The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-29

principle, fyou will pardon the homely
expression, that when 60 fishing, I
60 q fishing. Laughter.1 We are
asked what objection Ws have 10 that
administration 2 I answer because it
has not carried out Republican principles.
The Executive Of South Carolina was
elected confessedly by the colored votc.
How have those people been rewarded Z
speak of my own county. Out of
twenty appointments Of magistrates by
the Governor, there was but ono colorod
person, and he was afterwards removed
for doing Justice between white man
and a black man. So much for Edgefield.
He desires to establish constabluary
force in South Carolina. What does he
do? Ifhe wants q Jail cleaned out or
any other dirty work done, he picks up
"nigger" at SIC per month but when
he wants his fancy riding gentleman,
with broad cloth clothes aud breastpins,
to travel leisurely over the State on
horseback, at 800 month, he sends to
Ohio. I defy the administration to
deny it.
Now is that Republicanism {? Isit
carrying out the promises or the pro.
fessions of the party? No sir, an what
is more, when you ask them why thoy
don't give some Of the intelligent col
ored people these appointments, the
answer is 2 Why they are not qualified; ;
"the niggers hay'nt got sense enough"
Mr.. President, it is false. There are with.
in my knowledge and within yours and
that of every member Of this Conven-
tion thirty or forty colorcd men, whom
we would rather sec OCCUPYING these
Offices, than large portion Of the white
men who have been appointed. They
are content to let the black man do
their dirty work, to whcedlc aud delude
him until his vote is secured and then
they lay him aside to be preserved for
future use.
Now in this platform We recognize
events as they are we pledge ourselves
to do justice, and if we say to the col
ored people you shall participate in tho
Offices and emoluments at our disposal,
as men of honor insist that it shall be
done, and that we shall not like this
imported crowd, shy "the nigger is
good enough to vote, but he is not good
enough to hold Office" [Great ap-
plausc.1
These are facts which the Republi
can administration do not cure to have
ventilated. They would keep them in
the back ground, if they could, and let
no honest white man Investigate.
Some of my friends say, "Go home
without making nomination. Wait,
end appeal to the magnanimity of these
menW Why, Sir, you might as we'll ap.
peal to highwayman not to take your
purse. The present government want
us to lie supinely on our backs while
the officers fill their pockets. They
fear to have US talk to the colorcd pco.
pie, and would be grateful if VIC would
continue to stand aloof us we have been
foolishly doing for the last four years.
For ono, however, propose to step to
the front, and grapplc with things as
they are, [applause1; to recognize them
in all their power, and to regard the
Fifteenth Amendment as one Of the ac-
complished facts Of the age. [Applause.1
Look where we may, the tendency of
the time is towards the enlargement of
popular rights. The German Confcd.
Grafton has sprung into greatness under
the magic power Of the allustrious Bis
marck. The French demand reform,
and the Emperor comedies it through
the medium of the PclLtscitun,. The
people of Great Britain demand reform,
and it is granted by that strong Govern
ment. Spain is emancipating her slaves
aud Russia her serfs. All the civilized
countries of the earth arc engaged in
the same progressive movement, and
why should we of America lag behind in
the race2 Sir, it is in pursuance of
these great demands of the hour, that
we concede what has been embodied in
this platform. IF we had no other rea-
SOD, the motive of progress alone would
be sufficient excuse for the position
wo take. (Applause) The difference
between the Governments of the Old
World and Of the New is, that when re-
form is demanded there, statesmen are
sagaoious and yield to the pressure, at
the same time that they preserve the
dignity and integrity of the Govern
ment. In America, however, we tear
things up by tho roots. We eudanger
and imperil the existing state of things
and turn the bottom up, leaving the
roots to expire in the sun.
Now, sir, all the reform we urge is in
the management of tho affairs of the
State. It is not question Of politics,
not question of power, but of truth,
honor and virtue. And so sincere am
I in this declaration, that here pub
licly announce that if the Executive
of South Carolina can satisfy me that
the charges made against him and his
associates are false, I will withdraw
my opposition.
There is another point to which
may allude in this connection. 1t has
been the effort of the Governor of South
Carolina to fix upon the people Of the
State the stain Which would attach to
an organized band Of Ku Klux, and to
prejudice the world against those over
whom no officially presides. betraying q