Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-10-01
THE YoRKVfhhK EMoUfRER.
ADDRESS OF THE INDEPENDENT REPUB.
IICANS

L1CANSs
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 admins
tration of public affairs, by the men whom
we have placed in Office has been directed by
interests and influences entirely separate and
distinct from the interests of the people.
Combinations such as are known in other
States as "rings," but putting, by the reck-
lessness of their action, the 'rings" of other
States to shame, have seized upon the ma
chinery of the Republican party and consum-
mated their schemes, to the detriment, not on
ly of the party itself, but of the whole people
of the State. Through their domination, the
public debt has been largely and fraudulent
ly increased, and an immense contingent and
floating debt incurred, without the people re-
ceiving any benefit in return. Through their
domination, the public credit has been pros
trated below that of any State in this Union !;
and through their domination the administra-
ton ofpublic affairs throughout the State has
been so reckless, so corrupt and so shameful,
that the very name Of South Carolina Repub-
]icanism has come to be by-word and re-
proach 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 Repub-
lican State Convention, recently in session in
this city, would nominate as candidate for
Governor some member of the Union Repub-
lican 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 people against legalized rob-
berry, corruption and wrong. But the lnf1u'
ences which have hitherto prevailed in our
conventions and Legislature have, by the use
of the means which they have heretofore en-
ployed, prevailed in the present Convention.
The "rings" which have brought about the
condition of affairs needing to be reformed,
have captured the cry of reform for the pur-
pose of maintaining their hold on power, have
secured the nomination of a man for Cover
nor who, as we sincerely believe, is, Of all
men, the most responsible by his action while
Attorney General for the ruin of the State, and
who since he has ceased to be Attorney.Gen-
eral has been we'll known from the records OF
the courts and otherwise to be the attorney
and counselor of those whose fraudulent claims
if allowed, would make that ruin complete
and irremediable.
Republicans the hopes you have
lately entertained that genuine and thorough
reform would be inaugurated by this Conven-
ton, have been most cruelty disappointed.
Men, for the beggarly pittance of few dol
lars, have deliberately betrayed the confidence
you have placed in them. What shall be
your action? Will you tamely acquiesce?
Will you see your party betrayed-its honor
and good name still deeper plunged into in
fanny and disgrace? Will you, by your &C.
ton, confirm as true the oft-repeated assertion
of our Democratic opponents, that the call
for reform within our ranks was mere sham,
and that there is no honest purpose entertain
ed by any considerable portion Of our party
to remedy the terrible evils and corruptions
so loudly complained of by honest men of all
parties? We know that the fifty delegates
who voted in the Convention against its NOM
inee, truly represented the honest Republican
masses of the State, who are, as we believe,
unalterably opposed to the elevation to the
gubernatorial chair of any representative Of
the bond ring swindlers within or without the
State
The undersigned, composing an Executive
COmmlttee, electeO at meeting OF Tue uele-
gates to the late Convention, which meeting
unanimously protested against the nomination
of Mr. Chamberlain, and declared their inten-
tion not to sustain it, hereby respectfully in-
vite their fellow-Repubicans in the several
counties of the State to meet in County Con-
ventions as early as practicable and elect del
egates to an "Independent Republican Con-
vention," to be held in the city of Charleston,
on Friday, the End day of October, 1874, at
- NJ, for the purpose of nominating inde-
pendent Republican candidates for the office
of Governor and Lieutenant-Governor 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 this State for the purpose of calling
the said County Conventions
THOS. G. DUNN, Chairman,
f. B. SEABROOK,
SAMUEL LEE,
GEORGE F. MCINTYRE,
w. A. HAYNE,
w Fl JONES