inventions
and vcnomons in purpose-a foe who fully under
stands the temporary profit of pimble lie, which
too often achieves its end before the truth can even
buckle on her armor.
We need not urge upon you the policy and the
duty of treating, with great kindness and forbear-
ance, the colored population of the State. This
You have ever done and will continue to do, as
long as you are permitted. We have no doubt you
will make manifest the untruth of the malicious
charge, that by force you have compelled their
votes or by intimidation kept them from the polls
Their minds are rapidly opening to the truth that
the vagrant white man from the North, as well as
the renegade of the South, who live by deceiving
and plundering them, and who have been driving
them to destruction, not true friends, and are
unworthy of confidence and support. With fair
opportunity they will return to you, as their es-
arrangement is owing entirely to the false teachings
and malignant efforts of the Northern emissary.
1t cannot be forgotten that the State voluntarily,
in 1865, invested the coorcd population with eve
ry civil right; and that the Democratic party, in
Convention in April last, recognized them under
clement in the body politic-and expressed its
willingness, when in power, to enfranchise them to
the extent which the public veal and their good
might warrant. The position then taken by the
Convention. and: which was announced to the peo-
pie of the State and the country, is now re-arfmed.
We beg you to remember that the Democratic
party of the State was not organized for the pur
pose merely of supporting the nominees of the
party, but orhigher purposes and more enduring
ends. 1t is possible that our present leaders may
be defeated, but our principles will survive. The
liberty of the individual, the being and welfare of
States, the Constitution of the United States and
Federal Union under it, are objects worthy of pa-
ticnce and enduring efforts In the success we
hope for, organization will be most useful
and, in case of defeat, it will become essential.
We therefore, desire 10 impress upon you the ne
ccssity of preserving intact and in full energy the
admirable organizations of the Democratic party OF
South Carolina.
WADE HAMPTON,
Chairman Executive Committee
J. D. POPE,
]. p. THOMAS,
F. w. McMAsTER,
W. NJ. SHANNON.
S. MCGOWAN,
JAMES CHESNUT,
Chairman Auxiliary Committee.