The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-04-14
AN IMPORTANT MOVE AMONG THE
COIiORED LEADERS.

A curious political movement i
now on foot, which, whether it
likely to cvcntuate in anything OF II
pnrtaEcc or not, cer,uInl J indica;
thai the situation is fully appreciate
by leading colored men.
When Robert G.. DeLargc was
elected to Congress, it was known tc
many Of his friends, although not
published during the canvass, that he
was strongly in favor of, and would
advocate, general amnesty. As Il lla
tive born Carolina colorcd man, he is
probubIy the best exponent of that
idea now among the Rcpres natives
from this State If we add to this Il
frequently expressed determination
by him to move, at the proper time,
in behalf Of Conservatism, as distn,
guishcd from the RadicaliSm which
has been brought into this State by
outsiders, we have some reason for
believing tnat he is about to make
rgood his declarations and lend his
Ii fuencc to the organization Of a
new party. Itis, further, well known
that Ransier, Nash, Wimbush, Smails,
and other Radical cclorcd men, have
just returned from Washington: and
i conference with "the powers that
be" and their programme Of the tu,
turc is thus mapped out:
l. A proposal to the Chamber OF
Commerce and Board Of Trade to
repudiate the entire Indebtedness OF
the State.
2. A convention, within two months,
for the organization Of q now party.
based strictly on intelligence and in
tegrity.
3. rhe exchange of mutual guar.
antics between the races, wherein the
colored leaders only ask that their
present civil and political rights shall
not he disturbed, and that they shall
have fair representation in the
offices of the State Government, in
return for which they will pledge
themselves TO unite with the whites
in the. election Of the best men to
office.
4. The nomination Of james L. Orr
for Govern. + in 1872, or amy other
man who has the confidence Of the
two parties.
These are, in all seriousness, the
propositions which are now agitaling
u cotcrie Of individuals who have
done more to keep the Radical party
of this State intact than any other
members Of it, and, coming from a
conference with the DcLurge, and
possibly with the Conservative Re-
publican Congressman Of other States,
more Importance may be attached to
them than to the ordinary curbstOne
movements which are born among our
local cliques.
The parties referred to arrived in
Charleston full of their scheme. They
interviewed Republicans and Demo.
Gratis. They invited the co-oHera,ion
of sundry officials, and avoided 9th.
rrs of their own kith and kin as they
wourd avoid the Egyptian plague
The result yet remairs to be seen.
Ransicr has opened bis batteries, and
discusses the situation with Il calm
ness that is in striking contrast to
some Of his past speeches, while his
brother politicians set by and scan
aud endorse every word that flows
from his pen.
Whether there be carnestness. III
this new movement, or whether 1t Is
Il trap set by Ben Butler or Charles
Sumner to catch an un>uspicious peo
pie. Of course, is on y matter OF
surmise but it will doubtless strike
every ,hough,fuf person that d pr"po
>ition to rcpuniatr the entire lndehi
cdnrss of the State is either Il very
wild bid for popularity, or it is IN
iendcd to draw forth from the Boart
of Trade and Chamber of Commerce
wha. is already sufficiently published
namely, that their recent acllo!
was not to convey the idea OF repndI
atlng any bond Of the State for y deb
that has been honestly contracted.
1t is supreme nonsense to suppose
that South Curolinians will ever repu
diate any Of their just debts. None
know the fact better than these very
colored men; and, therefore, we ar
hound to assume the proposition, i
made at all, will be made to .concea
some ulterior design.
AS an offset to the above move
ment, we understand that it has nee'
determined, by Parker, Neagle ant
other members of the State Govern
ment, to organize what will be here
after known as "the respectable Rc
publican party,"-Ners.