The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-21
TIE CADET BROKER.
Whittemore's Defence Before the Un:aA
Lcaguc-sman Attendance.
THE RECEPTION.

Whittemore, who sold the cadetship, arrived i
Charleston by the South Carolina Railroad train
having come by invitation OF the Loyal League G
Charleston. He was met al the depot by squa
of colored soldiers, and any number OF colore
men, women and children. AS the 'tReveren,
| Rascal,' as he has been appropriately styled
stepped from the car, the soldiers presented arms
the crowd cheered, and n delegation compos
ed of T. J. Mackcy, Lafayette Woolte, white
and Sam Dtckerson and three others OF the les
prominent colored men advanced to the front
when 7. ]. Mackey welcomed the visitor in behal
Of the Union League to which Whittemore re
sponded, expressing his qualification at his re
ception, which he had not anticipated, and hi:
thanEfulness in being permitted to make his de
fence before the Republicans Of Charleston. After
this the delegation and the visitors seated them
selves in the two carriages prepared for them
aud to the music OF fife and drura, were escorted
| by the military to the Mills House. where the
soldiers were drawn up into line, after which
| Whittemore descended from the carriage and
! went into the hotel.
THE MASS MEETISj.
The Union League called for o mass meeting OF
Republica rs at the Military Hall, last night, to
hear speech from Whittemore. The large hall
upstairs was used as fair-room, anil the sound
OF music and shuffling feet denoted that It's pat
ronizers were passing the time In dancing. In
consequence OF this fair small room down stairs
was appropriated for the "mass meeting" In
this room and around the doors, at O'Clock, the
hour OF meeting, about one hundred colored and
thirteen white men assembled. T. J. Mackey and
two other white men occupied the stand, while
the doughty cadetship broker sat in the corner
composing h:mselfby taking sundry whirs Of a
beautiful bouquet which was in close proximity
to a dirty, greasy oil lamp.
INTRODUCTION.
Al half-past O'Clock T. J. MacEey, who some
time ago denounced Whittemore as 'the reyer-
end rascal who stole the livery Of Heaven to
serve the devil in,' called the assemblage to or
der, and said that he had the honor to extend, in
behalf of the Loyal League and Republicans Of
Charleston. cordial welcome to the Hon. 3. F.
Whittemore, who, in response to an invitation
OF the League, had come to visit the city and be
heard in his own defence in regard to charges
made against him, and npon which he had never
had fair and impartial hearing. He 1.-THE
speaker) hoped and believed that the audience
would give the gentleman respectful and i'm
partial hearing he has been faithful to u.s. let US
be true to him. In other parts OF the State the
right OF free speech, the dearest right Of man,
had been denied him. When tue Republicans OF
the First Congressional District rc-elect him to
Congress, then will be. heard from the RepublI-
cans of this district only the joyful shout, '.well
DONE" Loud appause.l
wuITTEMoRE'S DEFENCE.
AS soon as the applause subsidized Whittemore
stepped forward, tthe hddlers up stairs unwitting
ly but appropriately struck up, Oh, listen to the
mocklng blrd.'0 He was greeted with applause,
but two or three colored persons In the rear por-
tion OF the audience had the temerity to hiss. He
stated that he was glad OF the opportunity to
make his defence before the Republicans OF
Charleston. Out OF eleven counties in his district
he had spoken in tee Of them, and everywhere
his hearers had declared that as they had placed
con adence IN him in the past they would repose
faith in him fc- the future. After paying this
delicate compliment to his popularity and persua-
slye eloquence, the speaker said that as the
charges against him had been made and garbled
and as the press Of his State had not seen ft to
do him justice, he had to meet the people on the
stump, speak in his own defence, and assure
them OF the justice OF his intentions; that as he
had come to speak In his own defence regarding
the sale OF the cadetship, he would commence
without farther digression.
SELLING OF THOSE VESSELS.
He stated that in Florence colored man tolu
his employer, when asked about the selilng OF
cadetship, that he (T.l had sold to the enemy
shin OF the line, which had been built by the gov
ernment for the especial defence OF the rights OF
the colored people Another report was that he
had sold the cities Of Montgomery and Columbia,
also the State OF South Carolina and the rights Oh
the colored people. Now, as regards these re-
ports, there was not word Of truth In them; lie
had not sold either Of the cities or the State
named, or soop, bark, brig or ship OF the
line, or a cadetship. He had not sold the rights
of the people, as they we'll knew for, thanks 10
God, the people under Republcanism enjoyed all
of the rights which they possessed before tile re-
ports about him were started.
INCOMPETENT REPUBLICANS.
The speaker then explained how appointments
were made for the United States Military and
Naval Schools and then stated that, until late IN
1869, he did not think anything scarcely OF his
privilege of appointing cadet from his district,
his mind being occupied with graver matters
matters Of vital interest to the people OF the Stetc
and of the South. When the matter OF the ap'
pointment was brought to his heavily burdened
,c;nd, he looked all over his district and found
that there was not o colored young man who had
sat sufficiently long at the feet OF instructors to
pass an examination for the place; that was not his
fault, butt was nevcrtheress SO. Several Repubh-
can desired to get place for their sons but they
were either physically or mentally disqualified.
a number OF Democrats also applied for their sons,
but Judging from the letters OF the aforesaid sons
they were disqualified; but whether they were or
not, he would not have given one OF the Demo-
Gratis that OF any other place. Finding that there
was no one in the district competent for the place.
the speaker thought little more OF the matter but
proceeded to ease his mind OF few OF the aforc-
said burdens; and while thus engaged gentle
man came and asked him about the place, and
desired to get it for friend of his 1.-THE applicant)
THE sRDuCER.
On inquiry Of the applicant, the speaker louad
that the young man for whom the place was de-
sired was o son OF true and true army friend.
Knowing that there was no colored person In
South Carolina ut for the place, the speaker deter
mined to give 1t to the young man In question II
he proved competent. personal examination Oh
him convinced the speaker tnat he was competen1.
But then he was not resident OF the dls1ric'' us
the law required that cadet appointed from q
district must have been resident OF It lor GER
t,in time he made arrangements for the young