The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-09-07
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..;.r "A RApICAL MBREINa. II,
The Rsseraers vssqdssh tne rse.,A

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On Saturday, 9th instant, the ,Radi-
cal party Of Williamsburg County, to
patch : breach made in their walls by
the results Of previous meetings, called
another at the Lower Bridge. One Re.
formist was callenged to meet them
there, who, on taking up the gauntlet,
found upon making inquiry, strong
current in favor Of bearing him under
by prescribing his privileges viola.
tion of courtesy so common as scarcely
to deserve passing notice, because tho
meeting was-Repu6Hean
Many of the audience were slow in
gathering. Their ripehing disgust for
everything Radical seems to engeuder
Q disinelination to longer handle the un.
clean thing
The speaking was opened by oolored
men, who ADVOCATED the cause of Re-
form (2) in an impressive and conviuc..
ing manner. Anathemas and invec-
tives were poured by these ignorant,
but honest men, with such relentless
continuance as to make them wilt like
Jonahs goard at MONDAY. A few fee
BILE efforts were made at reply by colored
men-so feeble as neither to benefit
Radicals nor injure Reformists. They
shouted the blood hound and lash war
cry. The last straw Of the drowning
man They rather solicited pity for
their bare feet Ga sad commentary on
Radical prosperity,) and tattered cloth.
ing, than urged arguments in defence of
their cause.
Towards its close the meeting was
ably and eloquently addressed by Capt.
S. w. Maurice, whose ceaceless food
of denunciation so overwhelmed the mu-
latto leaders of the party as to drop t':eir
arrogant heads like peacocks when dis
robed Of their tails. He set before the
colored people truth supported by facts
and figures, that 8. A. Swails, with Mel.
vim j. Hirsch as an acco,nplice, one
senator, the other clerk of the court
of this county, had speculatcd, through
the great land commission scheme, on
the State Of South Carolina to the
amount of fifteen hundred dollars.
Swails closed the m ting with re.
newed exhibition OF his characteristic
audaoity-a long and loud believing
over his innocence. Tho motley assem-
bly, of incongruous slang, squeezed into
a nutshell, amounted simply to o rciter.
ated protestation Of innocence, corrobo,
ated by no facts or reason, save the
panny plea, the pityful declaration that
had he stolen the fifteen hundred dollars
he would have been sent to the peniten-
tiary long ago ! He feigns to have lost
sight OF the true economy of Radicalism,
whose grand fundamental principles arc
first, to encourage vielany, and then ac-
quit the thief.
The rich, rare and racy time how
ever, did not blossom forth till the
shank of the evening. When hunger
grapplcd with the inner man, and
Kingstyee's Rel Eye had armed his
combatants, the fun "grew fast and flu
rious." There never was a farce to
equal the Smallest scene of it.
The echo of the last plantive whine
of Senator Land Commission SwaHs,
had scarcely died away amid tho histo-
rio woods surrounding the Lower Bridge
when rush was made. Tho devil take
the hindmost; for tho loavcs and pigs,
despite the protest of the venerable
art.kceper, who, we understand, drew
his dagger, and brandished it with such
Indifference as to results, that bystan-
der advocating his rights to the loavcs
severely cut. There being boisterous
friends on each side, the combat soon
assumed huge proportions, pugnis ct
calculus. Muskets were dubbed, fences
demolished, and charge made by anti
oefn,ea with rails. The loaf-men, re-
ceived no damage, save the knocking
down and the dragging out of few of
hoirnumber. 1t was noticeable feature
that the disputants were principally, if
not wholly, Radicals and Leaguemcn.
The signs of the times are most favor.
able for Reform. Radicals are becom-
ing shaky about the knees at the infcc-
tion in their ranks. Their bands are
daily bursting asunder and ere long
the dark shadows of long and drca,y
night will have flown from the lucid
rays of the orient morn.
GA little moro grape, captain, and the
day is ours"
SPECTATOR.
Kingstree, August 20, 1870.
LApIE HAnICAU, DIEUcrHNG