The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-02
THE STATE CANVASS
F0RM IN UTTER.
Efforts Of the Radicals to Create a. Dis
turbance Defeated.
[FRoH OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

SUMTER, August 81.
The County Of Sumter is regarded by the
Scot Ring" as their main fortress, the garri-
son Of which they expect viii play an impor-
tant part in the victory which they confidently
anticipate, but will not secure. Yet with all
of their confidence the leaders were unwilling
that the colored people should hear the Re-
form speakers on Wednesday, the day appoint
ed for them to address the people at Sumter.
Accordingly the Radical leaders sent run
ners throughout the country to instruct
the colored people not to attend. But
their instructions were unheeded. Before
o'clock Wednesday morning there were about
three thousand colored persons present. See
Ing this their leaders made virtue OF neces-
sity, and advised them to attend the meeting.
There had been numerous threats made BY the
speak, and several Of the threats were traced
to State Senator Johnson, colored; but from
the courthouse steps. this morning, he denied
that he had made any threats, and stated that
he was the last one to do 80.
At II o'clock. about four thousand persons,
large majority Of whom were colored, as
sembled on the Courthouse green, where the
stand was erected. A colored band from WI.
mington was present, and d1scoursed excellent
music. Colonel J. D. Blanding called the
meeting to order, and, after stating that as
the origin of the Reform movement was due
to the press Of the State, 1t was proper tnat
one OF its representatives should preside. ne
invited Nr. A. A. Gilbert, OF the sumter
Watchman, to take the chair. On taking the
chair, Mr. Gilbert expressed his qualification
for the honor conferred, gave briet history
of the movement, and then introduced General
Butler. -a-..'
AS many Of this section had raised great
hue and cry about democratic principles"
the General devoted few moments Of his
the Democrats of the North to wait for the re-
yulsion of feeling in the North, which was to
sweep Radicallsm and its corruption out of el-
Istence: but the only effect, said he, Of ,tnts
waiting, was to see ourselves swept furgheri
and further from prosperity. AS for nimseli, ne
Intended to look out for himself and his state.
He was tired of being at the beck and call OF the
Northern Democrats, who, more than the Be
publlcans, had caused the subjugation of the
South. The General, af.er showing what ab-
surdity it was for the people to hope for any
relief from the Democratic party, commenced,
in his earnest eloquent way, to show up the
corruptions of the "Ring," during which ne
was interrupted several times by one or two
low white men, but they were ma MADE to TO cease
stop, and called out to the General
to 20 on; they had come to near
him SPEAK and didn't intend that he should
be interrupted. After this episode, one OF
Scott's minions, a State constable, asked the
General if he would eat at the same table with
a colored man, 10 which the General replied
that he done 80 at the barbecue; he could not
invite everybody to eat with him; for instance,
he would not invite the interrupter, as he.
looked too sheepish, and too much like yaga~-
bond. The reply Of the General took with the
colored people, who jeered the constable until
he SUNK away. -.
JUDGE CARPENTER,
who was next introduced by Colonel Bland
ing, was interrupted every few minutes,
Prominent among these interrupters was one
Ferter, representative from Sumter, who
during the last session Of the Legislature en-
deavored to ride both the Radical and Demo-
cratic horse at the same time. Another of the
interrupters was s. ]. Lee, eolored, the friend
of Whittemore, and F. ]. Moses, Jr. Judge
Carpenter answered their questions so quickly.
and conclusively, that they were fain to seek
in flight shelter from the laughter and jeers OF
the colored people. During the Judges re-
marks. white man and one of the interrupt
ers, had little setto, and but for the timely
interference Of the police, dangerous r1ot
would have ensued.
GENERAL KERsHAW
reached Sumter from Camden about the time
Judge Carpenter finished and being introduc-
ed, made an excellent speech, tull of good
advice to the colored and white people alike.
At the conclusion Of his remarks the meeting.
was dismissed.
The effect of the speeches. so far as we could
learn, has been to open the eyes Of the colored
people, and to convince the white people who
clamored for Democratic principles that their
safety and prosperity lay in the success OF the
Reform movement. There are not few who
are satisfied that the Reform party will carry
this county, despite the odds at present
against t.