The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-12-02
The Influence Retarding the
States PrOperty-The La
bor Convention,
Der Convention.

There Is no reason why, under Ie
gitinate state ofufairs, harmony shoul!
not now exist between the classes Of
whites and blacks In South Carolina.-
The c5loted man rs now in the full en-
jnyment of civil and poltical rights, and
so far as State Legislation is concerned,
it is framed in his behalf. Tis har,
mony is d sirabe. The prosperity Of
the State Is to be proaioted by it. The
solid Interests Of the entire population
depend 1atgely Upon it. Bat this har-
mon5 docs not exist. Ia many por-
tions of the State, a state of affairs ex.
lists that does not promise much for
next year Gov. Scott's incendiury
proclamations and The speeches of radi
cal demagogucs, arc doing their work,
and we shall deem the State fortunate
if it escapes scenes of violence that 20
beyond mere individual uffrays 1t be
comes our duty to caution the mischief
makers-ofacial md unofficial gainst
their mad suggestions. We learn that
in Abbevillc especially, excitement ex-
lists. On last Saturday, We arc told that
Mr.. Hoge addressed a large crowd of col.
ored men in Abbevfile, and advised
them not to work for the whites unless
they received as wages half they made
and their weekly ra,ions: This, it is
said, made them wild. They over. ran
Abbevillc Court House fof two days,
and on MONDAY, over 100 Of these cx-
cited colored persons accompanied Hogc
and Gufin to Hodges Depot. where
they met quite reinforcement. and
called on Gutin for a speech. He gave
them few words, aud in conclusion,
said: "Within three feet of where l
stand, the noble Randolph was killed,
anil has denth shouM mao be avengcd
by yoa." Mach other incendiary Ian.
guagc was used, but this was enough.
Gufin then came to this city, and the
negroes returned to the Court Hodse,
whore they held o mcotirg. and, it is
said. arranged programme OF Violence.
This is the information which comes
to us from a reliaJie spurce. We deom
it our duty To place it before the pnb.
lie, 80 that if any trouble shall arise
from such n suggestion az that attribu.
ted to this Mr.. Gufin, the local leader
of Radicalism in Abbcvillc, Where it
will be understood where the response
bility rests. We know the people Of
Abbevillc They are willing, as good
citizens, to abide by the law. But they
will protect themselves, and teach az
gressors q wholesome lesson. Itis IN
deed, a gt s. outrage that at this time,
when all good citizens arc disposed to
90 to work, and brild cp tho State, and
have an era Of peace and prosperity,
that VIC should have in our midst class
of mischief makers and intcfmeddlers,
who, to serve party ends, are stirring
up the waters of strife and bitterness,
and proloneing the period of distrust
and suspicion. Formerly IT was suf:
rage that the col"rcd man must have.
Now the point is labor Us. capital, and
thus VIC 20 ON. The influences that
retard our prosperity arc evident. They
sprung from the party in power. And
in South Carolina we can have no un.
interrupted prosperity until all good
citizens orgsnizc, unite and displdce at
the ballot box a regime, ruinous alike
to whitet and blacks. In this connec-
tion We may refer to the spirit and ut
terances OF the Labor Convention now
holding its sessions in this city. This
Convention, we nhy is we'll say, is a
radical affair from beginning to end
neither more nor less than radieal ends.
The agricultural interests of this State
have received blow from this Conven-
ton, which we lear will be felt another
year. At a time when the colorcd Ia
Dor of the State was disposed to 90 to-
work, this Convention comes with its
prcpos,crous demands to affect the in
tercsts of the South. 1t arrays the COL
ored Iabnr of the South asuinst the cap
ital of the State, and it so~s mistrust.
This is the way in which the radical
leaders advance tho interests of South
Carolina Their programme is one rule
or ruin, and VIC hope that they may Be
met with the firm, steHdy and uuani.
NOUS opposition of.hat class whom they
seek to huniliatc and embarrass.
CyiumJia FhGnir.