The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-17
THE STATE CANVASS.
onBEn1NG 4 cC CUNTS
THE LEXINGTON MKETINo.
Good work Done. .

THE LEXINGTON MEETING.
Good work bene.
The correspondent Of the Charleston
Courier gives an encouraging account Of
the Lexington meeting. Threats and
cajolery Of tho Ring kept many of the
colored people away, but still a eousid-
cradle number were present. The
yeomapry were, out in full force, and
the meeting was marked by gsoat en-.
thusiasm.
Col. j. p. THOMAS made . telling
speech.
He said he did not regard it as incon-
sisteut with the principles whioh he
advocated in the past, that he now stood
on the Union Reform platform. He
considered the recognition of negro
suffrage a just and wise step. It was
certainly an accomplished fact, and as
hsnost aud truthful mon, the whole
people should be prepared to deal with
the question fairly and honestly, as an
accomplished fact. There were bat two
parties in tho State, he said, and no
honest man would for moment hesitate
to decide where his path of duty lies.
Capital and immigration, which were
sensitive, and both Of which VIC stand iu
need Of, would never flow to us until the
incubus ofonerou. taxation was removed
from our shoulders. He had met q
Northern Republican in Columbia, who
expressed those views to him, and who
had said that this Ring which is ruling
tho State must be removed, before
Northern capital would coule here. he
was never for moment despondeut.
lie. believed that the State would stand
up once again. There were no in-
ausnces that could withstand this
onward march. God helping aud our
selves resolving, South Carolina will
live in tho future. live all do our duty
10000 white voters with thoir African
allies, will win this election, and iu
October next the suu will set upon a
banner Of victory-the banner Of Truth
and Honesty.
GENERAL BUTLER.
The applause elected BY Col. Thomas'
eloquent address having subsided, tho
Chairman introduced General Butler,
who, in the outset, expressed his sorrow
at seeing so few of the colored people
present. Ho would have been glad to
see large number OF {: EN-, so that lie
might talk to them and explain the
principles OF the party which he advo-
Gated. He knew, however, that the
Scott Ring, who were their masters,
would not permit them to come and
hear both sides of the question. He
explained to those present the principles
Of the Union Reform platform, and said
it guaranteed to them all the rights and
privileges which it guaranteed to any
other man.
He had been attacked by both sides
in this controversy. The Sumter Ncws,
which had been probably bought by the
Scott Ring, and some other contempti-
BILE magazine had accused him of going
back on his principles. The organ Of
tho Ring had accused him vr being y
murderer. He plainly perceived that
the object Of these attacks was to pu,
him Oh the defensive and so divert his
attacks from Scott aud his Ring. But
this could not be done. He was not in
the campaign to defend himself but to
attack the en- cmy, aud that he intended
to carry out at all hazards. (Cheers.)
When General Butler had concluded,
Judge Carpenter took the stand. He
was introduced by the Chairman in a
highly complimentary address, in which
his conduct as Judge and an upright
citizen was forcibly reviewed. After
being greeted with hearty round of
applause, tho Judge proceeded, and
mado one Of those eloquent speeches
with which he has aroused the whole
mountain region of the State.
The Judge, in the course Of his rc.
marks, stated that he was an honest
Republican, and that fact proved that
he could never have had anything to do
with tho Scott Ring. Honest Ropub-
licans could not belong to that Ring.
1t was simply an organized gang Of
public thieves and robbers. .Alludipe
to his charges against the adninistra.
ton, he said that he had in repeated in
stances invited them to take the stump
with him and deny them, but there
hadn't been Ring dog to move his
tongue.
At this point, B. j. Hayes, the Coun.
ty Treasurer, Of this place, scallawag Of
the first order, who gets his pay from
the boss thief Of the Ring, evidently
wincing under the charges that had
been made, grcwlod out in asurly tone,
"1hafs pretty good for descrtcr."
The audience arose with one accord.
and being naturally Indignant at tho
interruption, would have
picked him up and thrown him ont of the
window, but Judge Carpenter shouting
above lie noise, commanded them t.
leave him alone. Hc knew how to deal
with all such cattle. He turned to him
and said: If | am deserter, my friend,
it is from corrupt party Of men, who,
under the guise Of Republication, have
dosds in thi, State which
would disgrace any party. am glad
10 be doscrter, il it can be 40 called.
because ain now enliated under the
banner Of RctronchueDt and Reform,
md | pr0pOso ,)ri uipu fran, <Lo DEE.