The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-10-07
The next sneaker introduced by tho

which we are suffering from official in
and dishonesty.
Then came General Bonham, the
nan Of the people, and long-tricd pub
ic servant, who having closed dis
official career, cmerges
once more from his retirement not to
seek Office for himself bnt to strike a
blow in behalf Of the State which he
has served so faithfully. He returned
his thanks for the uninterrupted pub
lie confidence which had attended him
through life, and pledged both hand
and heart in behalf Of the great cause
in which arc involved the dearest in
terests of US all. Other and better
sneakers were in the fe!d-younser
men, and moro familiar with the qnes-
tions at issue-but he yielded to none
in ardent hope, and steadfast devo.
ton. He had been invited elsewhere
to-day, but had followed the prompt
ings Of his heart, and had come here
to counsel with his old friends and
neighbors. Tho Governor spoke for
an hour with great earncstncss and
effect-made q searching review OF
the incompetency and corruption OF
the present administrat;on-itS viola
tions Of chartered rights, and Consti'
tutional safeguards its wastcful OK
tlavagancc, and criminal pcculation-
and closed with an able vindication OF
the principles Of Reform, and charac'
ter Of its Candidates. Both the one
and the other had been approved ty
men Of all parties, and had been en-
dorscd alike by Republicans and Dem
ocrats. No white man Of the South
could Hesitate upon the issue prc-en'
ted, or fail to do his duty at the polls.
The Chairman next announced
that dinner was now ready and
would be served in the grove, and
all were invited to partake, Scoarste
tables were provided for the blacks,
where they feastcd to their hearts
content. If any differences OF
opinion might exist between white
and coIorcd as TO the questions dis
cussed before dinner there were none
as to the dinner itscif-it gratified the
tasto and satisfied app:titcs, shar-
pcned by the mornings Dir and cxcr-
cises. All feastcd sumptuousiy npon
the best Of beef and nation, and the
incest Of bread. To say this, when
Won estimate the size Of the crowd, is
to pay high compliment to the Com
mittee of Arrangements, BY whom the
WAS made. Ths Com
mittce consisted Of the following gen
;lemen, TO whom let due credit be Civ
en-: Messrs. r. c.. Lirscomb, Jas
Rogers, Jr., r. F. McCss|an, r. A.
Griffin, John Gauldin, J. II. Rice, I.
L. More, J. II. Hill, G. NJ. Jordan,
W. Hattinangcr, J. II. Hubbard, }
8. Stuart.
The audience after dinner returned
to the stand, where the speaking was
resumed by Major John L. Bacon, the
candidate for Congress from the Third
CONGRESSIONAL District. The orator
is q man Of fns talents and attain
mcnts, and made an earnest speech OF
an hours length, addressed principally
to tho colcred. lie showed clearly
and corclusi7ely how little the Rcpub-
lican party had done for them and
how little was to ho expected st their
hands. They owed their freedom
neither to friend nor foe, bat to the
necessities Of war, and an All-wisc
Providence. They owed whatever OF
kindness and protection they had ever
enjoyed to their old masters who had
cven them food and employment.
Their pretended friends had fattcned
upon their substance, and had advan-
ced their own selfish purposes at the
sacrifice Of the best interests Of the
blacks. Elliott hi,laels, the hoastca
friend of his race, had made 100000
in tho last two years. Does any one
believe that it hod heon made honest
iy? Incompetency end corruption
we're the charges now made against
the present administration, and tho
best interests Of both races called
loudly for Reform. Major Bacon was
at:entively heard and repeatedly
chcered.
General Butler vas then introduced,
and was received with three roasing
cheers. He complained of being nm
we'll, and looked worn snd weary with
Lhe arduous lsbors Of the campaign.
For months he has been travrrsiDg the
State from the ecaboard to the noun
tsins, and has been ringing out his
charges in trumpet tones sgSinst cor
ruption in high places. Ee has been
received evcryv where with enthusiasm,
and hasevea extcrted the commenda-
tons oc his foes. In all tke storm Of
obloauy which has boon raised, thero
has been no aspcrsion upon his char
acter-no "emell Of Ere upon his gar
ments." He came now at tac close OF
the contest to his Gionds at homo TO
bring back words Of good cheer
from abroad. II the white r,en of the
State would but do their daty they
might poll seventy thousand votes.
The colorcd majority did not exceed
tfteen thousand, and he believed trcm
the assurances that he had received
from prominent colorcd mon in differ
cnt parts, that they would come up
to the support Of the Reform ticket,
in such forco as to insure nn easy vic
tory. We shall not attempt to follow
Gcne7sl Butler in his able speech, in
which, fo- moro than an hour, he vim,
aicated tho principles Of Ills own par.
sy, and carried "the war into africa"
Many Of our readers havo heard him,
90 h;u -,