The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-08-05
UNION REFORM MEETING ABBEr
WILLIE COURT HOUSE.


Quite a largo and enthusiastic meet
ing Of our citizens was held in the
Court House here on Saturday last,
to welcome Mcssrs. Carpenter and
Butler, tho candidates Of the Union
Reform party, and their associates,
Mcssrs. Kcrshaw, Youmans, and Ba-
con. by tho courtesy of President
Bush, and Superintendent More, Of
the Grccn1illo and Columbia Railroad,
:. special train was rlln, to Nincty-Six,
which brought up tho people Of tho
Saluda, whilst the various sections Of
the Savannah were all represented.
A largo proportion Of the assembly
consisted Of colorcd men who proved
themselves tho most patient and at
1entivo listeners, as we'll rs tho most
enthusiastic and dcmonstrativc. A
we'll trained band Of music, from An
derson, gavo tho tocsin for tho fray,
and filed up tho interludcs Of the
wordy battle with its own martial,
spirit stirring strains.
Tho speakers Of tho day came on
tho morning train from GrccnvilIc:
and werc received ut the depot by a
number Of our citizens. After short
interval of rest, they were escorted to
the Court House, whcro an cnthusias-
tic welcome greeted them from the
largo audience which packed the bull
ding from centre to circumference.
Accompanying them were Mcssrs. +.
D. Ldc and Jno. A. Moroso: the re-
porters respectively of the Charleston
Ne1ps and Charleston Courier, who
have been doing "yeoman's service"
in their full and graphic reports Of the
meetings at Walhalia, Pcndlcton, An
'dersoh, Greenvillc, and elsewhere, and
whose kind aid and nimbre art have res
cucd from oblivion tho burning words
and fiery invectivo Of tho eloquent
speakers. .E..,''
Col. james S. CotLran presided at
the meeting, and with accustomed case
and conrtly, characteristic phrase,
gracefully introduced tho successive
orators. TO tho attention and sympa-
thics ofthc audience.
And now, before advcrting to the
speeches, let us say a word in behalf
Of the speakers thcmsclvcs.-thcir mo-
tives and their purposes. Can calum-
ny itself misreprcscut the motives
with which they have entered upon
tho arduous work of the campaign 2
Judge Carpenter has resigned II lucra-
tivs Office, cut loose from party tics,
and breasted tho storm Of dctraction
which has assailed his past career.
General Butler has resigned no office,
but like his colleague, at the sacrifice
OF time and personal interests, has en-
tered upon n doubtful campaign, and
encountered, too, the showers Of OBJ
loquy and abuse. Could the Office Of
Lieutcnant-Governor compensate for
this, Or cvcn that Of Governor, unless
they were sustained by something
higher than the greed Of Office? De
traction theu has been without meas
ure, but nothing have we seen TO i'm
peach the motives with which they
have entered into the present cam,
paign.
And amid all the storm of dctrac.
ton which has assailcd the personal
character of the candidates, we have
seen no sufficient answer to tho
charges Of mal-administration which
they have brought against tho pre-
sent State Governmcnt-no impcach
ment Of the principles of reform
which Messrs. Carpenter and Butlc,
1avc earnestly advocated. These
principles arc indeed unimpcachable
and recognized alike by friend and
foe, for they lie at tho foundation Of
all government. The election of hon
est and capable men to oilicc-ccono
my apd purity in tho administrator,
T--theso are Tho cardinal principles o.
the Union Reform movement, and Re
publicans cannot disavow. them. The
burden of its charge against the
>, Union Reformcrs in this respect is
that. they havo stolen the clothes
the, cardinal principlcs-of Rcpubli
7 Ecanism itself to serve purpose and
that admitting reform to be necessary
it should have been carried on in tho
:. bosom Of the party7 Frivolous pro
q textl Have we not called upon tho
!. dominant party to unite upon com
mon platform in support Of principles
which should rise above alLparty ties
Bnf they have refused, simply because
they think that they havo the mon
;, Opoly of power, and becnnso they arr
not disposed TO share the honors ant
emoiuments Of Office. But enough OF
.sstl.is subject. II
y .j,ss. .s;ssSGRNERhL KERsnAw
was frstsSntroduccd rs the gallan
soldier, thoshcro Of n hundred fights
ssMh6se personal eli aYaeter and distin
esgnish led worth were enoHgh to emo
slbAe anyeausS ID. ;isicsr lie might bs
e,cnlist1d dTA Tie GSneTklamade hstrong &
.scon tineisgAh o66olaaiye {, afgnnI ent t
THAT tho pfins pfesSf reform
pswstessalise tiths pffncfles efsDsnio 10
I,cratssatfa Repabl leans by tIjen
aalikesshcogniz laAd dianheal Iis
answered the charge Of its leanin& stS
Rapub bHcarism by reading the letter.
ratsa sfsfsfring I tties deelaTa ati6hs d
ssAeiri iaa1ies sss dIanfptop,p CONNER
aNnyns, xnd otheT leadihg Democrats