The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-10-07
Friday, octobr 7, 1870.
MASS MEETING AND BARBECUE
AT NNETY-SIX.

MASS MEETING AND BARBECUE
AT NNETY-sK.
Some $500 Persons Present-Speechss
ty Msssrs. Gary, Jennings, Bonham,
Eaeoa and Bltler-Great Enthusiasm.
We had tho pleasure on Wednesday
last of attending the great mass meet
iuc and barbecue, which according to
previous announcement, camo OF at
time-h -honcrcd Nincty-Six, aud attrac-
ted large crowds from Abbevills, New
berry, Edgefeld and Laurens. 1t
was ono Of tho largest asscmolages
which wo have seen at any public
gathering since the war, being varl-
ously estimated at from 1900 to 2,5oo
persons; and the spirit and enthusiasm
which prevailed were commensurate
with tho numbers in attendance, and
the great objects which the meeting
was designed to advance. In spite OF
the effort which had been made to
keep them away, q large proportion
of tho audience consisted Of tho col
ored people, and tho attention with
which they listened to the arguments
addressed to them, and tho hearty
good will with which they chcercd
the speakers, afforded hopefu! evi
donce that they will give a rous'ns
voto for Carpenter and Butler, and
tho Union Reform, st the coming
election. 1t had been announced
that Judge Carpenter and Governor
Vance would bcFn attendance, but in
disposition kept away the first, and
business enga gements the second; but
with such men as Bonham, Butler,
Gary and Bacon, there was no lack
Of oratory to give interest to the DAY
and enthusiasm to the meeting. 1t
was a great succsss-such was tie
concurrent opinion, to which we give
but expression.
Our party from Abbe'ille recruited
by largo accessions from Cokesbury
aad Greenwood, were carried down
pleasantly and safely in tho splendid
new coaches Of the Greenville and
Columbia Railroad, and to the usual
courtesy and liberality Of the Compa-
nv, we were all indebted for return
train to Abbeville that evening. Ar
irving at II o'clock we found that tn"
exercises of the day had already con-
menced in the pleasant grove below
the Depot, whero q largo audience
had assembled. It was such az au-
dience as might have been expected
from a section ever distinguished for
intelligence and public spirit; reared
amid tho associations of the "Star
Fort" and all tho glorious Rcvolu-
tionary memories Of the Old Nine
ty-Six District. Upon tho stand was
the President Of the meeting Capt.
J. II. Brooks. and also Governor Bon
ham, and others soon to be reinforced
BY Mcssrs. Butler and Bacon who came
by the up,train. Major Vim. T.
Gary, the talented youns lawyer Of
Edge6eld, had just commenced his
speech, and was pleasantly and grace
fully floating down upon the current
of his argument, which for more than
two hours rolled on to the great in
terest and qualification Of the audi
ence.
1t was the first time that no had
the pleasure Of hearing the speaker,
though we have repeatedly listened
to his well-knoTn and able brother,
General NJ. ". Gary. He has many
of the clements Of the orator-ear-
nestness, selfpossession, ease Of man
ner and delivery, readiness Of srgu-
mont and illustration-and made
what, every bedy ssid, was capital
speech. It was almost entirely ad-
dressed to the colored persons pres.
ont; was listened to by them with
great attention and vigorously sp-
plauded. Its great end aud purpose
was to disabuse their minds Of the
false idea that the Republicans were
their true friends and tho Southern
whites their natural enemies. On the
contrary, ho showed BY tho record Of
the war and the conduct of the party
since, that their only object was to ad-
vance their own selfish interests at
the expense Of tho blscks-as in the
enormous frauds Of tho Land Com
1nission-in the misrepresentation Of
the Free School Fund-tho exclusion
of tho colored from the Jury box, &C.
10. He wss very severe upon Soma
tor Arnim, Of Edgefe!d, and his Board
of County Commissioners, and showed
with great force, how the public mon.
ey was wsstod equally BY State and
County officials. he seemed to be
fully informed cf the "socret history"
- .I administration both in Stnte