The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-20
The Colored Demonstration.

The colored people of this town and vicinity
arranged for a general jubilee on last Saturday,
and in response to the announcement, only
made few days before, hundreds of men,
women and children thronged our streets at an
early hour. The militia paraded in the morn
ing, and after going through the exercises of a
drill, their arms were laid aside, and the men,
bers prepared to unite in demonstration moro
in consonance with the peaceful condition Of
this section. The Sunday Schools formed a
procession at the new Baptist Church, and
marched to Main street, thence to the public
square and through to McDuffe street. The
procession was halted at the house recently
purchased for school purposes, and formerly
belonging to the Winthrop estate. Here the
crowd gathered, until an immense audience was
assembled. Quite number of white persons
were present by invitation, and seats upon the
piazza assigned to them. The order of exer-
cises was then announced, and the white speak
ers were invited to give the colored people some
information touching the Air Line Railroad.
The exercises were then opened with solemn
prayer BY Rev. W. A. Hodges, of the Metho-
dist Church. Mr. James A. Hoyt, editor Of
the hatelEgenccr, was then introduced, and oc-
cupied twenty minutes in an effort to enlighten
his hearers upon their duties as citizens, and
particularly concerning their interest in the
construction of the Air Line Railroad through
this town and county. Col. R. S. Hill was the
next speaker, and in BRIEF good-humored
speech, mainly addressed to the Sunday School,
received the undivided attention and frequent
applause of the audience. Rev. w. A. Hodges
was then requested to address the assemblage,
and for short time earnestly urged upon his
eolored hearers the cultivation of moral and
religious sentiment, and the development and
advancement of their children in education.
His remarks were highly appreciated, Judging
by the interest manifested during their delivery
and the plaudits at the close.
Henry Kennedy, colored, wss called for, and
made short and sensible speech in favor Of
the Air Line Railroad. He was followed by
Samuel Johnson, colored, on the same subject,
UuG III u 'Oih. WHASiA S<iooSo AAO1oNAo
laughter and applause. All the speakers, white
and colored, eschewed party politics.
The speaking being now concluded, the bas-
kets were brought into requisition, and prepa-
rations made for pic mic dinner. A room in
the second story of the building was set apart
for the white people, and magnificent dinner
was spread upon the table, to which the whites
were invited. The dinner embraced great
variety, prepared in the best style, and was
truly enjoyed by the twenty or thirty gentle
men seated around the table.
The colored people, scattered in groups about
the building and grounds, seemed to enjoy the
day most happily, and from the large number
of baskets displayed, we presume that there
was an abundance of eatables provided. When
we left the place, all was hilarity and cheerful
ness, and we learn that naught occurred after
wards to disturb the occasion or mar the har-
mony manifested throughout the day. 1t was
quiet, orderly demonstration in every particu-
lar, and reflects credit upon the colored people
of Anderson.