The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-11-24

The Recent Conference in Columbia.

The Recent Conference in Columbia.
The defeat of South Carolina by the foreign
adventures who infest the high places of the
State, had been anticipated by the true citizens,
struggling in behalf of good government, some
time before the election; and in view of the
chaos of views likely to ensue, of the irritation
necessarily resulting from the complete carrying
out of the election law that most monstrous
and iniquitous system of fraud, tyranny and
corruption-of that sense of injury and indig-
nation natural under the disdainful rejection
of the overtures presented to the colored people,
to accept honesty, truth, intelligence and virtue
instead of dishonesty, falsehood, ignorance and
vice-of the incendiary appeals to passion and
prejudice constantly made to benighted and
volcanic minds by new adventures having no
interest in the State save to despoil her-of the
arrogance presumption and violence of many
of our misled colored people, their determina-
ton, under mad and irresponsible teaching, to
carry on a struggle of race against race-it was
determined to hold council of the Executive
Committee of the Union Reform party and
representative men from every county of the
State, to guard against the evils of irritation on
the one hand, despair on the other-to protect
our people from themselves and from their en-
emies
That conference met in Columbia on Friday
evening, 18th instant; some forty of the best
men of the State, representing by delegated au.
thority all sections of the State-men who had
represented the people in better day, in many
council chamber, and on many we'll fought
| field, from Gettysburg to the Mississippi-wise
and saddened sons of South Carolina; but they
were earnest men, imbued with sense of their
responsibilities and trusts and therefore neither
| Il. nd 10
nor palsed to despair.
AS we gazed around upon those noble faces,
we saw high and calm purpose and fixed re-
solve. We saw many there who, we know,
feared God only, and loved the "old land" and
we doubt not many of them had bowed them
selves down to Him and sought his counsel and
invoked His blessing on our consultations.
The scene revived memory of many historic
councils which desperate State affairs, precipi-
tated by tyrants, have, in the worlds history,
rendered necessary (; and the vivid likeness in
creased as the anxious hours of the long win
ter's night passed away and the intenseness of
thought, purpose and patriotism lifted every
mind above individual views, projects and feel
ings, merged all in the welfare af the State and
gave assurance of the coming dawn.
The conference was secret in its session, as
was necessary and proper, but is not so as to its
results.
1t fully endorsed all that had been done, and
stamped the course of the State with "nuttaves-
tigia retrorsum."
1t recognised the verity, truth and consisten-
cy of the positions of the people of the State in
6S, ''that the colored citizens formed an inte-
grail part of the body polite" and in 1870, that
'the vast changes in our system OF govern
ment," &c., require that they be regarded as
accomplished facts having the force and obliga-
tion of law"
1t professed to repent nothing, to withdraw
nothing of principle, policy or promise.
1t yet recognized all responsibilities of the
white race to the colored people of the State,
and now in these quiet hours, with no candi-
dates in the field, withdraws no pledge madein
the approach, or amidst, of an exciting canvass
1t pledged, to the extent of its ability, for the
people it represented, protection, care and ad.
vancement to the tried colored citizens who had
preferred duty, good government and general
interests, to party spoils lnsidious artlfice In
cendiary prejudice and passion, and the danger
Gus and destructive policy of race antagonism.
1t pledged justice to all, and yet invites all
colored citizens to join in the contest, never to
be ended but with success against tyranny,
fraud, corruption and vice-but it did also de-
termine in view of the mad adherence givenby
the colorcd race to designing adventures, OF
the scornful repuse given to earnest, true and
we'll meant advances of the white race-shese
advances ever prompted by an anxious desire
for the good of both races-of their bitter pre-
iudice and antagonism-of their too frequent
lawlessness and violence-that it was idle, fu-
tile undignifed, unmanly and hurtful further
to coax, fawu upon, or as has sometimes been
done, cringe to those who will to be the victims
of their betrayers.
1t further determined that it was indispensa-
BILE that the party of peace, order, decency, gen.
eral prosperity and good government, enbra.
cling every patriot, should be perfectly and
thoroughly organized, to preserve the fast de-
caying landmarks, to take advantage of every
opportunity, to cherish and nurture something
of civil liberty yet to be habilitated with the
forms of State government-to guard, at least,
the honor of the people, to subserve their ma
terial interests-to snatch them from threaten
ing riot, disorder and blood, and to ward from
them the fate of st. Domingo.
We think the people Of the State may re-
mand their attention and energies to suffering
private pursuits, full of hope, energy and conf
dence, relying upon the facts that, spite of our
chaotic condition, the intelligence, virtue and
patriotism of the people of Sonth Carolina is yet
ia power in the land;" that wise conservatism
and unflinching frmness will secure us peace
and protection in the present and the blessings
of good government in the not distant future.
Despair is the craven's refuge. and has no
place in the policy recommended by the con-
ference, all of which will soon commend itse!f
to the consideration and approval OF all patri-
otto citizens.-Cdmden Journal.
Little Delaware did nobly in the recent
contest. The Democrats carried every county |