The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-17
THE FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Full Report by Mail.
,Ec,ALLY REPORTED FOR TIE NEws.l

ESPECIALLY REPORTEU FUR IbE NhNS.l
COLUMBIA, WEDNESDAY, June Is.
The Stale Reform Convention, in its spirit and
numbers, has fully equalled the most sang Line
expectation of those who projected the move
ment. Its delegates are among the most patrl-
otic citizens OF the State, white and colored,
all animated by common feeling Of the neces-
sitv of an earnest cooperation of all good citi-
zens to secure good government to the peo-
pie.
Tho Convention assembled at o'clock, In
the large dining hall Of the Columbia Hotel,
which was hardly large enough for the COM
Portable accommodation Of delegates
p. W. Siebels, Esq, of Richmond, called the
Convention to order, and nominated as tenn
porary presiding officer Colonel Thomas I.
Simons, of Charleston. me nomination was
acceded to by vote OF the oooy'
On taking the chair, Colonel simons ad-
dressed the Convention as follows:
ADDRESS OF COLONEL T. Y. sTMoNs.
Gentlemen of the Conueation-Accept my
profound acknowledgements for the confidence
which YOU have been pleased to repose In me.
we have assembled as portion OF the citizens
of South Carolina: IN ume ne OF mel, ael greatest
sembled. % ed without reference to party creeds or
narty names. in behalf of the whole people OF
Sonth Carolina-of every class and every pre-
yious condition. [Applause.l There never
was time when the State was In greater peril
than at present. The record OF the past few
years has been record OIL misrule, Oi rnisSoV' W
GAnplause. And to-day, from the mountains
to the seaboard. South Carolina calls upon her
citizens to assist her in the work of O common
redemption.
In which the common welfare Is involved, and
determine upon unity and concert OF action,
TO achieve. in nv Judgment, great and glo-
rious triumph. [Applause.] / have never be-
lieved that any people, true to themselves,
inspired with patriotism and vital energy for
the right. could ever long be ruled by the
wrong. IApplause.] In this condition. OF
things we can expect no hope except that
which we ourselves create. We must govern
and regulate our own destiny. We must re-
solve with one heart, and with one mlnd, 10
redeem the State, and with that resolution
yictory will be half achieved. [Applause.
II was. gentlemen, but few months since
that conference of the press of this State con-
vened in this city, and they put forth platform,
of principles which, In my opinion, commended
themselves to the Judgment OF every man VINO
desires government which Will not be. as IN
the past few years, disgrace 10 the clvlliza-
ton of the age. They recognized the equality
of all citizens to suffrage-and the right Of all
citizens to hold Office, subject alone to per-
sonnl qualification and fitness; and, gentle
men. to-day, Il we act upon the spirit OF those
resolutions, and If the people Of this State, OF
of every class, will but meet In fraternity and
concord upon the platform Of exact and equal
Justice to all.and 60 hand In hand In polltl-
cal effort TO save the State, from that moment
the hour Of our redemption mas dawned
and the day of our deliverance is at hand.
GApplause.
The State has called us together In her hour
of need. There are but two policies open to
her people. One Is the policy OF acqlliescenee
and inaction, in the present eHigency Of pub
lie affairs, and the other Is the policy OF strlk-
ing for the right. [Apphuse.] Gentlemen,
invoke upon your deliberations harmony, wise
colnsels and mutual concllation. We are en-
tion is turned the eyes Of the people OF TINS
State. 1t is the ray Of hope to which they look
amid the darkness which surrounds. Let MS
not dsappoint them. Lei us together coming
as we do from every section OF this State, as
with one heart and one mlnd resolve that so
far as In us lies, South Carolina shall be re-
deemed, and show that the promises we nave
made to all races and all classes nave not Deen
made in vain, but in sincerity and good faith,
and from that moment the doom of those who
have ground us to the dust, who have reveIled
in every oppression and wrong, will have been
irreyocably fixed. [Apphuse.
Gentlemen, permit me to again thank you
for the confidence you have reposed in me,
and to express the hope that when we shall
have adjourned, from one section OF the state
TO the other, 1t will be stated that, at the hands
of this Convention, the Commonwealth, In
deed. has suffered no detriment. Applause. ]
on motion of Mr.. E. W. Seibels, Robert Aid
rich. ESQ.,, of Barnwell. and W. G. Rout, ESQ,
of Charleston, was appointed temporary secre-
taries.
The list of counties was then called, and the
credentials of delegates were presented TO the
secretaries; The following counties were we're
shaw, Fairfield spartanburg, Darlington,
Chester, Pickens, Anderson, Laurcns, Orange
burg, Horny, Marion, Richland. Newberry,
Lexington, Edgefeld, Chesterfield, Colleton,
Lancaster, Union and Barnwell.
Y. j. Pope, Esq, of Newberry, moved the
appointment of q committee, to consist OF one
delegate from each county represented. to re-
zation of the Convention. The motion was
carried.
The chair announced as such committee
Messrs, Y. J. Pope, of Newberry; j. A. HOyt,
of Anderson; w. Singleton, of Barnwell; Ber-
nard O'Neil, of Charleston; ]. E Byrd, of
Darlington; Henry Barnes. OF EdSeneld: DaTlu
Provence, of Fairfield; Edward Wilson, Of
Chester; E. F. Malloy, of Chesterfield; Henry
Buck, OF Horry:J N. Davis. of Kershaw: j.
T. Craig. of Lanrens; j. B. Irwin, OF Lancas-
Ter; F. S. Lewies, of Lexington; w. j. Nc
Kennel, of Marion; F. T. A. Rogers, of Pick
ems; p. C. Fielder, of 0rangeburg; G. P. Pei
ham, of Richland; S. c. Means, Of Spartan
burg, and W. H. Wallace. of Union.
The committee then appointed retired and
subsequently returned. and reported The fol-
lowing nominations for permanent officers Of
the convention:
For President-Wm. Shannon, Of Kershaw.
For Vice-Presidents-J. P. kinard of New
berry: S. E. Means, of Spartanburg; F. B. Nc
Bee, of Pickens; B. G. Witherspoon, of Ian
caster: ]. E. Bird, of Darlington; A. Melchers,
of Charleston; James Kennedy, OF Richland;
Henry Barnes, of Edgefeld; Moses Benson, of
Chester; NARROW Cochrane, Of Charleston; M
Caldwell, of Orangeburg, and j. gibson, OF
Williamsburg.
Secretaries-Robert Aldrich. of Barnwell,
and W. G. Rout, of Charleston.
II was moved and carried that a committee
of three be appointed to conduct the president
elect to the chair.
Messrs. Buist OF Charleston, McCants of
Fairfield. and Fenwick, OF charleston, were ap-