The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-29

" - es::s.. *, ssaee - g.S-' s.. !.
( right arm 70 be severed from my body
before I would become = delegate to its
Convention" lApplause.
Aad now, MI. President, in reference
to tho other party 10 this canvass. We
hsve no animosity against them. They
came to our State 10 swarms from the
North, when the smoke, was scarcely
cleared from the battlefield. What
were their purpose in ocming here.--
They had next door to pothing when
they made their, appearance among us,
and as for their morals, they had. noue,
CLaughter.1 Now they are gentlemen
Of leisure ! [Reneuod iaugbter.l They
hold o full hand Of trumps, aud are
getting high, low, jack in the game at
every deal. [Proloneed laughter.] They
adopted as motto, "lands for the land
less p Well, money was voted by the
Legislature to purchase lands for those
who had no land, and commissioners
were appointed to make the purchases,
and the money put in their, hands
They purchased land, paying the owners
therefor $50, 900, and pooketiug, $780,
900 themselves in the same transaction.
CApplause and lsughter] Only'keeping
three times rs much for themselves "a
they expended for the poor-good
Samaritans that they were. Laughter. ]
And yet We must say nothing Of these
things at all, because they are the acts
of our "friends," the Republicans
Well, I am a Republican, but / want to
know if any gentleman who calls him
self Republican will condescend to
shake hands with man who, with the
other hand, is picking his pocket ?
Laughter and applause
Dir. President, God being my judge.
say without the least hypocrisy, there
is more prejudice felt against the ne
groes, as you call US, in the North than
there is in the South. lApplause.] Tho
South has played with an oven hand,
and has shown you her cards. But when
Northern people come among us-(I do
not say all, for there are good and bad
among all classes they say ono thing
to us when :hcy mean another. In a
Radical paper of yesterday it is stated
that tho colored delegates are paid to
come here, aud that while the white
delegates are stopping at the hotels, the
colored delegates are eating in the
Kitchens. Sir, I am we'll situated in a
nice boz ling house. 1t is true We are
not at the Columbia Hotel; but as for
myself J. prefer to stay whero am and
l have always had the desire to let every
man enjoy himself according to his own
mind and feeling, so long as he does not
trespass on others. I know of many
Northern men who have come South
and married Southern ladies, and they
have been more rigid aud exacting Of
their slaves than Southern masters as
class. [Applause.1 know them and
could call names, but | fo,bear.
Aud now a word in reference to the
Phosphate Bill-[laughtcr]-
high handed game, which these men
have imposed upon the poor men Of this
State. First they said they could carry
the Bill through the Legislature for ten
thousand dollars. The money was
given. Ten thousand more was wanted,
and it was given also, and at last the
Bill was passed through both Houses,
and it went to His Excellcncy, who
vetoed it and sent it to tho Senate in
which it originated. A caucus meeting
must be called, and an additional sum
of money is wanted, say some forty
thousand dollars more; ''give US that
modest sum and we can again pass this
Bill iu spito of His Exoellency's veto {"
The money is forthcoming, aud the Bill
passes-a triumph of honest lcgisla-
ton, and only costing some 100000 |!
[Laughter.] l have the highest regard
for the firm which got that charter.
daughter Their character and credit
stand high, not only in South Carolina,
but in the North and in Europe. They
arc gentlemen, and say that because
it belongs TO them. But the Legislature
in passing that Phosphate Bill was
guilty Of a direct Infringement Of tie
rights Of tho poor man. Applause ]
1t was nothing'less than that. Had il
not been passed, the poor man could
have gone out and could have made his
two or three dollars day in digging
phosphates to support and educate his
family; but now lie darss not dig q
pound even if it is before his own door,
and because tho Legislature of this State
have given monopoly Of the phosphate
beds to corporation for which giltthey
have received $50, 900 TO line their own
pockets, they will let the poor man go
to the devil. [Applnusc.] Aud SO
gentlemen, it will ever be with them
and the colorcd citizens Of this State -
They are willing to keep up tho preju
dice between the two races until they
have accomplished their purpose, anu
then they don't caro- what becomes o
those upon whose votes they have riddc,
into power. [Applausc.]
! Mr.. President, these men arc at work
They have nice plan upon which the,
are operating. They arc already scudin,
out men into every county, who are in
stilling into tho minds Of the people th'
idea that this Convention is only an art
full scheme 20 carry our raco back int
bondage. They say to the people that
| los IS:Mao..l,