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

has been discharged by the superintendent
with just one days notice.
Not stone, am told, has been laid upon
the Penitentlary since last October.
Tho Fourth ION tho Third) In Colum-
bia-The Grafton by Speaker Hoses
Speeches by Governor scott, the Sec
rotary OF State and Congressman
Hoge-The Dinner-Return to Town
The InvisibIes,
COLUMBIA, July 3.-As previously announc.
ed, to-day has been celebrated as Independence
Day, in tead Of the Sabbath. A few loyal fire.
crackers was let off about sunrise and bell
was rung. These made up the usher-salute to
the incoming Of the glorious fourth. Later in
the morning some stores we're closed, and
there was something of a relaxation Of bust.
siness rather than suspension Of it. But the
white citizens Of Columbia have not observed
it as holiday. By kind Of common con-
sent they have held themselves aloof from all
celebration of the day. In one way it has been
celebrated by them-the Methodist Sunday
School, which every year celebrates its anni-
versary on the fourth OF July. Here the little
g,rls ana boys. who have done well, are praised
and take premiums, and the juveniles hsve q
picnic and 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
k1a okr urui, ,aro.
thronged with negroes. This grand gathering
of negroes was to hear an Grafton by Speaker
Moses, and partake OF barbecue at Lstta's
Grove-especislly the latter. The Union
League was the nucleus of organization; and
that body, together with other associations Of
probably indentical object, such as "The Sons
of Honor" the "Refulgent 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
procession, consisting mainly Of volunteer 10y.
alists, all colored. marched to Latta's Grove,
reaching that place just before noon. The
crowd already there 1as large. Altogether, 1
estimate there were present-negroes, whites,
carpet-bsggers and scalawsgs. all counted
about four thousand. or these ninety-nine
hundredths were colored; and of them, fully
half were female.
Upon large plank platform were present
the notabilities Of the Republican party-Spsak-
er Moses. Governor Scott, Judge Willard, Con-
eressman Hoge, Beverley Nash, Stolbrand, of
the State Penitentiary, Secretary of State Car
dozo, Purvis, Senator Rainey, Of Georgetown,
Land Commissioner Leslie, Crews, tJoseph)
of Laurens. Comptroller General Neagle, and
MIR. Wlgg, Chairman Of the Committee OF Ar
rangemsnts, and many others.
Mr.. Wigg was master Of ceremonies. He
first introduced the Rev. Mr. Jackson, who
opened the exercises with prayer. Then fol-
lowed port n of the Declaration Of Indepen.
Lexington County. Then, in few remarks,
MIR. Wigg presented the orator Of the day.
Speaker Moses delivered Oh elaborate oration
upon the usual topics OF this season-hberty,
patriotism, self.government Washington, Fort
Moultrle, the Star Spanged Banner, and
South Carolina-to which were added the free
ness Of The freedom Of the freedmen and Abra-
ham Lincoln. His e1ordlum was really hand.
some, rebukiDg as it did all passion Of parties
and all bitterness of races. In his illustrations
of genuine patriotism the world over, he point
ed to the records Of classic days when lives
were 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 "a
seven years war-to Lincoln writing an
emancipation procla nation 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 invidlcus person at my
elbow whispered something about ''that desk"
but the speaker did not hear ~ 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 very brlef
speech. He remarked that he had been told
that Carolna's honored sons-Calhoun, Nc
Dufie, Preston, Harper, and Hayne-had
delivered orations in other days within that
grove, but quite sure was be tGovernor
Scott) that none OF those men ever had
delivered an Grafton like that one tpoint-
ing to that OF Speaker Moses) in ability, elo-
quence, and historic importance.
Bere Governor Scott retired, and Speaker
Hoses returned to his roll Of seventy-fve pages
of foolscap manuscripts. He urged his colored
auditors to follow the political maxlms of
Washington, and tobeware Of foreign don1t-
na.on; not merely to guard their right to put
votes in the box, but to see that they vote tor
men whom they know and can trust. He
dwelt on the beauties aud Importance OF reli5-
ion to all peoples aad States. Hs dwelt with all
the earnestness on self-abnegation of fallen
Wolsey upon the bane of ambition. He urged
them to elect good officers always, as 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;
whilo those-the whites--ot whom the State
had right 10 expect much, had failed to come
10 her rescue iu her hour of sorest need. And
here the speaker turned to pay tribute to
Governor Scott. For manhood, ability and
worth, the speaker said, tho Governor never
had an equal. (Here the invidious person