The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-10
THE STATE, CANVASS.
ABBEVlLLE BNTAUSIAOTIC FOE
THE REFORM CAUSE.
The Great Gathering ON Saturday.
VIII at was Said by Cothran, Kershavy,
Butler and Carpenter.

The Great Gathering ON Saturday.
WI at was Said by Cothran, Kershavv,
Butler and Carpenter.
Correspondence Of tho Charleston News.1 ;
ADBEy1LLE, Saturday, July 80.
At six o'clock this morning we left
Greenville, and four hours later arrived
at this place--the fifth regular appoint.
ment for the nominees of the Union
Reform movement to address the people
and arouse them to action.
We were received at the depot BY
Gen. McGowan, Colonel j. g. Cothran,
and citizens. Amid the inspiring
strains of the Anderson brass band, the
party disembarked, went up to town,
aud made preparations for the meeting.
The streets of the town were crowded
with men, who were intently Watching
the man@pvres Of squad of fifteen or
twenty colored mon armed with Win
chester rifles, and drilled by a colored
officer.
At IL O'Clock, the Courthouse, capable
of holding one thousand persons, was
jammed-the whites a little in the
spajority. Colonel j. S. Cothrgn: (who
was elected senator from this county,
but was not permitted by the Raaidaa
to take his seat) called the meeting tt
order, and said that the occasion of the
asscmblage was one Of great interest and
Importance to every person in Able
vile County, and in the State of South
Carolina. A great movement had been
begun in the State for the purpose of
correcting the abuses in the administra-
tion of its affairs by the corrupt men
who had gotten into power. That such
movement was necessary, every one
knew, and he believed that although the
citizens of Abbevihe had been slow in
moving in this good work, and came
into it at tho eleventh hour, they would
do their whole duty, and, by their
works, prove their carnestness in the
cause for the reformation of the State.
Their past glorious record was asuficient
guarantee that they would'not hereafter
be behind-hand. He said he would not
consume the time in avowing his sentiA
ments in regard to the movement
They were we'll knowa. He was heartily
in favor OF it. He would now introduce
one whose record spoke for him-a
gallant soldier and patriotic. CITIZEN.
General j. Is. Kershaw. -: y
The General stated the reasons which
had influenced the people of the State
to cutter upon this movement, which was
Gully for the purpose Of. relieving the
State from official cormorants who were
preying upon it, aud reducing the
PEOPLE to bcggary. 1t was movement
favored and upheld by both Republicans
and Democrats, white. aud colored not
only y by those in, South Carolina, but
throughout the United States sustain ed
by the Republicans outside of the State
because they did not recognize the
government in South Carolina as carried
on under the principles of the party,
but by corrupt set of men who admin
istcred the laws and controlled the
affairs of the State simply for self.
aggrandizcment, and thus brought
disgrace upon the Republican party ;
sustained by the Democrats outside of
the State because they recognized in
the movement policy which, if vig-
orously pushed forward, would end in
redceming the State from the band of
robbers which now controlled it, and
restoring it to its formcr glory and
prosperity.
General Butler, who spoke next,
addressed himself more particularly to
the colored men present. He related
to them what had been told him by
members of tho operations of tho
League, how the members were sworn
to vote for the nominee of the party,
were bound to do so even if the nominee 10
wcro bob.tailed COW he knew that
members who voted otherwise or left
the League were threatened with death
he told them that the men who admin
istcrcd the oaths to them had no
authority to do so, and could be tried
for it, convicted and punished; he
entreated them to como out of the
Leagues, in which their minds and
souls were cnslaved, and like men,
honest, intelligent men, listen to the
arguments of both sides, aud then vote
as their consciences dictated. IF, after
hearing both sides, they believed that
Scott was the better man, then to vote
for him by all means /; if they thought
Judge Carpenter the better man, then
to vote for him.
He then spoke to them Of the necessity
of the two races working harmoniously
together, and showed them how the
capital Of the one and the labor of the
other must be united before either could
be benefited and all be made prosperous.
Scott & Co. knew very we'll, said he,
that il the two races were ever united
no and his plundering companions
would have to take their hands out ol
the pockets Of the people and leave the
State; knowing this they catered to the
prejudices of the oolored people and
arraycd them in antagonism to the
whites. 1t was time all of this was
stopped every difference between th.
two races was so many dollars taken ou
Of the pockets Of both and put into the
pockets of the Scott "Ring."
At this point coloied man, thu
town marshal, asked General Butler
why no and tho white people generally
had not before taken etena IN hefrienC