The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-09-15
! TFron. the New York World

From. the New York World
Enccndiary Speeches go Teggaa1--
MassachUsetas Is Negroes in q. E u g
COns!ructedSO.Iiii Gsse1siDs E.e.e
iSIature--Their Advice iu tlsS
Country Negroes;
SUMTER, S. G., Aug. q.
The Northern public are in ut;ee ign0-
rance of what is being done by Tie l. II.
ical party in South Csroins--oF he
wrongs they pe:petrate-the ialsehOods
they resort to- The injuries ;sey ,hEea ,ea,
and the ruin they propose. The facts are
stranger than fiction. Recently al incl
ligent freedman was heard 10 declare tt2;
"If they could not effect their ohjeo.s ii
the coming election poaceab;y. tnab tle
colored people were determined 70 pu,
every white map, woman and chiid under
the ground. )"
This declaration, takeh ia conne4t-on
with the speeches herein reported ihe
constant drilling of the negroes-the ar
ming of the people-the displacement Of
our sherifs, through whom al rests ight
be made-the removal of our judges-a.I
have significance which is pa!liDg--
The writer was present at the Radical
meeting, held at Sumter, South Carolina,
on the 22d inst, and made notes Of the
speeches. The crowd Of negroes present
was large and excited. They were ad-
dressed by "Res::,' William L. johnson,
member of the Legislature Of South
Carolina from this District, alI pastor Of
a negro church at this place, and by Geo.
W. Lee and "Hon." X. B. Elliott, both
Of whom are also members Of tie Gene
raj Assembly Of South Carolina, and all
three negroes of Massachusetts,, and lead
ers Of the Radical party in South Caro-
lima.
The "Rev." William E. johnson, re-
gro, presided, and, after some pgelimina-
ry remarks not os general or Natioaai
interest, proceeded to praise and Aatteg
his hearers. He told them they were all
they should be--they were as good as
any white man, and much more honest
and trutbful;that though there was steal
ing and lying among them, that they gere
net all responsible or blamable for it; it
was all due to the white man, who here
tofore had controlled them and who had
taught them to lie and steal. He told
them that the Radical party had given
them (the Democratic party had no ha I'D
in it) their freedom, and had brou2 l.,
them thus far in perfect safety, and we're
now waging a war for the right of 'uai-
versal suffrage" for them-he caiiei up
on them to assist in that fight, and urged
them "to die before they would yield up
the right they already had" even ',hough
the election should 60 seaiDst then "a
which they yelled, 'Yes, we will, wewiil.
Told them that the Democratic party was
their enemy, and if the Democracy sue.
ceeded, sthey weuld put them all down
in dark, deep hole, from whence they
would never be allowed to see the light ol
day any more" [Cries Of "Hear dat, u
"See dat now" all over the house
George W. Lee, negro legislator, fol-
lowed. He had been soldier, and Tough!
in the cause of freedom all through the
war, and knew of his own personal
knowledge the truth Of what he had tG
tell them. He "was present when JEFF
Davis was caught trying to run away with
his wife's bonnet on, and his wife's hoop.
skirt around his body, and he had helped
dictate the terms of peace to Gen. Robert
Il. Lee" He said, "lhe Radical party had
alone fought the war aud gained their
freedom" That the Democrats, if they
succeeded, intended to put then al back
where they came from-back into sla-
very. That "the fight now by the Rad:-
cal party acds Oh their ac,oaet and jt o..
der to gire them uniressat sgfrey&," sud
she knew the black man TOO well 10 tc
mistaken, when he asserted that if This
universal suffrage was denied him, be
would have to he killed before he
would yield" Cries Of, "Yos, ~e
will, we will "That's so. that's 30, y
He said "ihe Radical party had rais.
ed and given them, through the Frooh
mons Roresu tttraa p.ijiiu,us ,t ,;ntt.-e