The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-15
The Convention To-Day.

L
body assembled in South Carolina, which had
more solemn mission than is entrusted to
| the State Reform Convention which meets at
the capital to-day. Groaning under the bur-
den of excessive taxation and unequal laws,
disheartened and discounted by their una
vailing contest with ignorance and vice,
weary of waiting for the relief that never
comes, and sick at heart with hope long de-
ferred-the people of the State have at last
aroused themselves from their lethargy, have
at last shown their willingness to make a
desperate struggle for Justice, Right and
Liberty.
And they began in the right way. The
first step was boldly planted down. From
the beginning the whites saw and felt that
the blacks must be dealt with candidly and
fairly. 1t was useless to invite the colored
voter to support any man, or any set OF men,
who did not acknowledge that the law made
the black the political and civil equal OF
those whom he sustained at the ballot-box,
OF elevated into the cushioned chairs OF Of
flee. This was plain to begin with. The
next thing was to give a fit expression to the
popular conviction. There was no active
political organization outside OF the Radical
party; the Democracy were alternating, and
may be now-despite this torrid weather
As the best and quickest way OF reaching
the desired point, meeting was held OF the
editors of the Opposition press. That meet
ing affirmed the civil and political equality
of all the citizens of the State, and the equal
right OF all citizens to hold public office.
And it advised, besides, that State Con-
vention be held on June 18th, to nominate
State ticket, and make other arrangements
for conducting the fall canvass. The action
of the Press Conference-relating to the sta
tus of the freedmen-was accepted and
warmly commended by every newspaper in
South Carolina, with only three or four ex-
ceptions And the people are to the full as
unanimous as the press.
Now and then comatose politician gath
ers his wits about him, and proves, to the
satisfaction of his companion mummies,
that cuneiform inscription is palmer than
Roman text and that two and two make
| FIVE.
But as q mass, as whole the white peo-
pie of South Carolina do recognize to-day
the civil and political equality OF their COL
ored sellow-citizens. This, then, shows the
vast importance of the State Reform Con-
vention, for that convention-the mouth
piece of the people-wil be living witness
of the truth and sincerity OF the whole Re-
form movement. For the first time in our
history, the representative white men and
representative colored men of South Caro-
lima, will take counsel together for the COM
mon veal. There is no distinction of rich
or poor, white or black, Of old or new poiti-
cal party.
The delegates come from the rice lands Of
the coast and the mines of the upper belt,
they come from every part OF the State; and
it remains with the convention to say wheth-
er these patient travellers, the enthusiastic
advocates of Retrenchment and Reform,
shall have all their labor and pains as their
sole reward, or shall make a square stand
up fight against Scott and his minions.
This is the gist Of the whole question.
Looking over the whole field, scanning the
long horizon, it is hard to find one argu-
ment against immediate action-imme-
date nomination will hold water
for an instant. A nomination OF candidates
for Governor and Acknowledgement, to
run against Scott, and, perhaps, Elliott, will
unite and consolidate the Reformers-it will
give the people centre, it will impel them
to organize and work, it will give them q
head and chief, it will show them that sue
cess is possible. On the other hand, il no
nomination be made, the whole movement
falls to the ground, and even in the county
elections the Opposition will be dccisively
defeated. Indeed, the only way to succeed
in the counties is by having nomination at
once. That nomination will lead to unity
of thought and action; it will enkiudle anew
the slumbering fires Of patriotic zeal; it will
so bring out the white anil the black cham
pions of Reform that even if We were to fai!
upon the general ticket We should have
either small majority or a humping big
minority in the General Assembly OF the
State.
Ii the attempt be made, something will
surely be gained; but if hands be folded and
no nomination made, the people would lose
all and get what they would deserve
nothing.
And surely it is better to break the sword
in the thick of the fight, than to allow it to
rust in the scabbard. The time for action
has come; and the people demand to be led
against the enemy. But the convention
must decide. Should that body determine
to make no nominations, South Carolina is
utterly lost for many years to come. II,
however, the convention grapple manfully
with suspicion and doubt, if they show the
people thelenemy's works and bis battered
lines OF defence, if they put forth ticket
that all honest men can support-then will