The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-11
a LIVELY TINE 1T WATERFORD
BOWEN DENouNcEs THE SCOTT RING.
[rRox OUR OWN c.oRansro.NpENT.l

[FRoA OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
WATERFORD, August 8.
On Saturday there was, to me, the most ex-
traordlnary political meeting at Bells Cross
Roads, in this county, that 1t has ever been my
fortune to attend. The ''call" was made by
the Radicals, but the stand was free to all who
had anything to say.
The Hon. C. C. Bowen led of, and was fol-
lowed by Thomas Richardson, colored, and
Senator Hoyt, who were replied to by Mr.
]. Fox who In turn was replied to by Mr.. Bow
en- and Mr. Kien. AS did not arrive until
Mr.. Hoyt had began his speech, l can only
speak of the first two from what was told me,
and what gathered from Mr.. Fox's reply. Mr..
Bowen said he was opposed to the Scott Ring,
and had been fighting them for six months; he
acknowledged the immense increase in the
State debt and taxes, but said that these were
consequent upon bad legislation prior to 1866.
He admitted the necessity for retrenchment
and reform, but said that the Reform party
could get no aid from the Republicans, as when
men Joined the League they were bound by
their obligation not to vote for any man nomi-
mated outside of the Republican party that
the Reformers were on leaky ship which
W0ulQ S0OQ swamp duu CeIIy oh oh pvo.u "
destruction; hence what was sought could only
come from the Republican party. When re-
plying to Mr.. Fox, ne charged Judge Carpen-
ter With having, for consideration, used MS
influence with the Legislature to secure tne
passage of the Phosphate bill, when Mr.. Fox
asked, "Who says that?'
Mr.. Bowen. do.
Mr.. Fox. But Judge Carpenter says what
Mr.. Bowen. But / was there and saw him.
Mr. Fox. Did you see or hear him attempt
| ing to bribe any member Of the Legislature?
Mr.. Bowen. No; but saw him there.
Mr.. Fox Were you not a member Of Con-
gress, and was not Congress in session at that
time?
Mr.. Bowen. Yes; but was in Columbia on
business. -,
Mr.. Fox. But you were sent to represent
the interests Of your constituents in Congress,
and Congress meets In Washington. What
were you doing in Columbia
Mr.. Bowen. ! was there in the interest OF
Mr.. Wallace, getting up affidavits In that con-
tested election-and lie got his seat.
The remainder of Mr.. Bowen's time was
taken up in answering questions put by Mr..
Fox which he did willingly and good-na-
turedly.
Mr.. Hoyt claimed the support of the poor
white man, as well as the colored man, be-
cause, he said, the Legislature had passed so
many acts especially for their benefit, and
cited the homestead and lien laws. He eulO-
| gized Mr.. Bowen, and said he was the best.
| friend the poor colored man had ever had.
This subject occupied the greater part of his
| time.
Mr.. Richardson's speech was the old story so
a great deal of temperance.
| or Mr.. Kllen's speech, I do not know what
| to say, unless that 1t was a c0ngl0merGted mass
of heterogeneous aJSurditieS.
Mr.. Terry read, in tone scarcely audible, q
little sermon to his colored friends. Mr. Fo1's
speech was the best stump" speech I've lis
tened to for years. He said that he had never
been allied TO any political party, and never
voted in his life, therefore, claimed to be the
untrammelled advocate of Reform, which
could not be hampered by party lines. He
then gave the object of and purpose Of Reform;
then taking up In detail, the arguments Of the
several speakers who had preceded him, he
tore the filmsy veil from those sophistries and
exposed them In all their rottenness; he hurled
death-dealIng blows at the Scott Ring, who
| finding their political end nigh, were prOmis-
ing REFORM, In the hope Of gaining succor from
| honest Republicans-as an earnest OF which
they had placed the leading strings in the
victed felon. The Homestead and Lien Laws"
which had been paraded by Mr.. Hoyt, as well
as the phosphate and other acts of the Legisla-
ture, he proved to be the rich end not the
| poor mans benefits
He was listened to with marked attention,
particularly by the colored people, who had
| crowded Immediately about the stand, and
| who repeatedly expressed their appreciation
| in expressions such as s'That's true ~ That's
| 80 :"
There was little incident which might
| teach even Governor Scott's impudent hire
| lngs some prudence In the future. In speak
| inc of the land commission, Mr. Fox alluded
| to tho nd .1f q
much has been written and said, and referred
! to the fact that Governor Scott was one of the
| three who had been silent upon the subject;
hence he supposed Mr.. Scott had gotten his
share of the money unaccounted tOr. At this,
sleek, dappy little fellow cried out, "Carpen-
ter got $780, 900 for the Phosphate bill !" Mr. Fox
ernor e Scott. don't you?S To which the weIl-kept
man replied; !!'Yes" Then. pointing at him,
Mr.. Fox addressed the crowd: My friends,
YOU see that little white man 4? Well, he Is
one Of those who gets from the State treasury
50 day to do Governor Scotts dirty work,
and you and / are taxed to put that money In
| the treasury He Is one Of Scott's detec-
tives. What is he doing here None of us
have violated any law; and am sure there Is
no probability Of our killing each other. Then,
with the most sarcastic rallery, he turned
upon the ''little white man" who had been
heretofore employed in alternate whisper
| ings to the colored men, anu nudSlnSs 10 tue
women. Fox's artillery was too heavy even
for his rhinoceros. hide, so he was forced to
beat a hasty retreat amid the shouts Of all
present.
This meeting deserves particular mention as
afording criterion for judging the political
feeling in this section. The audience was
large, and composed Of about an equal NUMBER
of white and colored men. The speeches on
both sides were attentivey listened to. There
was very little cheering; both parties seem TO
have gone upon the ground, not as partisans,
but for the purpose OF learning with which
side lay their true interests Ugon the me sand stand
they held friendly converse. There were no
personalities or invectlyes INDUCED In ana
Colonel Campbell and Mr.. O. P. Williams
were to have spoken, but did not, in conse-
auence Of the late hour at which the other
speakers closed. heard that Msckey and
DeLarge were to have been there, but they
failed to come. CoLLEroS.
11rinting.