The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-23
Free Speech and Free Discussion.

Free Speech and Free Discussion.
The political canvass in South Carolina
has advanced to the second stage. Trick
cry and subterfuge have failed, and now, as
at Chester, the satellites Of the Ring meet
the arguments of the Reform candidates
with stones and bludgeons. Whether we
shall advance to the third stage-that OF
Winchester rifles and bloody riot-depends
upon Governor Scott and not upon the party
OF Reform. The honest people of the State
do not invite disorder. Conscious of the
strength and purity of their cause, they de-
sire to set argument against argument, and
fact against fact. But they will not be
brow-beaten OR driven from the hustings,
taough all the rifles in the Union were level
led against them.
1t has been evident, from the opening Of
the canvass, that the Scott Ring dreaded the
effect that might be produced upon the col
ored people by the close reasoning and fiery
eloquence of Carpenter, Butler and Ker-
shaw. They devised an ingenious plan for
keeping the freedmen away from the Reform
gatherings. With the published list Of ap-
pointments before them, they, upon nearly
every occasion, ordered Scott barbecue, or
so-called nominating convention, to be held
on the day OF the Reform meeting, at spot
several miles distant. Their runners were
sent out in all directions ordering the ne
groes, in the name of Governor Scott, to
keep away from the Reform meetings
Rumors were industriously circulated that
the Reformers intended ''to poison" the COL
ored men at the Reform barbecues. ani now
and then crowd Of the slaves Of the League
beat, without mercy, an Isolated colored man
who had the courage and the sense to think
for himself, and look to his own interests
instead Of working on for the interest of the
Ring. By these means hundreds Of freedmen
have been kept away from the Reform meet
ings, and this, to the chagrin OF the Scott
faction, has wonderfully strengthened the
position of the Reform party. The colored
men who did hear Carpenter, Butler and
Kershaw have been, for the most part, con-
yinced and converted, and they have spread
over the country the watchwords OF Reform
more thoroughly and effectdally than could
have been done BY our most active public
canvassers. If the Reformers are as weak
and corrupt, and the Ring is as strong and
pure, as the Scott emissaries declare them
to be, why should the colored men be de-
barred from the privilege of witnessing the
discontinue of the Reformers by the cham
pions OF the Ring? Is it feared that they
cannot discriminate between the true and
the false? Have they not the honesty and the
manhood to love what is right and to hate
what is wrong? The Reform party con-
tend that the colored people, as free men, can
judge for themselves; that the colored peo-
pie, and not Scott & Co., shall determine
whether it is best for them to vote on the
side Of Whittemore and Orr, or on the side
of Hampton, Kershaw, Perry and Wardlaw.
The Scott Ring do their best to drive the
negroes from the Reform meetings The
Reformers invite all honest men to come
to their meetings and hear and decide for
themselves. In fact, the Ring dread the
influence Of truth and aandor. Hence their
efforts to hold the colored people in political
chains and to whip them into blind sup
port Of the Scott purity. That these efforts
have failed the meetings in the up-country
show, and this led to the attempt made at
Chester to bully the Reformers into, silence.
This was the first meeting at which both.
Scottites and Reformers had spoken on the.
same stage a written agreement had bee1
made which bound the meeting to hear,
without interruption, all the speakers. The
Reformers listened attentiyely to what
Chamberlain and Tomlinson had to say.
But when Carpenter and Butlerhad stripped
them bare, had rebutted their arguments.
disproved their assertions and exposed the
iniquitias Of their party, this Senator VIM
bush, one OF the signers OF the agreement,
provoked disturbance and egged on tie
colored people to riot, in which Judge
Carpenter and others were exposed to
serious danger. As it was, two inoffensiye
citizens were wounded by the mob.
We are glad that the decent people OF
Chester did not, as they might have done,
drive the mob out of the town. The Re-
formers had on their side every element u
siren 9Th and security. They could have
whipped Wlmbush and his gang into obe-
dience. But, we repeat it, we are glad that
they held their hands. a like forbearance
will not always be shown. What we desire
is a peaceful canvass, without tumut and
without bloodshed. No effort will be spared
to preserve peace, but if Scott will have war,
he shall have it-in self-defence.