The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-10
A Card from MIR. Gilbert Pl1lsbury.
To the Editor of the Daily NsUs:

To the Editor of the Daily NsWs:
During the past few months my name has
appeared frequently in all the newspapers OF
the city; and although have almost invari-
ably been stigmatized and mjsrepresented,
have never entreated or demanded space from
any of them to refute q single aspersion
against my moral or political character.
But statement appeared in recent num-
Der of TIE DAILY NEWS which was more in
furious and incorrect than any of the numer-
ous charges uDjustly preferred against me;
and Justice to myself and perhaps ,selt-preser-
vation, demand from me puolic denial. MOI
having before me copy OF the paper which
contained The charge, l can only give the sub
stance of the imputation. It was, that on the
evening when the Democrats were assembled
in front of the Charleston Hotel, was at Mill
tary Hall, designing and endeavorlng to,lead
procession ofcolored men through the Demo-
cratic crowd To breaf it up, and that was only
prevented from executing my mao oeslgn Dy
the earnest interposition of the Mayor.
The same article lntimated unmistakably that
in the event ot any disturbance or outbreak,
my poor life would be among the first sought
and sacrificed.
And because this misstatement was not by
me publicly refuted at the time, it was d,gnyted
from the Democratic white voters to the col
ored voters of Charleston" as follows: when
wo held our great meeting on the evening. OF
the 4th Of July, you proposed, tits said, under
the guidance OF a white man who ls your can
didate for Mayor, and, we are told, assembled
to form in procession and disturb our meeting
by marching through full five thousand people,
closely packed, in the streets. You were, for
tuuately for yourselves, prevented by the IN
fuence of the Mayor, who is also OF your pohtI-
cal affinity" Further along in the same '.ad-
dress" was, by direct implication, ranked
with men of "bad character and depraved ma
ture;" with "infamous outcast white men who
lead you, urge You into these aggressions;"
and the subject was finally disposed of by the
following remarkable procamation: They will
be held to fearful account when the day OF their
whirlwind cometh."
Allow me now to state the part which real
" did act on the evening OF the Oath, above
alluded to- There had peen call issued for
Republican mass meeting at the Club House
on that same evening. 1 had no part or voice
in the arrangements for that gathering. only
received an invitation by letter rom the COM
mittee to be present and address the meeting,
wh Oh invitation 7 accepted. did not 60 near
Military Hall on that evening. On my way to
the Club House, tarried at the Democratic
meeting for the purpose OF seeing and hearing
Wade Hampton, for the first time. While
standing in the crowd, heard it rumored that
the colored procession designed moving down
Meeting-street TO the Club House. l immedi-
ately dispatched q message to the COM
mittee Of arrangements requesting them to
desist from any such attempt, If indeed
it was meditated The committee received
my message, info. ming me afterwards that
they entertained no such design at the time OF
receiving 1t. In my remarks at the Club House,
on that very evening, cautioned that vast as
semblage against improper or riotous conduct
on auy and every occasion. Abiding particu-
larly to the multitude then assembled in front
of the Charleston Hotel, urged it upon then,
to retire quietly by some other route, and not
to cause even the semblance of disturbance OF
any kind. This request was cheerfully and
readily complied with.
When nightly professions have halted before
my door, I have invariably encouraged them
to observe order and manly department; once,
at least, administering stern rebuke against
certain improprieties which it was reported the
juvenile portion of the crowd had committed
on the line OF march, and was moro than graft
fed to know that tho entire multitude Of men
the line seconded my advice and
rebuke.
% have often demonstrated even against in-
reference with the colored Democratic clubs.
the demoralization produced among
them by whiskcy and other concomitants, 1
have always insisted that they were in the e1-
ercise of o political right, and that if they.
really choose to rally under the Democratic
flag, no viol'nt or riotous conduct should be
to ahridge that right.
Such has uniformly been my course, and
such it will continue to be. Thousands Of my
friends, besides many who are willing to be
ranked as my political enemies, can bear wit
ness to it, for they have often hearI me avow
my sentiments in the most public manner
possible.
Trusting in God, and believing that the
has the ability. as well as the dis
position to pro :ect the humblest citizen in all
his rights under the constitution, have ever
counselled patience, and str1c, observance OF
law and order. II, therefore, through mlsrep-
or political haired, or any other
means, should chance 10 be sacrificed, am
to fall in the line Of duty.
FL my still be permitted to survive, and to
exercise the full rights Of citizenship no in
timidation, or fattery, can cause me to deviate
one hairs breadth from that same line.
GILBERT PILLSBURY.