The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-07
EDGEEIELD FOR REFORM-A ROUS-
ING RALLY OF THE PEOPLE.
The Speeches OF Judge Carpenter, Gem
eral Butler, Governor Bonham, Lee
roy s. Youmans and w. T. Gary.
A NOBLE vINDICATIoN OF THE UNION
REFORM PARTY.
REPORTED SPECIALLY FOR TIE NEwal

was held at noon to-day, in the Courthouse at
this place.
Many of the most influential residents were
present, some of whom came prejudiced
against the movement, from beginning to end;
but when Judge Carpenter, in his strong, hope.
Shl, magnetic way, reviewed the situation,
and Butler, and Bonham, and Youmans, and
Gary followed with their powerful appeals to
reason and patriotism, there was probably not
q half dozen men In the audience who did not
then and there determine, to the utmost OF
their means and ability, to sustain the cause OF
Retrenchment and Reform.
The meeting was called to order by Lewis
Jones, Esq, on whose motion Colonel James
Talbot was called to the chair. Colonel Giles
Mimms and Captain James Brooks acted as
secretaries.
4 THE OBJECT.
At the request of the chairman, W. T. Gary,
ESQ.,, explained the object Of the meeting. He
said: It is well known that the people Of South
Carolina met in convention to take into con-
sideration the line of conduct that should be
preserved during the pending political CAM
paign. It was there determined to make a
vigorous effort to restore the State to the COR
troll of honest men, who, instead Of using
their power to enrich themselves, would en-
ploy 1t to promote the welfare Of South Caro-
lima, and without respect to race, color or pre-
vious conndition-who, in other words, would
do justice. to all men. The two gentlemen
selected by that body as our standard-bearers
in the contest are present, and our citizens
have desired to hear from them an expression
of their views. Hence this meeting has been
called, and have the honor of introducing to
you the Hon. R. B. Carpenter, the nominee of
Ee Union Reform party for the Office of Gov
ernor of South Carolina.
REMARKS OF HON. R. B. CARPENTER.
Judge Carpenter was warmly received, and,
after the usual Introductory observations, said
that while he had been nominated for the
Office of Governor by the Union Reform party
Of the State, it was position which, under
the circumstances, might more properly have
been rendered to native South Carolinian.
He did not claim to be q representative man
of South Carolina, and it would have been i'm
pudence In any person, who had lived here
but. four. years, to seek an office which had
been filed In the past by those whose names
are indelllbly written upon the records of the
country. In the natural course of things, If
his name. had been on the ticket at all, 1t
should have been second to that Of his dis
tinguished colleague, the candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor. But nothing in the South
was natural. Everything was abnormal. A
gigantic revolution had overturned the old
landmarks, and the only hope Of the people
was in fair, just and impartial administration
OF public affairs. If elected, he could not
promise the lofty eloquence, the profound
learning and vast ability Of q McDufae, a But
ler, orof other eminent. statemen, living and
dead, but he would pledge himself to bring to
the discharge Of the duties of the office untir-
ing labor and unimpeached integrity. [Great
applause.]
IN the discussion which took place on the
preceding Saturday, he had been amused at
the labored manner in which certain gentle
men-one of whom had not been in the State
three weeks-had undertaken to denounce
him as sscarpetbagger." he always suppos-
ed that term to be applicable to one who came
here from the North or Northwest, with very
small carpet bag and q little in 1t, for the pur-
pose of getting Office, imposing upon the col
ored people, making a fortune, and then re-
turning home. If right in this opinion, he
{the speaker) did not belong to that class. He
came to South Carolina before he held any
Office. Upon the application of the Charles
ton Bar he was appointed o registrar in bank
ruptcy, and subsequently was elected by the
Legislature Judge Of the Court of the First
Circuit, without being a candidate, without a
cent OF a solicitation. He was sorry that those
who discussed this quesGc:.. the other
day could not understand that there was
something In South Carolina something In the
reftilgent renown Of her genius, something In
her associations, something in her social pride
and worth, that conld win man of sense and
honor, and make him proud to stand even
within the portals as an adopted citizen Of the
State. tremendous applause.] Hef would
inform these. gentlemen, though it might not
be pleasant information, that he had come to
stay-to fight 1t out on this line; and II we did
not win this year, we would fight until we did
win. [Applause and cheers.] The old ship of
soHth Carolina was worth too much, her cargo
was too precious, her career too full of honor,
to be scuttled ny a get of pirates without
struggle. [Great applause.l
AS regarded himself, the present organiza-
ton Of the Republican party was estopped from
saying one word, for when assailed by certain
persons on account Of judicial decision he
hadrendered in Orangeburg, the Judiciary
Committee Of the Legislature, when he de-
manded an investigation, reported that he had
been just and impartial judge, without one
spot or blemish upon his character, and that
report was unanimously adopted by that body.
1t was therefore too late to commence the
work of vituperation. If he were rascal,
they would love him, for "the world loved its
own.n
It was not an agreeable task to speak of
himself, but the peculiar circumstances of the
times required that he should make such an
explanation as might with proprlety come
from one who was o comparative stranger.
This was his excuse, and he would now pro-
ceed to discuss other topics
This was no party issue. No man committed
himself as Republican Dy voting for him; and
no man committed himself as Democrat by
voting for his friend, General Butler. The po-
ntical results Of the war were fixed and un-