The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-30

SENATOR sAWYER's DEFENCE.

fore the Ring State Convention in CO.
Iumbia, July 26, 1870.
Mr. President and Gentlemen Of the Repub-
lican Conuention of the State of South Carroll
lina-Little did anticipate when two years
ago the Legislature Of the State of South Caro-
lima entrusted in part to my hands the repre-
sentation of this Commonwealth In that most
dignifed place, the Senate Of the United States,
that such condition of things would come
about in two years. time, that standing In the
capitol OF the State should be denied the priv
ilege, or that the attempt would be made to
deny me the privilege Of free speech to those
gentlemen who had been my constituents. /
had little cause to suppose that reason would
so far desert the minds of the representatives
of the Republican party Of South Carolina that
they would forget that ancient and honored
maxim, stStrike, but hear"
Little did suppose that those who for life
time had breathed aspirations for freedom,
freedom OF the person, that an assembly
composed almost entirely of men but recently
emancipated from a condition OF bondage and
put upon the platform of equality with all men
before the law, would grudge the trifiing favor
of patient listening to public servant VINO
and that emancipation, who has sought to pro-
tect it by every device known to honorable
men.
Mr.. President, when you cast your ballot for
me for United States senator, when many Oh
those about me cast their ballots for me LOT
that Office, little did suppose that the voice
of calumny would have produced this result;
least Of all, did suppose you would listen To-
day to the sanderous tongue of one who, while
was breathing prayers, day by Gay and night
by night, for the success OF the cause Of the
Union and for the emancipation of your race,
was barring his arm in the cause of the rebel
lion.
T. j. Mackey. rise to point Of order. My
point OF order is that the gentlemen, was de-
livering these prayers while engaged IN run
ming the blockade.
Mr.. Sawyer. That charge, based upon false
hoods, so far as it has any effect upon my 10y.
atty, was long ago exploded. should insult
the intelligence Of the one who interrupts me
if supposed he did not know he is making
that charge upon fraudulent bases. should
insult his acute intellect. But, sir, the ground
work Of his point of order Is baseless tanricac
ton, and he has had abundant opportunity TO
know that such Is the fact. ] only wish could
add to that homage SO freely paid to his intel
lect. the homage which every honest man
paws to every other honest man.
He has seen fit to allude to avote given
by me on the Virginia bill. ! call atten-
ton to the fact that, on that twelfth day OF
December referred to, l had the honor to vote
in the matter to which he alludes, exactly as
many brave republican senators voted whose
soundness hos never been questioned. That
vote was given upon broad fundamental prin-
ciples, that in the admission Of States the
same conditions should be imposed upon one
as upon another where the circumstances
were the same. Senator Morton took on this
question of Fundamental conditions" " In the
admission of States, the ground that they
should be imposed. He brought all the pow
er of his strong intellect to sustain this posi-
ton when the Georgia bill was before the
Senate. Yet, Mr.. Carpenter, of Wisconsin,
answered Mr.. Morton triumphantly by quot
Ing from his own (Mr. Morton's) former
speeches. Good Republicans differed on this
question. AS true, as faithfal, as well-tried
Republicans were found on one side as on the
other. That is o sufficient answer to the
whole innuendo of the gentleman from
Charleston.
trusted the last time had the honor to ad-
dress my friends in this State, that this ire
pressible individual would never tempt me to
say another word In reply to him. But he Is
like The toy which think Is called a Jump
lng Jack" a little box from whose Interior
when opened there springs unexpectedly
sometimes white figure, sometimes black
key, but ever disgusting and disagreeable
object. You never can calculate when lie Is
going to Jump, nor when he Will show his un-
welcome face.
MIR. President. had no design or desire to
speak to this convention. have Just come
from long and exhausting session of Con-
gre.s. have come here to find myself, con-
without my knowledge, by the Republican
citizens of Charleston, delegate to the con-
yention. lind myself In position of this kind
position from which am told / shall be ousted
by the Republican party of South Carolina, be-
cause, forsooth, 1t Is said am not Republ-
lIcan-that am rebel sympathlzer-aD Demo.
crat. To be sure the Republican members OF
the Senate and House of Representatives saw
fit to place me upon the National Republican
publican Congressional Committee saw fit to
place me as one of the seven composing Its eX-
ecntjye committee We have q notion that q
committee presided over by Hon. Henry Will
son, of Massachusetts, and comprising Sena-
tors Chandler. Of Michigan, Rice, Of Arkansas,
General Logan, OF Illinois, Ketchnm, OF New
York, and Platt, OF Virginia, Is Republican
committee. Nobody ever heard OF their being
anything else politically. But, forsooth, |
Charleston, who wants perhaps to be trial
Justice, possibly to be q delegate to the State
Con,ention, and nominate Governor, or OF
somebody who may want to go to the Lesisla-
ture, so that he can be paid for voting for
some little bill. stand in the way
President. The chair must call the atten-
ton OF the gentlemen that he cannot be per-
mtted to proceed in any such manner unless
the convention choose to do so. The gentle
man can be as sarcastic as he pleases, but he
must not infringe upon the courtesy Oh the
convention.
Mr.. Ransier ! hope the gentleman will be
allowed to proceed. would not meet him in
the way he met me to-day.
Mr.. Sawyer. Trust have not sinned be-
yond forgiveness. did not suppose | could
futter the wings of any bird perched here, OF
that any illusions made would touch any OF
those pure gentlemen that sit around me.
only suggest that in Charleston, not here,
there are various people, perhaps vultures
Won might call them, vultures, who are birds
of prey, and who might be injured by
The President. must again call the gentle
man to order.
Mr. Sawyer. 1 am sorry indeed IL have
not kept within the rules. I'll try ana
avoid saying more that will cause futter
in this fock. But was going TO say that 1t
was q remarkable thing / should come home
and find myself Democrat. l have since the
convention of 1860, held by the Democrats IN
the City of Charleston, regarded myself good
Republican and loyal supporter OF the United
States. was ON admirer OF President Lin.
coin, despiser of the administration o1
Andrew johnson after he apostatized
but warm, firm advocate OF Andrew
johnson while he was true to the Republican
cause; thorough worker for the election o.
l,.,S. rfnr nff MI