The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-03-31

speech delivered during its delibera.
tions, andgwhtoh contained viler and
more Sillainous slsnder than ( have, ever
experienced before, even among mysbit-
terest enemies in the North. It was far
worse in its personality and falsehood
than any thing have ever seen in 3the
New. Y ork Sun. &
The President here seemed to have
concluded his reply, and Gov. Bonllan
inquired what WAS the speech to which
be had referred.
The President said that he did not
know whose speech it was, or whether it
had been correctly reported, but he had
read it recently as part Of the proceed.
ing of>the convention.
Col. T. \. Sinons remarked that lie
felt it to be due to the gentleman who
made the speech that it should be stated
here that he disavowed having made
use Of the offensive language to which
the President referred. aud which had
been attributed to him by local II :
pnblicun paper.
Gen. NJ. &. Butler corrDbo-ntci this
disavowal. He had not himself heard
the speech, but hc had read it, us fully
reported in shc E lge i.!d County paper,
and it contained no such offensive nllu
sion "A. had been charged.
Ger. kcrsEaw explained that what
ever might have boon said in the speech,
the speech itself did not reflect the sen
timents or mect with the sympathy of
the CO 1vention. Expression was gwen
to this fact by the action of the body in
promptly rccommittirg the report Which
had been introduced by the speech.
The President said that tha. might be
so; but he had seen nothing in the pro.
cecdings o! the convertion expressing
any disapproyal OF whit had been said
in the speech.
Mr.. James &. Thompson here took
occasion TO say that hc WAS one Of the
few Republicans who had taken purt in
the convention; that he had heard the
speech to which reference had been
male with pan; but he must say that
he and the other Republicans in the
body regarded the spirit in which the
speech was received by the convention,
aud the action taken in recon N tting
the report by which it was accompanied.
as plain and pointed rebuke 10 ;hc senti-
rlents which it contained
Some general talk followed in regard
to the obnoxious speech. the President
manifesting great irritation whenever
he alluded to 1t. In answering one of
the delegates he said, with grent en-.
phasis: II have never seen ii speech
eqa i 10 it in maigni'y. vileness. falsity
aud slaudrr. When l think of i, Gun
scarcely restrain myself" Mr.. Porter
suggested that it was hardly jhst to bold
u whole com mnnity, pleading for relief
from in.ucruble oppression, for the
utteranct vi L single individual, bat his
remonstrnnco seemed 10 be- hardly no.
ticed b. the President.
Col. I.ichmrd LltherS, on behalf uf
the Charleston Chamber oi Commerce,
here procaedr,! to read All address to
The President, rccuuatiug the grievances
of the people of South Carolina, aud
tracing the origin Of those grievances
to the corrupt management, for po.iti-
Cal ends, of the Frtcdmcu's Bureau
He MAS at times interrupted by the Pre-
sidcnt, who warmly expressed his Ills
belief OF some Of the charges quoted by
Col. Lathcrs, and said that he attributed
much uf this tronble in South Carolina
to the Willingness Of the white peopl .
to come forward and form the State Go
vcrnmcnt at the time Of reconstruction.
This, lie said, forced Congress to call
upon the colorrd element.
.As tie delegation were abont retiring,
President Grant expressed his. good
wishes for the future prosperity of the
State, and his hope that whru they
came o lay their memorial before Con.
grcss some proper and practicable plan
for the redress Vi ;heir yricva.ccS might
be found.
This ended the interview. It las pro-
duced various impressions Oh the dele.
gates. The feeling among them is
mainly orc If disappointment, although b
they nrc by uo means discouraged.
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