The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-18
To the Republican Voters or south
CnroliuR. - S. Z.

in Office, has been directed by inta.
rests and influences entirely separate
aud distinct from the interests OF the
, people. Combinations, suck sc sze
known IN other States as "rings," but
putting, by the recklessness of their
action, the "rings" of other States to
shame. have seized upon the machine
} ry Of the Republican party aud con-
summated their schemes, to the detri.
mont, not only of the party itself, but
of the whole people Of tho State.
Through their domination, the public
debt has been largely ana fraudulcutIy
Increased, and an immense contingent
nnd floating debt incurred, without
the people receiving amy benefit in re-
turn. Through their domination, the
the public credit has been prostraseL
below that of any Stute in this Union
and through their domination the ad-
ministration Of public ulf.irs through
out the State has been go reckless, so
currupt and go shameful, that the very
name Of South Carolina Republican
ism has como to be by-word aud re-
pronch to the Republican, party OF the
United States.
The universal cry for reform, from
within and without the Suite. has re-
Gently led to the hope aud expectation
that the Union Republican State Con.
ventlon, recently in session in this
city, would nominate ns candidate ior
Governor some member of the Cniou
| Republican purity who Ind not been
identified with any Of these rings, aud
who would use the power aud iuAuence
of his high Office for the protection Of
the people against legalized robbery,
corruption aud wrong. But tho infln.
| ences which have hitherto prevailed in
our conventions aud Legislature have,
| by the use Of the means which they
have heretofore employed, prevailed in
the present Convention. The "rings"
which have brought about the oondi-
ton 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 uominu-
ton OF man for Governor who, as We
sincerely believe. is, of all men, the
most responsible by his action while
Attorney-General for the ruin Of the
State. aud who. since he has censed to
be Attorney General, has been we'll
known from the records uf the courts
nnd otherwise to be the attorney and
counsellor Of those whose fraudulent
claims, if allowed, would make that
ruin complete and irremedinble.
neutrality-suspicious.. the hopes you
have lately entertained that q genuine
and thorough reform would be inaugu-
rated by this Convention, have been
most cruelty disappointed. Men, for
the beggarly pittance of few dollars,
6nI fol bat
denoe You have placed in them. What
shall be your action? Will YOU tameIy
acquiesce? Will you see your party
betrayed-its honor and good name
still deeper plunged into lnfamy aud
disgrace? Will you. by your inaction,
confirm as true the oft-repeuted asser-
ton of our Democratic opponents
that the call for reform within our
ranks was mere sham, and that there
Is no honest purpose entertained by
any considerable portion of our party
to remedy the terrible evils and cor
ruptions 30 loudly complained of by
honest men of ull parties? We cannot
believe it, We know that the fly
delegates who voted in the Convention
against Its nominee, truly represented
the honest Republican masses OF the
Statc, who are. as we believe, uualtera-
bly, opposed to the elevation to the
gnbernatorial chair of any representa-
tive OF the boud ring swiudlers within
or without the State.
The undersigned, composing IN
Executive Committee, elected at
meeting of delegates to the late Con-
vention, which meeting unanimously
protested against the nomination OF
MIR. Chamberlain, and declared their
| intention not to sustain it, hereby re.
specially Invite their fellow -Bepub.
llcans in the several Counties of tho
State to meet III County Con ventions
as early us practicable and elect dele
gates to aL "lnlependent Republican
Convention" to bo held ut the city OF
Charleston. on Friday. the "a day OF
October, 1874, ut II M for the pur-
pose Of nominating independent Re-
pubicaI candidates for the Offices Of
Governor aud Lieutenant. Governor Of
South Clrolinn, 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 Com miitee will
appoint temporary chuirmen in the
several Counties of the State for the
purpose Of calling tho Said County
Conventions.
THOS. G. DUNN. Chairman,
l. II