The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-16
The Two Conventions.
COLUMBIA, Sept. 10, 1874.

| razor loTCSS (ttO DCLfC6C(
! promised to drop you few lines on
the outlook from Columbia, but it is
hardly worth while to write about what
will be old, in reference to the two
| conventions now in session, ere you &C
to print. The Republican Convention
did not complete its organization until
tonight, and will probably make their
nomination tomorrow, Saturday. The
Chamberlain stock has been depressed
for two days, but this evening it went
up under the influence of light received
by some of the members, it is thought
The chances are that he will be nonli-
| mated, and that there will certainly be q
formidable bolt headed by Judge Green,
or some other man of better record than
the Goldfish lawyer from Massachusetts.
The moral influence of the Conven-
ton of Tax Unions was very manifest
upon many members. There is very
respectable minority in favor of reform,
and with consistency they are looking to
Moses or Chamberlain, and what i'm
pressed me is,y that this minority is
made up mostly of negroes. The ne
grocs are decidedly better than the
white men of the Convention, but the
misfortune is, they have no white man
of ability, in the body, to lead them.
They have two representative men OF
their color of very considerable ability,
not members of the Convention, how
ever, Delaney and Cain, alias Daddy
Cain" I heard both of them speak,
and wish their speeches were publish
ed, and in the hands, or rather heads, of
every colored man in the State, al
though some portions are objectionable.
The advice is just what the colored peo-
pie need, and if they will follow 1t, it
will be but short time before they and
the white people will be standing on the
same platform working for the redemp-
ton of the State. But we fear there is
too much ignorance among the negroes
to comprehend su,h sound philosophi-
cal views. The preacher was so earnest
on the subject of uption-"s selling
their souls for money, worse than bodily
slavery that he would curse little.
With distorted face, clenched fist, and
head thrown back he exclaimed, at the
top of his voice, damned be the briber
and the bribed."
My time is short and must say
few words of the upper House" Del
egates are present from twenty-six
counties, and organised State Tax
Union, and elected permanent officers.
There are only five counties unrepre-
sented and among them are Pickens,
Oconee and GreenvilIe. These coun-
ties, perhaps. suffer least from Radical
misrule, and should not be SO selfish as
to Withhold a helping hand from her op-
pressed sisters. But what shall we say of
Abbeville Only two Tax Unions in the
County, one at Cokesbury and the other
at Greenwood, but they were determin-
ed to be represented in the State Union,
and sent three delegates. I believe,
however, the people will rally when the
subject is properly presented to them.
Some Of our leading men are opposed to
the Tax Unions. You, Mr.. Editor, are
opposed to it, and speak of it as "revo-
luton" We certainly need a revolu-
ton in our State Government, and we
want to bring it about in peaceable
way, within the law. The Constitu-
tions of the Tax Unions proclaims its
object TO be 1.-THE reduction of taxes and
the honest appropriation and expendi-
ture of the public funds" Is there any
. revolution in that? It is platform
that all honest men can stand upon,
white and black. The treasurer elect of
the State Union is republican but he is
an honest one. He hasn't 'snuffed
treason" in this movement. I claim to
be law-abiding, none more so. I don't
proclaim war, neither do I on the other
hand propose to die without struggle.
1 fear timidity, or fancied self-interest
! is sometimes hid under the cloak of
"law-abiding." I look upon this organ
ization as eminently peace measure,
looking forward to a probable state of
things unavoidable, which may be
prevented by organization at the pre-.
sent time. 1t is about the only practical
permanent good effected by the Tax
Payers Convention. The Radical party
the corrupt part of it-evidently dread
| its power. The Union-Hcrdid says q
few days ago that it was not to be re.
garded legally by the Republican party
that it was strong in intelligence and
property, and the ionly organization
since the war. ...
1t is an organization that we intend to
keep up, and by it we evpect to redeem
the State. If we do not succeed in this
campaign we will try again. Every eff
fort will widen the breach, already
made, until we will get enough honest
people to drive out the rogues. If no
organized effort be made against fraud
! corruption, and extravaganza their ten
dency is to grow. We hope therefore
that every township will Immediately
lorganize q Tax Union of the honest
citizens and help us in the contest
against the rings.
AS to nomination for Governor, that
lis provided for IN q certain contingency,
abutit Is to be done l,y the whole people,