The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1877-01-11
Tho heuting of Citizens.

wal iN, hSl't vi hlcIl(aV NSt, was
III oil respects It success. The at
tendance was unexpectedly full, con
slderlnS the extremely bad weather,
and though in numbers there were
fewer present than would have been
the case under more favorable cir
cumstanccs, yet we noticed that
there were representatives from all
the different sections Of the county.
The meeting was called to order
by Gen. John Bratton, President Of
the Democratic County Club, who,
in stating the purpose of the meet
ing. spoke in substance as follows :
at the last meeting Of the Demo-
cratic County Club, it was thoupht
advisable that there should be q
meeting of the citizens Of Fairfield
county, to give expression to their
views in the present grave coniunc
ture OF our State affairs. There arc
now two governments in South
Carollna-thc one established ut the
ballot-box and the other upheld by
the power of the bayonct. The pur-
pose Of this meeting IS that the
people of Fairfield shall say
which Of these they will support,
AMI to make known ii cir decision to
their chosen leader IN Columbia. Gov
II ,mpton should at once have ccr-
am formation as to the intentions of
the people. ii he truly represents
them, ne should be sustained in his
present position, and he should
know at once where thcpcoplc stand
III the matter. 1t is conceded on all
sides that the great question now
aSltating the minds of the people of
South Carolina must ultimately be
determined at Washington, and
pending such decision the people
must take some action looking to
the maintenance Of their own chosen
government. In the recent cans
paiGn, the Democrats of South
Carolina organized within the
strongholIs of the Constitu-
ton. They had to maintain tho
| Constitution and keep within it's
lines. they were tho only pre-
servers of law and order in the
State. The State government did
Ill III It's power to promote disco,,d,
While the struggling Democrats re
manned st"ailast within the lines of
the Constitution, and preserved tie
public peace. They stand there
to-day. The one great question
before the people Of South Carolina
ls whether they Will maintain the
Constitutional government, or let it
go down under the power of the
bayonet. This meeting is not of Il
political party, but Of the people
without regard to party lines or
political preferences.
In conclusion, General Bratton
moved that Judge VIM. r. Robert
son be called to tho chair. The
motion was put to the meeting and
unanimously ly carried.
On motion, Capt. r. S. Dcsportca
|
and Mr. Jno. S. Reynolds were
requested to act as secretaries.
On taking the chair, Judge Rob
ertson expressed his appreciation OF
the honor done him by the meeting,
and then spoke substantially as fol.
lows
1t is a matter Of agreeable sur
prise that there is SO large an at
tendance upon this meeting. Con.
sidering the extremely unfavorable
wetnhcr and other difficulties, it is
quite encouraging that so many oI
the citizens of Fairfield have gather
ed together to give expression to
their views on the present state OF
affairs. 1t is needless to enlarge
upon what the County Chairman has
said upon the subject before the
meeting. Tho purpose of the meet
ing is TO further the good cause for
which Che people labored so ard in
the campaign, and to add to the good
work already done. Hampton was
fairly elected, and legally Inaugural
ted. 10 his government alone do
tho people owe tboir allegiance, and
to him alone, as governor do thcy
owe obedience. Though by their
action they do no more than bring
about q proper public sentiment,
the end will sooner OF later be accom-
plished. Tho Chamberlain usurpa-
ton will soon be completely para
lyzed. Tho people must decide
between the two. We do not and
cannot recognize Chamberlain as
governor; and the great question is,
How can wo sustain Hampton ? One
way of sustaining him is to go to
the meetings and proclaim that not
one cont Of tribute will we pay to
the Chamberlain government Zap
plause. The government cannot
get on without money-withhold
that, and the Chamberlain usurpa-
tion falls to the ground. Chamber
lain's so-called governments has been
virtually declared by tha Sunre,no