The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-09-06
The Grand Ratification 1T Anderson.

handsomely represented ny the TWO
border clubs, L.Owndesvlile and Antrc-
Vile. Your correspondent happen
inc to arrive in the pleasant vii
loTe of Lowndesvillc about the time
the company began to assemble, was
cordially invited by the entire club to
ioir them in their jolly trip to Ander-
son to hear our old War Horse, the
gallant standard bearer of the Demo
cratic party make his first address aud
thus open what we intend shall be q
successful campaign. Having moth
Ing on my hands or MUD I ut once
accepted the urgent invitation and
made arrangements for what l antlcl-
pated would he 4 pleasant, noisy and
Jolly time. The time appointed for
Starting was about 9 O'Clock but by the
time all arrangements were made, and
our provision wagon packed and start
ed, the sun was far down in the Yves.
tern horizon. We ut last finished
and left the city of the Fork with q
veil of relief, which was returned by
the bevy of fair ladies who had assem-
bled at the Hotel on Broad street to
witness our departure and wish US q
successful and pleasant time. Our
band with a few exceptions were
Young men, and u happier and Jolller
set ueve has crossed the border since
Abbeville lost her independence and
fell into the hands of the scallawags
and carpet-baggerS. AS the company
would pass the houses OF our Andcr-
son cousins IS voicss would send up the
patriotic cry, three cheers for Hamp-
ton. reform and home rule. Every
thing went along assmoothely as clock
work until about nine o'clock, when
Colonel Harper concluded we had riu.
den far enough and commanded a halt
about eight miles from Anderson vii
lape, at the house of Mr.. M. Parker,
who by the way is n gentleman OF the
first water and if he is all average
,specimen of the Anderson planters
she has o right to compete with old
Abbeville as to who shall carry TIE
palm as the banner county. MT. Far
ker gave us the Use Of his lot, his yard,
his house, his well and his time. AT
ter the horses were picketed for inc
night, the show commenced, which
was to last until morning, the com
missary department had not come,
and nothing was left for US to DO bu
to bass the time pleasantly as possible.
Billy Shaw brought out Il fiddle, part
ners were chosen, and the dance COM
mcnced, and for two long hours they
cut up more pranks than a company
of sioux Indians at their corn dance.
About ten o'clock the commiSsary de-
partment was reported on hand, ana IN
fifteen minutes 10 horses anu as many
hungry men were discussing the merits
iof the loads of goodies which had been
stored away by the loving mothers
and wives of old Lowndesrlllc. There
is and IMPRESSION that those travel
ing i'm this manner eat more than they
do at home. My experience on this
trip, corroborates this opinion. l am
satisfied that those se~vcnty-five men,
hid as much victuals as any three
hundred MEL at home. .
After supper the music started
again and the dancers prepared for a
new campaign. The report was circu-
lated that two white radicals lived
! about a mile up the road who had
been making incendiary speeches to
the negroes. a band of about thirty
was organized to wait upon these
brothers. Their name | believe was
Young. They went up to his house,
| called him out and had q quiet and
earnest talk about the course he was
pursuing; they asked him If he had
been making such and such %incenuia.
nv speeches to the negroes; he said nc
at first but finally came out like q mai
and owned to all the charges. lie had
been talking to them and had been
| doing some very bad talk too. He was
told by the spokesman OF the Dand
that he surely did not know the terri
bic consequences Of such 4 course
that he was Il tomenter Of strife and as
such would be considered as an enemy
to the public good, a renegade and
traitor to his race; that he was sowing
q harvest of dishonor, shame and dis
grace; that lie was booming his fanil-
" anu innocent babeS-thOse who had
! done no wrong before God and man, to
shame and disgrace; that his children
and his childrens' children would be
tainted for a century to come with the
epithets of traitor, renegade II radl-
cal: that his course would Orlil? The
law of public opinion against lima
law which would sooner or later mas
ter him as it has all traitors and rene
rades since the a Young Is q very
ignorant man and was more to be pl-
tied than blamed he said he never
looked at his course from this stand
noint: that if the consequences were
as severe as represented he would
never speak another word to negroes
on politics that he would not doom
his innocent wife and children to sue
a miserable fate; that he was ron
now onward and forever u white mar
and a democrat that he was q reform
ed man that his ncighbor should
never say again that he loved the ne
groes better than his own race, n !
believe the man was sincere, and l
believe this is the right way, to ap-
proach all Of these deluded white
RAIDS. They can only see the Office.
xrhey never count the cost socially, and
when in a plain and kind manner the
consequences of their course is point
ed out they will, as Tom Young, the
reformed radical of Anderson, see the
error of their way and reform.
About one O'Clock the picnic crowd
arrivcd-part of the company were Off
at q picnic and thus failed to start
until after night-tlle writer had just
dropped off in spite OF the dancers
when such e yell of welcome was
! raised that has no parallel in the an
nails Of Anderson County. The writer
Jumped up aud without dressing as he
had never undressed, rushed out to
see. what was up. followed by Colonel
| Harper and Lieutenant Bcckham.
! When we arrived We found that the
dancers were welcoming the recruits
by two catching him by the arms and
one by the neck and shaking the poor
fellow until he WAS utterly exhausted.
We asked them TO make less noise e.
we wished to sleep; they now started
Il game of wrestling, about this time.
The more quiet and settled portion of
he company had turned in fence cor
ners, horse tr0ughs, wagons and all
available places were occupied 10y
sleeping neil. a band WAS organized
with James Baskin and Willie Young
as leading spirits. They would go up
to a poor tired fellow sleeping the
sleep of a fatigued body and easy con-
science. One would cry whoa, whoa,
while the other would shake q pair of
gears ut his head. This would cause
the man to bounce up with 4 shout of
fear and make him to jump about six
feet, thinking the horses were fight
ing near him and on the V of crush