The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-07-04
From the A55eviNe Medium.
Grant Meeting.


Grant Meeting.
The Republicans held mass meeting IL
front of the old Court House in this place on
Wednesday night. 1t was attended by some
FIVE or six hundred people-a very respectable
number for an impromptu affair. The exer-
cises began about half past eight oclock-a
procession, headed by the Abbeville Brass
Band, had been formed at the Abbeville Hotel
and the "lights" of the occasion were escorted
to the stand. The procession was Lively, the
crowd little boisterous, the music gooo, ano
political excitement sufficiently strong. f.
Cain, member of the Legislature, was elected
chairman, called the meeting to order and
made some remarks touching upon its objects
and the ends aimed at. Messrs. Orr, Hoge
Blythe and Murray were seated on the stand
The chairman introduced Orr, the representa-
dive of the 3rd Congressional District IN the
late Philadelphia Convention as the high
minded statesman, the renowned Jurlst, the
exemplary citizen, and the champion OF the
republican party and its principles. The an
nouncement of the speakers name was greeted
with loud, lusty, and prolonged cheering.
Judge Orr rose, stepped forward and spoke Tor
about two hours. He was calm, cool ard col
lected, impartial in his announcement or error
and wrong, an advocate for repuoicanisna ana
its -Grante earnest IN eloquence, ana
burning in sarcasm. His speech did not Justify
the abuse which has been heaped On hlm 1y
some ultra papers, and We believe James !. L..
Orr TO be an honest man, although some Oh MS
utterances were little indiscreet.
He spoke of the doings of the Philadelphia
Convention, applauded the work it accom-
plished and was enthusiastic for its nominees
Grant and Wilson. He spoke of their nom
ination as being unanimous, and OF the Con
yention as being united in its deliberations.
He said that 70 other ticket could be elected ;
that Grant was elected in 1868 and would be
successful again, the lapse of years and his ad-
ministration having secured for him the conf
dence and support of the American people,
BE spoke of Grant as an illustrious soldier,
and magnanimous foe; said that his career
had been one of success; that, from the capltu-
lation of Fort Donelson to the surrender at
Appomattox, Grant had been the soldier and
the gentleman; that Greeley was commended
to the suffrages of the Southern peoP1le-for
that he had gone on JEFF. Davis bond-that
this idea was wrong and that the people are
indebted to the kindness and magnanimous
character and administration of Ulysses 3.
Grant for the many privileges and rights they
enioy. He said that Grant commends himself
by the success of his administration; that, II
Grant had been failure, he liked such failures;
that he had not been failure. That he had
reduced the taxation over SS0000,000 per an
nun that he had reduced the expenses of the
government; had paid nearly S4OO, O,OOO,00o OF
the public debt; that our government was re-
spected and honored by every nation OF the
earth that our flag foated on the waters OF
both continents; that our diplomatic relations
with other nations was happy that we en-
;oyed peace and tranquility at home and abroad.
IN fho N
organization which has done much, evcrythang,
to disturb US, and which was opposed to every
principle of right and justice, both human and
divine. he spoke of the lawless character, Its
infamous ends, and thanked God that it had
been suppressed, and that the guilty were now
suffering for their damnable outrages against
peace, prosperity, life and happiness: While
he denounced the organization, regarding 1t q
widespread coalition for the destruction OF
helpless women and children and blameless
men, he mingled his cries of murder with
pleadings of mercy for those poor unfortunates,
the ignorant dupes of wiser men, who nave
been condemned to suffer for the teachings OF
sour natural leaders" he spoke of the acslyl-
ty of Greeley in bringing about the adoption OF
the Enforcement Act by his counsel, encour-
agement and paper. He didn't regard the Ku
Klux as being manifestations of spite ON the
mart of Grant, but that it was Grants duty to
suppress violence and disorder, and that he had
simply done his duty-a duty required OF nlm
by lis oath of Office and by the Laws ct Con-
press. The speaker referred to the cause OF the
existence Of the Ku Klux as being for the sup
preston of supposed crime and the redress OF
fancied wrongs. He said that the idea of Mar
tial Law was erroneous, that no Martha! Law
existed or had existed in our State, and that
the Writ of kabeGs corpus had merely been sus-
pended, and that too, liz only nine countles;I i,
He complimented the people OF Ab6eylile
County as being peaceable and law-a6lding;
lamented the fact of our own State Govern,
ment's inability to suppress these wrongs, ana
condemned any government which did not give
its protecting care to the lives and property
of its people He brought the press OF the
State to task for the cowardly manner in which
they had covered up the existence of any such
organization as the Ku Klux, and OF their ef-
forts in trying to shield the guilty from justice.
He commented at some length upon the Lau-
rens riot at the general elections, regarded the
conduct of the people, on that fatal day, IN
certain degree, excusable; that they. were IN
famed as men always are at an election; their
iealousies excited, their passions aroused; IN
all that he saw something to excuse, but pro-
nounced their subsequent conduct as deserving
the greatest condemnation and the severest
penaities of the law. He touchingly related
the circumstances attending the murders OF
Powell and Riley, pictured their flight during
the shadowy darkness Of the night from i'm
pending doom, of their being captured by, n
band of outlaws; taken into the woods, of the
short five minutes given them to make their
peace with God, and before that five minutes
had we'll elapsed, of their souls being Launched
into eternity. He said that all these crimes had
been committed in the face of law, justice. CIV
ilization and humanity, and that not single
respectable Democrat, in the county OF Laurens'
He applauded Grants prompt action in sup,
pressing such an organization; he spoke Of
Grants being objected to on account of his
Nepotism; regarded this altogether as o. matter
of taste; that, if he, Grant saw fit to appoint
his relatives to office and they discharged their