The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-06-12
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.
Speeches of Orr and Elliott of South
Carolina.

From the full reports of Wednesdays
proceedings, in the Philadelphia Con
vention, we make the following extracts
EX-GOVERNOR ORR, OF SOUTH CAROLINA
A delegate from South Carolina cX.
pressed the qualification with which ne
had heard Gerritt Smith, and now asked
that the South be heard through ex-
Governor Orr, of South Carolina.
Governor Orr took the platform and
rledyed his State for the ticket. Hc
referred to the ISLANDERS to which Presi.
dent Grant had been subjected !. and
compared his experience in this respect
with that of Washington and Jackson,
and eulogized the President, whose re-
election he considered necessity. IL
Grant had failed as President, he (the
speaker liked such failures. He claimed
the administration was success at home
and abroad, dilated ut some length on
the operations of Ku-kluXism in South
Carolina, sustained the ku-kluX legis-
tation, and claimed that the laws had
been firmly executed. President Grant,
he said, did not act until the Legislature
of South Caroiina passed resolutions
calling upon him to send the forces OF
the United States Government there to
riye them protection. With reference
70 this ku-KluX law, President Grant
has to execute the law. 1t was in the
statute book and he was called upon TO
execute it by that tribunal which had
the right to call upon him. He didn't
bass the law. How did it come to be
piassed? Was it not in the thunders OF
the New York Tribune day after day,
and week after week, rung into the
ears of Congress, demanding that they
should pass some such law TO give pro-
lection to them, and now when the law
is passed and has been executed with
mercy and tirmness, how stands my old
friend Greeley? He has turned around
now and denounces Giant and the ku-
KluX law for its cnormities. Judge
Bond, who has discharged his duties
with great fidelity there, has admins
tered this law firmly and mercifully,
and although you hear so much clamor
of people being cast into prison for their
not being able to procure bail, what Is
the result of the trials? There have
been about seven trials at the two courts
one an acquittal, one mlstrlal, ana
five convictions. These arc the results,
and vet to show the extent of it, and
how conclusive the proof was, this was
not made upof manufactured testimony,
testimony of suhOrned witnesses. More
than sixty of these unfortunate people
who have been indicted have voluntarily
come forward and pleaded guilty to the
charges preferred against them. Now,
when the facts come to be understood, l
should suppose that SO far from being an
element of weakness against the Presi-
dent, it would be an element of strength.
He closed with the prediction that Grant
and his associate on the ticket to he
nominated would be triumphantly
elected.
CONGRESSMAN ELLIOTT.
Dir. Elliott, Of South Carolina, mem
Der of Congress, was next called out.
He stood here with the colleagues of his
race, as the monuments of the accom-
plishment of emancipation, and as u
living example of the justice of the
American people. He pledged earnest
cooperation and the support of nine
hundred thousand colored votes to the
work of this Convention. [Appl lause-
The colored race intended to assist in
securing to all citizens equal protection
of the law, not only abroad but at home
[Applause.]