The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-09-24
To the Republican Voters of South Carolina.

To the Republican Voters of South Carolina
1t is we'll known to you and to the country
that, during the past six years, the admlnistra'
ton of public affairs, by the men whom we
have placed in office, has been directed by in
terests and influences entirely separate and dis
tinct from the Interests of the people. Com,
binations, such as are known in other States as
"rings," but putting, by the recklessness o
their action, the "rings" of other States to
shame, have seized upon the machinery of the
Republican party and consummated their
schemes, to the detriment, not only of the par
ty itself, but of the whole people of the State
Through their domination, the public debt has
been largely and fraudulently increased, and
an immense contingent and floating debt in
Cured, without the people receiving any bene-
fit in return. Through their domination, the
public credit has been prostrated below that OF
any State in this Union; and throughout the
State has been so reckless, so corrupt and SO
shameful that the very name of South Caro-
lima RepublicaDism has come to be a by-word
and reproach to the Republican party of the
United States.
The universal cry for reform, from within
and without the State, has recently led to the
hope and expectation that the Union Republi-
can State Convention, recently in session IN
this city, would nominate as candidate for Gov
ernor some member of the Union party who
had not been identified with any of these rings,
and who would use the power and influence OF
his high office for the protection of the peo-
pie against legalized robbery, corruption and
wrong But the influences which have hither-
to prevailed in our conventions and Legisla-
ture have. by the use of the means which they
aH q
present Convention The "rings" which have
brought about the condition of affairs needing
to be reformed, have captured the cry of reform
for the purpose of maintaining their hold on
power, and have secured the nomination of a
man for Governor who, as we sincerely believe,
is, Of all men, the most responsible by his ac-
ton while Attorney General for the ruin of the
State and who, since he has ceased to be At
torney- General, has been well known from the
records of the courts and otherwise to be the
attorney and counsellor Of those whose fraudu-
lent claims, if allowed, would make that ruin
complete and irremediable.
Fellow Republicans, the hopes you have
lately entertained that genuine and thorough
reform would be inaugurated by this Conven-
tion have been most cruelty disappointed.
Men, for the beggarly pittance Of few dollars,
have deliberately betrayed the confidence you
have placed in them. What shall be your ac-
ton? Will you tamely acquiesce? Will you
see your party betrayed-its honor and good
name still deeper plunged into infamy and dis
grace? Will you, by your inaction, confirm as
true the oft-repeated assertion OF our Demo-
cratic opponents, that the call for reform with
in our ranks was mere sham, and that there
is no honest purpose entertained by any con-
siderable portion Of our party to remedy the
terrible evils and corruptions so loudly COM
plained of by honest men of all parties? We
know that the fifty delegates who voted in the
Convention against its nominee, truly represen-
ted the honest Republican masses OF the State,
who are, as we believe, unalterably opposed to
the gubernatorial chair of any representative
of the bond ring swindlers within or without
the State.
The undersigned, composing an Executive
Committee, elected at a meeting OF delegates
to the late Convention, which meeting unani-
mously protested against the nomination Of
Mr.. Chamberlain, and declared their intention
not to sustain it, hereby invite their fel Re
publicans in the several counties of the State
to meet in County Conventions as early as prac-
ticable and elect delegates TO an "lndepcndent
Republican Convention" to be held at the city
of Charleston, on Friday, the 2nd day of Oc-
tober, 1874, at - M, for the purpose of nomi-
mating Independent Republican candidates for
the Offices of Governor and Lieutenant Cover
nor of South Carolina, for the ensuing term,
and of transacting any other business that may
be deemed necessary, in the interests OF the
people. -,
The Chairman Of this Committee will ap-
point temporary chairmen in the several Coun-
ties of the State for the purpose of calling the
said County Conventions.
THOS. C. DUNN, Chairman,
E. B. SEABROOK,
SAMUEL LEE,
GEO. F. MCINTYRE,
w. A. HAYNE,
w. II. JONES,
J. M. SULLIVAN.