The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-05

The Fourth tom th6 Third) I'm, Colwna-
bia-The Grafton by Speaker N osos-
Speeches by Governor scott, tho Soc
rotary OF !. Staao and Congrcssman
Hoge-Tho Dinner-Return TO Town
The lnvistbles, ~ .g- Esf,5. '-Y
COLUMBIA, July 8.sAs previously announc-
ed, to-day has been celebrated as Independence
Day, in stead Of the Sabbath. few loyal Are-
crackers was let of shout sunrise and bell
was rung. These made up the usher -salnte to
Inc incoming Of the glorious fourth. Later IN
the morning some stores were closed, and
there was something OF a relaxation of busl.
sfness rather than q suspension Of it. But the
white citizens Of Columbia have not observed
it. an q holiday. BY KIND OF COMMON Con-
sent they have held themselves ialoof from all
celebration of the day. In one way it has been
celebrated by them-the Methodist Sunday
School, which every year celebrates it's anni-
velsary on the fourth Of July. Here the little
girls ana boys. who have done we'll are praised
and take premiums, and the juveniles have
picnic and a gala reunion.
But the day has belonged to the negroes
and they have celebrated it with unusual
pomp and parade. From early dawn they be-
gan to gather in from the country, and by
eight O'clock the streets we're evefywhere
thronged with negroes. This grand gathering
of negroes was to hear an o1ation by Speaker
Moses. and partake OF q barbecue at Latta's
Groye--espeoially the latter. The Union
League was the nucleus OF organization; and
that body, together with other associations OF
probably indentical object. Buch as. .The Sons
of Honor" the "Refu'gent Society" and others
with banners. formed q procession that spun
round through the streets, gathering as it,
spun. until it seemed near mile long. This
proc session, consisting mainly Of volunteer 10y.
alists, all colored, marched to Latta's Grove,
reaching that place just before noon. The
crowd already there was large. Altogether, I
estimate there were present-negroes, whites,
carpet-bsggers and scalawags all counted
about four thousand. or these ninety-nine
hundredths were colored; and of them, fully
half were female.
Upon o large plank platform were present
the notabilities of the Republican party-Speak
er Moses. Governor Scott, Judge Willard, Con-
Rressman Hoge, Beverley Nash, Stolbrand, OF
the State Penitentiary, Secretary of State Car
dozo, Purvis, Senator Rainey, of Georgetown,
Land Commissioner Leslie, Crews. (Joseph)
of Lanrens, Comptroller-G General Neagle, and
MIR. Wigg, Chairman of the Committee Of Ar
rangements, and many Others
Mr.. Wigg was master Of ceremonies. He
first introduced the Rev. MIR. Jackson, who
opened the exercises with prayer. Then fol.
lowed porti,n of the Declaration of Indepen.
dence, read by Purvis, q representative from
Lexington County. Then, in few remarks,
Mr.. Wigg presented the orator Of the day.
speaker Moses delivered all elaborate orat1on
upon the usual topics of this season-hberty,
patriotism, self-government, Washington, Fort
Moultrie, the Star .spangled Banner, and
South Carolina-to which were added the free
ness Of The freedom of the freedmen and Abra-
ham Lincoln. His exordium was really hand
some, rebuking as it did all passion Of parties
and all -b.storness OF races, In his illustrations
, of genuine patriotism the world over, he point
ed to the records Of classic days when lives
we're given as free as water for country, in the
pure love Of ito the brilliant stars OF heroic
patriotism that sparkle and blaze all over the
heroic sky of history-to Washington waging
seven years war-to Lincoln writing an
emancipation proclamation that knocked the
shackles Of slavery from four millions of men
to Robert Anderson defending Fort Sumter
against the murderous assaults Of treason and
rebellion. Here some lnvidlous person at my
elbow whispered something about ''that DESK"
but the speaker did not hear u.l After going
!. on in this strain for forty minutes, the speak
er's voice tailed, and he was obliged TO rest q
few minutes.
In this interval the Chairman of the Com
mittee Of Arrangements introduced his Excel
lency Governor Scott, who made a very brief
speech. He remarked that he had been told
that Cardinals honored sons Calhoun, Nc
Dufae, Preston, Harper, and Hayne-had
delivered orations In other days within that
grove, but quite sure was he Governor
Scott) that none Of those men ever had
delivered an Grafton like that one {point-
ing to that OF Speaker Moses) in ebhity, elo.
quence, and historic importance.
Here Governor Scott retired, and Speaker
Moses returned to hie roll Of fseventy-five pages
of foolscap manuscript. he urged his colored
auditors to follow the political 'maxlms OF
Washington, and 10 beware of toTetgD donsi-
nation; not merely to guard their right to put
votes in the box, but to see that they vote for
men whom they know Aand can trust. He
,awelt on the beauties and Importance Of relig-
ion to all peoples and States. IA dwelt with all
the earnestnsss On se'f-abnegation OF q fallen
Wolsey upon the bane Of ambition. He urged
them to elect good officers always, 90 they had
already done; for upon them-the negroes
had fallen the burden OF conducting the State
in this the most trying period Of her HISTORY:
while those-the whites---Ot whom the State
had right to expect much, had failed to come
10 her rescue in her hour OF sorest need. And
here the speaker turned to pay tribute to
Governor Scott. For manhood, ab,llty and
worth, the speaker said, the Governor never
had an equal. Hero thu invidious person
! above referred to informed me that tina plan
now IS for the speaker to run agaanst Whi.te
more for Congress-. and consequently his. Ex-
cellency and the speaker are bosom friends. l
The speaker then spoke OF education. the
press and ,ts abusos, and finally go. back to
WASHINGTON and Laneoln, and there closed by
picturing There two sainted patriots as hand
IN hand tAsy now traverse the groves Of eternal
bliss." e
u = 49, +I.