The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1876-09-09
General Ferguson 10 Charleston.

1~ns 0outu OeAViiou, W Tue Sotu Oh
August, to ratify the nomination
Of General Wade Hampton tor
Governor, General s. w. Fergu-
SON. Of Greenvillc, Mississippi, was
called for, and in response said:
l take it, fellow citizens, as .
happy omen, that on q brief visit
to my native city, l am permitted
to participate IN grand cclcbra-
tion like the present. l take it,
not as . personal compliment to
myself, but rather to the State of
which l am now . resident, the
State Of Mississippi, and in the
name Of Mississippi l give you
words Of greeting and words Of
cheer. That State ono year ago
was like South Carolina is to-day,
under the heels of thieves and
sconndrcls. The people looked
around them and saw that they
were ground down BY few hund-
red carpet-bag politicians. That
people rose in their might and said
this thing shall not longer continue.
They didn't count the odds, but
declared that they would be free,
aud to-day they are free. And l
can tell you, gentlemen, they in
tend to remain 50. (Cries of that's
business.l You cannot stop to
count the odds; once win the vic
tory and you will hold the field.
[Cries Of you bet we will The
battle must be fought earnestly
and dcterlninedly; but there need
be no bloodshed and no intimida-
tiOn.
The speaker then rccounted how
the people Of Mississippi had freed
themselves from csrpet-bsg rule.
In his county, hc said, where the
blacks were i've to one white, and,
where they were cut Of from. al
help from adjoining counties, they
being In tho same condition, tho
people determined to win. They
demanded . hearing ut every Re-
publican meeting, and face to face,
denounceo the corrupt leaders of
the iguorant blacks as llors and
thieves. When they made false
statements they clinched them then
and there, aud they spoke to the
blacks as residents Of the same
country with the same. interests
at stake. They told them how they
had been cheated aud 1uped by
their leaders; they promised to
protect them ii they wished to vote
the Democratic ticket; and by
this means, when the votes were
counted, Washington county had
elected clean Democratic ticket
by over 500 majority. Not one
drop of blood was shed, aud not
even . fist ight occurred. That
was the Mississippi plan, howlcd
over by Northern Republicans.
The same way was open to South
Carolina. Her people should de-
mand hearing at every Republic
can meeting, and be there in num-
bcrs strong enough to enforce, If
necessary, their demand. They
should meet the Radicals face to
face, and when they lied tell them
SO. They should endeavor to teach
the ignorant masses how they had
been duped and swindled. They
/ should instir into them the truth
that their interest and the interest
Of the white men were the same.
They should promise to protect
them, and carry out their promise,
and If this was done there was no.
thing under Gods heaven that
could prevent South Carolina, like
her sister Mississippi, from wrest-
ing the power from the grasp Of
the robbers and adventures, who
now hold despotic sway. and pla-
cling it in the hands Of her own
truo and honored sons.
General Ferguson, after giving
III glowing and cheering words, his
expression Of hope for South Car
olina's future, CLOSED his remarks
with an interesting anecdote con-
ccrning General Wade Hampton,
which will show to the people gen.
orally, and to the colored people cs-
pccially, his high sense Of Justice
and his brave nobility o. soul in
executing that justice. In ante.
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