The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1870-11-17
The Recent Conference in Co.
- - Iumbia. a II 2..

The defeat of South Carolina by the
foreign adyenturers who snfest the high
places of the State, had been anhclPs.
ted BY theetruc citizens, struggling "a
behalf of good government; some time
rbofere-the election, and in view of the
chaos of views likely to ensue, Of the the
irritation necessarily resulting from the
complete carrying out of the electionilaw'
that most monstrous end iniquitous sys-
tenn of fraud, tyranny aud corruption
of that sense of injury and indignation
natural, under the disdainful rejection
of the overtures presented to the colored
people. to accept honesty, truth, lntell'-
pence and virtue, instead of dishonesty,
falsehood ignorance and vice-of the
incendinry appeals to passion and pre-,
judice constantly made to benighted
and volcanic minds by new adventures
having no interest in the State save to
despoil her-of the arrogance, pre-
sumption and violence of many of oul
misled colorcd people, their determine
ton, under mad and irresponsible teach
ing, to carry on q, struggle of race
against race-it was determined to hold
a council of the Executive Committee
of the Union Reform Party and repre-
sentative men from every county Of the
State, to guard against the evils of irri'
tation on the one hand, despair on the
othcr-to protect our people from
themselves and from their enemies.
That conference met in Columbia on
Friday evening, 1Ith instant; some
forty of the best men of the State, re-
presenting by delegated authority all
sections of the State1Ihien who had
represented the people in o better day,
in many council chamber and on many
a we'll fought field, from Gettysburg to
the Mississippi-wise and saddened
sons of South Carolina; but they were
earnest men, embued with a sense of
their responsibilities and trusts, and
therefore neither phren1ied to senseless
and spasmodic violence, nor pulsied'to
despair.
As we gazcd around upon those
noble faces, We saw high and calm Pur1
pose and fixed resolve. .niWc saw many
there who, we know, feared God only,
and loved the "old land, "lahd VIC doubt
not many of them had bowed themselves
down to Him and sought his counsel
and invoked His blessing on our cons
situations.
The scene revived memory of many
historic councils which desperate State
affairs, prccipi,ated by tyrants, have, in
the worlds history, rendered necessary;
and the vivid likenessiA.----a------.----'i-.'-- 49,
ANXIOUS hours of the long winters
night passed away and the inteusencss
Of thought, purpose and patriotism
lifted every mind above individual
views, projects and feelings, merged all
in the welfare of the State and gave
assurance of the coming dawn.
The conference. was secret in its sesi
sion, as was necessary and proper, but
is not 30 as to its results.
1t fully endorsed all that had been
done, and stamped the course Of the
State with "nuYaresfigia retrOrsam. W
1t recognised the oeritg, truth aud
consistency of the positions of the peo-
Pie Of the State in '6S, "that the COL
ored citizens formed an integral part of
the body poitic," and in 1870, that
"the vast changes in oursystem of. gov
ernmcnt," &C., "require that they be
regarded as accomplished facts having
the force and obligation of law
1t professed to repent nothing, to
withdraw nothing Of principle, policy
or promise.
1t yet recognized all responsibilities
of the white race to the colored peo.
pie of the State, and now in these
quiet hours, with no candidates in the
field, withdraWs no pledge made in the
approach, or midst, of an exciting can
vass.
1t pledged, to the extent of its ability,
for the people it represented, protec-
ton, care and advancement to the tried
colored citizens who had preferred duty,
good government and general interests.
to party spoila, insiduous ar,ihce, in
ccndiary prejudice and passion and the
dangerous and destructive policy of
race antagonism. ...
1t pledged justice to a11, and yctin,
vites all colored citizens to join in the