The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-22
THE REFORM CONVENTION.
HARMONIOUS ACTION.
Largo Number ofCelossd Delegates In
Attendance.


Largo Nunsbsr OF Celossd Delegates In
Attendance.
1.-THE UNION RBFO8M PARTY.n
HON. -. -. CARPENTER, FOR GOV.
.RRNOB.
Gen. "A. O. Dusler, for Lleatensnt.
GoVernof.
We make up, from the Charleston
News and Courier, the following syuop.
sis Of tho proceedings Of the Reform
Convention which sat at Columbia on
Wednesday and Thursday last, the 18th
and 10th inst.
FIRST DAY.
The Convention mot at 8 O'Clock, in
the hall Of the Columbia Hotel.
Col. T.Y. Simmons, Of Charleston, was
elected chairman pro tenn, and spoke as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention :--Ac
cept my profound Acknowledgements for
the confidence which you have been
pleased to repose in me. We are as
semblod as portion OF the people of
South Carolina, in tho time Of her
greatest need, to secure an honest aud
good gov osernment. (Applause.) We
are assembled, without reference. to
party, creeds, or names, aud irrespec-.
tive Of every class or provious c0ndi.
ton. (Applause.) There never was
time when the State of South Carolina
stood in greater peril than at the pre-.
sent moment. The record of the past
few years has been record Of misrulc,
had government, and oppression, aud
to-day, from the mountains to the sea.
board, our State calls upon her citizens
to assist her in the work ofreaemption
(Applause.)
Gentlemen of the Convention, VIC
have but to realize this peril, and de-
tcrruinc upon unity aud concert of faction
to achieve great and glorious triumph.
/ have never believed that any people
true to themselves and inspired with
patriotism aud vital energy to be ex.
pended in behalf Of the right, could
ever long bo ruled by the wrong. Iu
the present condition of things, we have
no hopo except that which we ourselves
may create. We must govern and
regulate our own destiny. We must
resolve with one heart and mind to re-
deem the State, and with that resolve,
tho victory will be one half achieved.
(Applause.)
1t i~ but few months since confer
ence Of the press Of this State, took
place, ond that body put forth platform
of principles which in my opinion
commend themselves to tho judgment
of every mou who desires government
that will not be disgrace to the civil
ization of the age. They recognized
tho right Of all citizens to suffrage, aud
to office, subject alone to personal
qualification and 10 fitness and to day
ii NC but act upon the spirit of those
resolutions, and ifthe people oftho State
Of ovcry GLASS will but M Get ii4raternity
and concord upon platform which recog.
Mics equal and exact Justice to all, the
day Of our deliverance is at hand ZAP
plause.1
Gentlemen of the Convention, the
State has called US together in the
hour Of her need, aud there are but two
policies open to the people of South
Carolina. One is the policy Of facquies-
ccnce and inaction, and the other is the
policy for striking for the right. in
woke upon our deliberations harmony,
wise counsel and mutual forbearanco.
We are engaged in a common cause.
The Dyes of tho people of the State rest
upon u.s. as upon ray Of hope to which
they lock amid the darkness that en-
shrouds US. Let US not disappoint them.
Let us come together as with one heart
resolved that so far as in us lies, we
will unite not only to redeem South
Carolina, but to show that the promises
we have made, have been made in good
faith and in that inouent, We shall
inauguratc II movement in South Caro-
lima, that will sweep through the State
and relieve US from the oppression that
has ground us in the dust. Permit me-
again to thank you for the confidence
you have rcposed in me, aud to express
tho hope that when we adjourn, it may
DO said from one end of the Common: :
wealth to the other, the State has .suf.
fcred no detrimcnt.
The rolfof counties was called, and
it was found that dclcgaH were present
from the following Anderson,
BarnwelI, Charleston, Chester, Chester
field, Colleton, Korshaw, Pickens,
Ilorry, Union, Richland, Lancaster,
Fairfield, Vrangeburg, Lexington, New.
berry, Edsc6eld, Marion, Laurcns, Dar.
linglon twenty-five counties and about
4fno hundred and fifty delegates. A
considerable number Of colorcd delegates
were prcscnt-a larger number than was
expcctcd-ropresenting the moro in
dustrious aud Intelligent class Of this
people, whilo the whites were Of the
best and trucst men ofthe Statc-men
above suspicion, and high in the conf
deuoe aud estcom Of the better classcs Of
the people.