The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-07-13

EDeEF1ELD G. H., Saturday July 2.
This town has to-day been the
scene Of the largest gathering Of
people ever assembled within its
limits. True, the chief object Of
the occasion was to celebrate, in
q suitable manner, the adoption Of
the Fifteenth amendment; but the
announcement that Judge R. 3.
Carpenter, the gubernatorial can
didate of the Union Reform par
ty, General NJ. G.. Butler, the nom-
inee for Lieutenant-Governor, and
others would address the meeting,
lent to it additional interest, and
attracted q crowd, the equal Of
which cannot be recalled in the
memory Of the oldest inhabitant.
As early as 2 o'clock this morning
the colored citizens were vending
their way hither from points even
twenty-five miles distant, and by
= s o'clock every road leading to
Edgefeld was emptying its streams
Of humanity into the heart of the
town. Men, women and children
camc plodding in, covered with
. dust and pcrspiration-as motley
and yet as pertinaciors1y enthuSi-
,astic i throng rs YOU ever saw in
your life-whilc u special train of
cars from Augusta and Aiken
brought three or fonr colored mill
tary companies, well armed, though
otherwise got up with q reckless
disregard Of tactics and uniform.
A large number Of white citi-
.zcns were also present from the
ncighJorhood, curious no doubt to
witness the inauguration Of the
new era in the politics Of the
State, which was to DC marked on
this occasion by the appearance
npon the speakers platform Of
mon who heretofore have been
denied i public hearing by the op-
position.
Until i few hours preceding the
meeting, it was believed that tho
Republicans would refuse permis-
sion to Mcssrs. Carpenter and But
Ter to address the multitude, and,
indeed, to this end strong effort
was made by certain white Radi-
'cats; but to the credit Of the mass
of colorcd men, be 1t said, they
insisted that the courtesy Of u
hearing should be extended to the
candidates. The whites conceded
so far Us to limit the Reform
speakers to half an hour each.
The utmost good feeling ap-
pearcd to prevail after the settle
,mcnt of this vcxcd question, and
the presence Of q brigade Of po-
liccnen could not have added an
iota to the order and harmony
everywhere observable.
Soon after II o'clock, NJ, pro-
tcession Of say one thousand col
'ored men, preceded by . band Of
music. formed and marched through
the town to 4 pleasant locality,
known as the Academy Grove.
Here a platform had been erected
for the speakers, and no far away
several lines Of long tables prom
Used in due season to bcstow on
hungry stomachs the blessings Of
q barbecue.
Unfortunately Q, showc.. of rain
delayed the proceedings for half
IN hour or more; but when the
sun shonc out again there were at
least four thousand persons on the
ground.
The meeting was called to order
by Mr.. ?. a. Eichclbergcr, the
coroner Of the county, who intro
duced rs the first speaker, accord
ing to the programme adopted,
Rev. B. T. Jackson, a member Of
the Legislature.
Mr.. jackson, in the main, avoid
ed the discussion Of the politics Of
the day, temperate! y conhning
himself to a review of the history
of the Republican movement, and
a consideration Of its results as
they are embodied in the Fifteenth
amendment. Chief among these
blessings, he said, was the estab-
lishmcnt of q government in which
all people, irrespective Of race,
condition or color, had voice and
q vote, and it was government
which commended itself to the
support of every true man. For
those who were TO follow him,
who had heretofore stood on the
other side, he asked q courteous
and respectful hearing, without
prejudice. He believed in the Mt
tcrancc and the influence Of truth,
and he desired that truth to be
weighed in the light Of present
events.
The remarks Of Mr.. Jackson
evidently struck the keynote of
sympathy which was prevailing
in the audience, and they were
we'll received.