The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-06-23

alone an antagonism had been brought about
by the artful insnuations of men who are aliens
to South Carolina between Esau and JACOB,
they had sown the seeds of discord to advance
their own infamous private ends. Every effort
at reconciliation is by them held up to the col
ored people as nothing but serpent in dis
guise. Therefore, there is needed an open,
frank and distinct declaration on the part OF
the white citizens to convince our colorcd
brethren of our sincerity and our honest intcn-
tion to secure to them their rights while we bat
tie for our own. In framing the platform, the
convention must also carefully guard against
miconception on the part of the white people
of the State, and not offer an insult to the SEN
timents of the old sons of the soil
Mr.. Kcrshaw was repeatedly and enthusiast
callv cheered throughout the course of his
speech.
Mr.. Keitt then arose again, in order to de-
velop more fully the views previously advanc-
ed by him.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Keitts remarks, Mr..
NJ. c.. Butler arose, and for more than an hour
held the convention spellbound as hedwelt up
on the responsibilities of the hour the oppres-
sion of our people, the bitter, malignant and
partisan spirit of the present State government,
their injuries to the whites, their utter faithess-
ness to the blacks, and the glorious hope of
better day promised by the great movement tor
reform.
From time to time Mr. Butler attempted to
close his spcech-but the vocitcrous and uni
versal cry of eco on p' $50 !" impelled him
to continue, until physical exhaustion COM
PEELED him to desist.
MIR. Jonas Byrd, q colored delegate from
Charleston, then rose and addressed the meet
ing. Fellow citizens, he said, if we had linked
our destinies together from the first, as We now
| IL. 8 t1,A 11 10 nf
Carolina and the white people had united in
the interest of common State, and with friend
" trust and confidence undertaken the man
agement of public affairs, South Carolina would
not to-day be in the wretched condition she Is.
But am not one to repine If the gentlemen
of South Carolina say to my race they arc will
ing to Join hands, and to establish government
upon principles of equality with their own, l
feel not the remotest doubt but that they will
do what they say. l know the old citizens OF
South Carolina. | have lived in the State since
1875 and there are 10 men under Gods heaven
in whose word | place such implicit confidence
as in theirs. am republican, and expect
ever to cherish republican principles; but i do
not conceive that republicanism would lead me
to continue a set Of men Ill Office who, while
their right hand grasps yours in sembled friend
ship, their LETT hand Is stealing Its way to your
purse There are men here now III South Caro-
lima, aliens to her soil, men from other chimes,
who, when they came to this State, were almost
begging bread, and are now riding i'll their line
carriages and rolling in wealth. Where did
that money come from? Fel!ow-cltizcns 1t
came from your pocket, and from my labor
| While in the Land Commission they have pre-
tended 10 give homes to the homeless and land
to the landcss, scarce poor man has piece
of land while III one transaction alone some
of the officers of the Land Commission dciraud-
cd, nay, stole from the State, 100000.
Mr.. Jonas Byrd showed up also the nefarious
practice on the passage Of the phosphate bill,
and ended by urging all the patriots of tho
country to rally TO the old ship OF Safe Tor, IN
his expressive words, she's ncariy on the break
crS
Mr.. J. p Thomas spoke next. In its incip-
icncy, he said this movement had not received
the hearty approval of his Judgment. Not
that he did not shudder 1T the ouJrages upon
civilization, honesty and dccency daily perpe-
crnment. Not that he did not hark to the cry
of our distressed State, but because he had al
most lost hope in receiving any support from
the coored people lie was, he owned, a
doubling Thomas, and not till he perceived the
noble action of the colored delegates in this
convention did he feel confidence in the sue
cess of the movement Now all his fears were
removed, and he could enter upon the canvass
with all the earnestness and zeal which truth
and generous patriotism inspires. lie favor
ably urged the advisableness Of nomination;
the new movement to meet with success must
have a standard bearer i'll the field, must have
personality and individuality. We are striking
against fraud and corruption let us put honest
and incorruptible men Ill the field, and trusting
that the God of justice may give us the victory,
do l,ottla monfi,ly for the riUht
Mr.. J. B. Kershaw at the close of Colonel
Thomas speech, said that he desired to answer
query put by some one i'll the audience on
the first evening of the convention, and that
was "why we did not enter upon this move
sooner" He could answer that query in short
order. Those same nettles of discord that are
now endeavoring to keep us apart--the prowl
ing, plundering thieves from mabroad-preventcd
a combination which he, together with Colonel
Chestnut and Colonel Shannon, had proposed,
so far at least as kershaw county went. At Il
mass meeting in that county, in 1867, of colorcd
people, he had addressed the meeting, urging
the same views he now upheld. The lamented
B. +. Randolph was one of the Republican
speakers on that occasion, and cordially en-
dorsed the sentiments uttered by him, saying
that if the white people of the State would
unite with the colorcd, giving them equal rights
and privileges, he for one would heartily second
the movement But the foreign adventures
advised them otherwsc-madc them shut their
ears to his words-and he could not ever after
effect hearing.
When he had finished his reply, Mr. Kcrshaw
moved that the platform be adopted.
Mr.. Hoyt, Of Anderson, moved that the vote
be taken by counties The platform, he stated,
was in full accord with the views he had enter
tained ever since the last Presidential election
but the closing resolution seemed to anticipate
a nomination, and was in duty bound to his
constituency to oppose nomination.
After some discussion, participated in by
Gen. Butler, Gen. Kennedy and others, MIR.
Hoyt withdrew his motion, and the vote was
taken uira voce. The platform, exclusive of