The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-09-07
HAPPY EFFECTS OF THE MEETING.

HAPPY EFFECTS OF THE MEETyNG.
The Mass Meeting at Sumter, on
Wednesday last, in the numbers present
aud the effect produced, proved success
oven beyond the most sanguiue expeota.
tions of those who had been instrument
tai in inaugurating the movement.
Various influences had been at work
to discourage the occasion. Many were
the predictions that it would be but
mcagre affair. Some said that the COL
ored people would not come to tho
meeting, others that the whito people
would NOT turn out. "Ordcrs" were
sent out, as usual, through Scott's paid
servants, aud we heard of mounted men
perme eating the county for several days
previous. Some of our impracticable
white friends, We are sorry to say,
pulled backwards, and others were
Indifferent.
In spite Of all these counteraeting
and opposing clements, at an early hour
on Wednesday morning last, every
avenue of approach to- Sumter teemcd'
with the moving population. Hundreds
of people, white and colorcd, poured
into our centre thoroughfares, until, by
nine O'Clock, our Court House square
and the street IN front and adjacent,
was the scene of crowd such as had
not previously been Witnessed since the
war.
The number present was variously
estimated at from two to four thousand.
The medium of these two figures We
regard safe calculation. It was evil
dent that the Scott party (thc natural
opposcrs of the movement) as we'll as
the opposition from the other extreme,
we're alike astonishcd by the volume
OF assemblage, both white and colorcd.
The proportion Of white and black
present was about equal to That of the
population of the county.
Judge CARPENTER and Gen. BUTLER,
accompanied by Capt. TUrpER, and
Mcssrs. MoRoso, of the Courier and
LEE, of the Daily Ne'os, had been
received at tho cars tho day previous,
and were the guests Of Messrs. J. y.
BLANDINo and a. A. Gilbert.
Early in tho morning the fine music
Of the Wilmington Brass Band had
enlivened the town.
} Two hours before the meeting was
called to order, the colored people had
gathered and were standing in solid
mass around tho stand that had been
erected. Tho mass Of them had come
to hear the speeches, had put themselves
Immediately in the way Of so doing, and
were quietly waiting.
The whites, in largo numbers-our
best and most respectable aud respon :.
sible citizens-from every portion of the
county, had also gathered about the
stand. It was truly an encouraging sight,
looking to futur harmony and good
will between the two races.
At liz o'clock tho meeting was CALL
cd to order by Col. j. d. BLANDlNa,
and tho chairs which had been placed
on the platform all occupied by leading
citizens, among whom wero three of
ouy coloyed friends. Col. BLAND1Na
gracefully introduced the meeting, and,
at the close Of his remarks, called upon
A. A. GILBERT to preside.
Mr.. G,LbsRT congratulated his FL,
low. citizens upon tho suspicious occa.
sion, which witnessed the asselnblage OF
white and coIorcd upon common plat.
form, and after briefly reviewing tho
principles and spirit Of the movement,
introduced his houored friend, Con.
NJ. C. BUrLEH.
Gen. EUTLEn was greeted with up.
pluusc, anl spoke for moro than an hour
with telling effect. Approving responses
wero frequent from tho colorod people,
and when he indicated approach to the
CLOSE Of his speech, cries diego or so
on J. came from numbers os them. lie