The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-07-14
Speech Of Judge Carpenter at the Reform
Meeting i'm Edgefeld.


On Monday, 4th of July, mass meeting OF
the citizens of Edgefeld was held in the Court
House, and speeches were delivered by Judge
Carpenter Gen. Butler, Gov. Bonham and 9TH
ors. Last week we gave the proceedings of the
meeting held at Edgefeld on the End of July
and as many of our readers will be anxious to
read everything emanating from the Reform
candidate for Governor, we append the remarks
of Judge Carpenter at the meeting on the 4th'
as reported by the special correspondent OF the
Charleston Meavs:
Judge Carpenter was warmly receiveo' ana
after the usual Introductory Observations, salo
that while he had been nominated Tor the once
state II was a position which, under the cir
cnmstances, might more properly have been
tendared to n native South Carolinian. He
did not claim to be a representative man OF South
Carolina. and it would have been impudence
in any person, who had lived here but four
wears. to seek an office which had been filled in
the past by those whose names are indelibly
written upon the records of the country. In
the natural course of things, if his name had
been on the ticket at all, it should have been
second to that of his distinguished colleague,
the candidate for Lieutenant-Governor But
nothing in the South was natural. Everything
was abnormal. A gigantic revolution had over,
turned the old landmarks, and the only hope OF
the people was in fair, just and impartial ad-
ministration of public affairs. If elected, he
could not promise the lofty eoquence, the pro-
found learning and vast ability of McDuttie,
a Butler. or of other eminent statesmen, living
and dead, but he would pledge himself to bring
to the discharge of the duties of the office un-
tirine labor and unimpeached integrity Great
In the discussion which took place on the
preceding Saturday, he had been amused at the
iabored manner in which certain gentlemen
one of whom had not been in the State three
weeks-had undertaken to denounce him as
"carpet-bagger." He always supposed that
term to be applicable to one who came here
from the North or Northwest, with very small
carpet bag and little in it, for the purpose OF
getting Office, imposing upon, the colored peo-
home hon If right in this opinion, he (the speak
er) did not belong to that class. He came to
South Carolina before he held any office: Upon
the application of the Charleston Bar he was
appointed a registrar in bankruptcy, aud sub
seduentlv was elected by the Legislature, Judge
of the First Circuit, without being candidate,
without cent or a solicitation. lie was
sorry that those who discussed this question the
other day could not understand that there was
something in South Caroina-something in
the refulgent renown of her genius, something
in her associations, something in her social
pride and worth, that could win man OF sense
and honor, and make him proud to stand even
within the portals as all adopted citizen of the
State. Tremendous applause. He would in
form these gentlemen, though it might not be
e. hot no Stay
TO fight it out on this line and if we did not
win this wear, we would fight until we did win.
Applause and cheers. The old ship of South
Carolina was worth too much, her cargo was
too precious, her career too full of honor, to be
scuttled by set of pirates without struggle.
TGreat applause.
As REGARDED himself, the present organiza-
ton of the Republican party was cStopped from
saving one word, for when assailcd by certain
persons on account of q judicial decision ne
had rendered in Orangeburg, the Judiciary
Committee of the Legislature, when he de,
manded an investigation, reported that ne had
been Just and impartial judge, without one
spot or blemish upon his character, and that
report was unanimously adopted by that body.
It was therefore too late to commence the work
of yituperation IF he were a rascal, they
would love him, for "thc world loved its own"
1t was not al agreeable task ospeak of him
self but the peculiar circumstances of the times
REQUIRED that he should make such an eXpana-
ton as might with propriety come from one
who was q comparative stranger. This was his
excuse and he would now proceed to discuss
other topics.
This was no party issue. Noman committed
himself as a Republican by voting for him; /; and
10 man committed himself as Democrat by
yoting for his friend, General Butler. The po-
litical results of the war were lxed ana un-
changeable They are embodied in the Con
stitution and laws of the United States: 10
those laws we owe allegiance as good citizens,
and by the people OF the North ana South,
alike. they will be obeyed. Hence there was
no political issue whatever, and every good
man was bound in honor to recognize and ac-
cept the Fifteenth amendment, which coniers
upon the citizen the right to vote, irrespective
of race color or previous condition: 1t Is,
therefore, settled fact that our colored friends
are rs much entitled to vote as any one else,
and thew should be protected in that right. 1t
is not even Republican doctrine, for it is the
law of the land, and beyond the control of any
party. No doubt there will be political issues
enough hereafter There will be questions of
national banks, protective tariffs, revenues and
taxation which by and by will divide parties
with sharp, well defined lines; but to-day there
is not solitary issue between the Union Ro-
form and the Republican party, save that of
honesty against dishonesty, and frugality
against extravagant expenditure.
The speaker then proceeded to review the
course of the present administration; showed,
by the official acts of the Legislature itself,
that State debt of six millions of dollars had
been increased, within two years, to nearly
fifteen millions of dollars, and pointed out the
folly Of paying its bonds in gold, when every
other State in the Union, but three, paid in
rreenbacks. Doubtless there was cause for
It, but it had an explanation when one remem-
bered the remarkable speculations in which
certain of the officials of the State had seen
fit to engage with the public funds. The i'm
mense debt thus contracted was to be paid at