Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1876-09-07

From the Charleston -Ners and Courier.
The Democratic Candidates for Con-
gress.
AT this time South Carolina has not a
single Democratic Congressman, not one
representative of the. sixty thousand
whites who possess the bulk of the prop.
erty and pay nearly all the taxes. The
State has been Systematically gerry
mandered," so as to deprive the minority
of representation, but in the third and
fourth districts the Republican majority
is small, and with a thorough canvass,
can be overcome In giving the voting
population of the several districts We have
taken the figures of State census OF 1873,
which is notoriously inaccurate. 1t is
doubtful that the colored vote is as large
as that census makes it, so that we put
the worst face upon the contest in adopt
ing its figures. An allowance has to be
made. however. for the whitei Republican
voie, which SOME of theUPpef eountles
is considerable
l. The first Congressional district is
composed of the Counties Of Chesterfield,
Marlboro, Darlington, Sumter, George
town. Williamsburg, Marion and Horny.
The voting population, according to the
State census of 1875, is: Whites; l4,l+7.
Colored, 2O,523. The Democratic candi-
date is Mr.. John S. Richardson, of Sum
ter, grandson OF the late Judge Rich
ardson, and one of the leading members
of the bar of the Eastern Circuit. From
1851 to 1854 he was reading clerk
of the House of Representatives of
the State, snd served during the war as
Captain in Kershaw's Brigade. He was
delegate to the St. Louis Convention.
1Ir. Richardson is gentleman of refine
rnent, culture and marked ability, a grace
full speaker, and has, besides, the entire
confidence of the people of his district
The odds against him are heavy, but Mr..
Richardson delights in just such strug-
giles, and will make the Radical dry bones
rattle before election day.
2. The Second Congressional District is
composed of the Counties of Charleston,
Orangeburg and Clarendon. Ac.- tding
to the census of 1875, the vote is Whites
lO,75O, colored 24,273 The Democratic
candidate is Maj. Theo G..Barker, OF the
Charleston bar. Previous to the war he
belonged to the school OF politics known
as the Cooperation party and was a con-
slant advocate Of the representation OF
South Carolina in the councils Of the Ma
tional Democracy. He was a delegate to
the State Convention which nominated
delegates to the Charleston Convention OF
1860, and was Chairman of the Central
Democratic Committee Of South Carolina
in that campaign. Immediately upon
the secession of the State he volunteered
in the army, and by request of Gen.
Hampton accepted the Adjutancy OF the
Hampton Legion. Throughout the war
he was the Adjutant-General of that dis
tingulshed leader. Maj. Barker served @ @ss
q member Of the House OF Represents
tives. from Charleston, in the Legislature
of 1866. Since then he has not pa-tlcl.
pated in politics. When the recent Con-
vention met the Charleston delegation
were angrossed with the question of i'm
mediate ninations or postponement, and
had not considered the matter OF Con-
gressional nomination. When the Con-
gressional Convention met, and were cast
ing about for candidate, Mr.. Barker, in
order that the ticket might be full. ex-
pressed his willingness. to undertake The
canvass, and was unanimously nominated
He is an eloquent and effective speaker,
and both;in the canvass and in the halls
of Congress, if elected, will make his ln-
Auence felt. The colored majority to-be
overcome is tremendous, but such is the
state of politics in this district that a
political revolution ia not unlocked for.
8. The Third Congressional District is
composed of the Counties of Oconee, Pick
ans Anderson Abbeville, Newberry, Rich
land, Lexington and Laurens. The vo-
ting population is: Whites 1929, color
ed 2O,9lS. The Democratic candidate is
COL D. Wyatt Aiken, a native of Far
field COUNT, but d resident Of Abbevfille
County. Col, Aiken graduated at the
sonth Carolina College in the same class
with Conner, Barker and Sinonton, and
has faithfully served the State in the Leg
.islaturetand in the field. During the Yal wa
he, commanded, theE7tR South earoinf
Regiment, and was wounded severaltimes
at shsrpsbprg he; was believed; to hays nay
been ,nS5rtailS wounded, %and is.obituai$s
Was actually published in the Charleston