The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-09-28

made 10 the cause Of Reform throughout
The State, aud urged the people to re-
newed efforts He said that in Sumter
and Clarendon county alone were found
men who claimed to be too .fastidious to
vote for the Reform candidates because
q Republican headed the ticket. These
men were criminally negligent Of their
duties as citizens, aud would be rtspou.
sible to the rest of the people if the
enemies Of honesty and truth prevailed.
He urged the colored people that in-
asmuch as Scott, Whittemore & Co.,
had proven themselves unfit to be
entrusted with the public monies, to
try other aud moro competent men. In
tho trial they could suffer nothing, and
ifthe promises made by the Reform
candidates we're not fulfilled, they had
the power, by means Of the ballot box,
to remove them and place others in their
places.
General Butler was next introduced,
and made on eloquent address. During
his speech he was frequently interrupted
and questioned by several members Of
the Ring-oftenest by one Powell
Smythe, member of the last Legisla
ture, who has been convicted of having
been bribod repeatedly during the last
session, and whuse personal history will
be revealed at later period Of my letter.
He is at present candidate for the
State Senate.
During one of these Interruptions
the following conversation ensued:
Smythe General, will you allow me to
ask you question
Gen. Butler. Certainly.
Smythe. AS Gov. Scott has stolen a
large amount of money and grown. rich,
ought we not to keep him in Office !?
Having grown rich, is it not probable
that he will not steal any more2
Gen. Butler. I will answer that
question by asking you one. Did
you ever know thief to get tired Of
stealing?
Smythe. Yes and besides, any man
that we put into Office will steal,
Gen. Butler. You mean to say, then,
that because Gov. Scott steals every man
will steal.
Snythe The golden rulo is that every
man mnst take care of himself.
Gen. Butler. According to your be-
lief, then, there is not an honest white
or colored may in Clarendon Aud
besides, by your own showing, you ought
not to run against Dixon, your opponent
on the Scott ticket, because he has al.
ready stolen enough.
This brought the laugh against Smytle
and he retreated from tho controversy
in dismay.
A MODEL PREACHER.
Gen Butler also alluded to and con-
demned the infamous harapgue of that
Rev. Senator, johnson, of Sumter, who
few days ago, urged the colored wo
men to turn against their husbands,
unless they voted for Scott, Whittemore
L. 20. This he said was fine advice for
a minister Of the gospel to give an
honest people. A man whose mission
on earth should be peace, attempting to
turn mans own household against
him, if he exercised the God given
right of voting as his conscience die
tated.
The Generals was powerful and
effective speech, but must hurry on to
relate an episode that occurred during
Judge Carpenters address, an episode
that brought to light the true charac-
ter Of the would-be Senator Powell
Smythe.
THE SENATE OR pENITENTIARY.
relate the conversation as it occurred
Judge Carpenter was alluding to the
heavy increase of taxes, When Powell
Smythe interrupted him, saying: "May
/ ask you question, Judge 2"
The Judge, "Cer,ainly, if you
will allow me afterwards to ask you
one."
Smythe "What was the tax on slaves
in 1867"
The Judge. "There was not a slave
in the United States 10 1885,"
Smythc. "I mean in 1865"
The Judge. "There were none then
Smythe. "Wcll, mean in l864?"
The Judge. "I don't know-.at tha,
time I was not here, was on the other
side fighting in the Union army. And
now for my question ~
"Are you the man who had a ,oife and
sic children IN Clarendon, and aocnt to
Columbia, joined the Scott Ring, got rich
6g bribery, and married another ,ooman
there 2"
The crowd. ayes, that's SO hos the
man."
Smythc (shcepishly) "Iwasn't mar
ried to the first one J"
The Judge. The children were your
own2
Smythe. Yes but she was not my
wife; l only lived with her
The Judge. You were in the Legisla.
ture two years Now I'll tell you Law
that you don't seem to know anything
about. That law makes man and woman
who have lived together as you have
10 this case, man and aud wife /; and i
you don't mind you will go to the Peni
tentia,y as a b,ganist, INSTEAD Of going t
the State Senate!
This was too much ;'the crowd, white