The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-11
THE STATE CANVASS.
mEEz1Ne IN LEXINGTON
Speeches by Colonel Thomas, General
Butler and Judge Carpenter.
lPRox OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
LEXINGTON COURTHOUSE, August g..
At this place, to-day, Judge Carpenter,
General Butler and Colonel ]. P. Thomas ad-
dressed large number of citizens in support
of the Reform movement. Owing to some
misstatements as to the time for the Union
Reform candidates to address the citizens OF
Lexington County, there was not as large a
number present as was expected, or would
have been, had the time Of the appointment
been generally known. However, there were
about four hundred persons present, including
quite a number of colored men. The speak
ing was commenced in grove in rear Of the
Courthouse, but concluded in the courtroom,
heavy shower Of rain having come up While
General Butler was speaking. Judge Melton
adjourned his court from II 10 O'Clock, in or
der to give those in attendance upon it an op-
portunlty of hearing the speeches.
REMARKS OF COLONEL THOMAS.
Among the audience In the grove we no
ticed General Quattlebaum, Major ID. a.
Meetze, Colonel kaufman, Colonel John Y.
Hope, Colonel Lewie, Hon. Mr.. Fox, Judge
Melton, and Thomas Barr, Esq. Major Meetze
presided, and gracefully introduced, as the
flrst sneaker, Colonel j. P. Thomas, of Column
bia Colonel Thomas, after stating that he had
not come to make speech, but was present
By Invitation from Judge Carpenter, alluded to
the recent Conservative victory insNorth Caro-
lima, and said it was on omen suggestive or
victories to be achieved in this State; there the
people had aroused themselves, and, despite
the illegal arbitrary action of corrupt Radical
administration, had overthrown Radicalism
and perched victory upon the standards OF Re-
trenchment and Reform. The speaker then ap-
pealed in earnest, eloquent language TO his
audience to arouse themselves, and, like their
brethren of the sister State, throw of the
Radical harpies who feasted upon them. In
his remarks he spoke of the promises the Radi-
calls had made, TO educate the colored people,
to encourage emigration, bring capital In the
State, but they had failed to fulfil their prom.
ises in every respect; their administration oil
the affairs Of the State had been such as to
drive OFF. capital and Immigrants. He men,
toned that short time since he conversed
with an Ohio Republican, who, with few
others. had come into South Carolina, but now
regretted that they had done so. Said the Re-
publican, Thousands Of others would come
and settle here, but for the corruption OF the
ging-worm of South Carolina, which, with Its
mouth in the South and its tail in the North,
preys apon the body polite"
The speaker was in favor of negro suffrage;
the chief plank in the Union Reform platform
admitted and guaranteed his right to suffrage:
every one had to admit his right to it, and the
sooner they did 1t the better: it was law OF
the land, and had to be obeyed whether OF no;
but, as It was. nearly all men were low willing
to admit his right to it and join hands with
him In an earnest effort to eject the band Of
robbers which plundered from white and black
| alike.
GENERAL BUTLER
followed Colonel Thomas, and spoke at length
! of the corruption and bribery which had mark
| ed the administration of the Scott Ring, and
then briefly touched upon the charges which
had been made against himself by the Scott
Organ and the Sumter News, (which had been
bought up by Scott" He denied the charges
q view of putting him on the defensive, and
throwing him of OF the track of Scott; but this
| could not be done; he Intended as long as he
was able to expose the villany OF the Scott
Ring, and wonld deem himself o recreant citi-
zen or South Carolina if he did not do so.
A sCALAwAG DEMOLISHED.
Just after Judge Carpenter was introduced,
the noise of scuf1e in the street was heard,
and many OF the audience left to ascertain
what was the matter, thinking, doubtless, that
Il was an attempt OF the Radicals to break up
thomeeting. Ascertaining that it was only
private Quarrel between white man and
woman, fighting for the possession Of child
In which both claimed equal rights, those VINO
had left Immediately returned to the hall.
Judge Carpenter then proceeded 70 Tear ASIDE ISL
the fiimsy veil behind which the Scott Ring
had carried on their Yillanies, and exposed so
much corruption as to arouse the indignation
of scalawag named B. j. Hayes, who holds
the position of county treasurer, and who,
when called upon by the grand jury last week
for report Of his receipts and disbursements,
said he was not prepared to report: Wen, this
low fellow, when Judge Carpenterl finished one
of his arguments, showing how Scott and his
minions had stolen the public money, yelled
out, 'That's pretty good for deserter;;" where
upon Judge c. replied that If he were de-
serter, he had deserted from corrupt. rotten
party of men, who, under the gllise OF Repub-
ficans, had committed deeds in South Carolina
which had not only disgraced the Republican
party, but civilization; and he was glad he had
deserted, il it could be called that. from such
set of men, and was now enlisted under tne
banner of fRetrenchment and Reform, for the
purpose of driving from office such a set OF
men and their smlnions. Here the fellow
again interrupted, by saying that the Judge
had sold ont. Judge G. denied the charge, and
said that Hayes, as all present knew, had sold
his honor, relatives, friends and all, to the
Radical Ring; that If he had been living in the
times Of the Saviour, lscarlot would not have
had an opportunity Of selling his Saviour for
tIlTGy PIECES VI SlFel, % tloyOo "oA.' iic'
been before him, and sold his for ten pieces OF
silver. Hayes retorted that lie had not sold
out any more than Judge Carpenter, to which
Judge Carpenter replied that it was false
charge, and he would cram the lie down the
rotten throat of the interrupter. Hayes then
commenced 10 mutter threats against Judge
Carpenter A majority Of the audience were
Justly incensed at Hayess unwarrantable con-
duct, and proposed putting him out, but Judge
Carpenter begged them not to do it, but TO
permit him Judge .Carpenter) to finish
him (Eayes.) The Judge then portrayed the
conduct of the low scalawag who had
sold himself for mess Of pottaSe; during
which the fellow again interrupted him, where
upon Judge Carpenter said that ne would bet
that Hayes was either deserter from the Con-
federate army, or had never been in it at all.
It was well known that:Hayes was notorious
coward, and had kept out Of the army by secur-
ing mail contract. This retort of the Judge
.stook,n and for fully five minutes the court,
room resounded with cheers for the Judge and
groans and Kisses for Hayes. Hayes, low
scoundrel as he is, could not stand the con,
tempt of the people for him, so publicly and
unanimously expressed, and skunk away like
whipped cur, went to his office, and after the
meeting, was visited by large number OF peo-
ncit 70