Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-12-06
The NatIonaI Grange,

Tho matter of most public interest that
has occurred during tho meeting of tho
National Grange at Cincinnati was happy
speech, bristliug with good PORTS, made by
Hon. d. Wyatt Aiken, an Acknowledged
reconstructed rebel" WHO represents South
Carolina in tho National House of Repre-
sontatives. Mr.. Aiken had been appointed
to respond to tho address of welcome at the
public reception given to tho National Grapgo
by tho citizens of Cincinnati, on Friday
night, and although tho prinoip Plies of tho
Order forbid the discussion Of politics, he
managcd to dovo-tail in with his acknow
Judgement of the hospitality of Cincinnati
a sort of "bridging over tkc.chasm' speech,
in such nn admirable style as not only to
offend no one, but TO arouse tho most cnthu.
siastic applause.
Governor Bishop went up and shook
hands with tho speaker, rcmarking: cad
mirably well said, sir, lmirably we'll said"
| The horny-.handcd farmers of Ohio, who
had come from all parts to attend this
public reception, crowded around him and
overwhelmed him with congratulations
Tho reporters, taking it for granted that
the speech was written out, did not tako
notes, and called on Mr.. Aiken for copies.
They were astoushed to learn that not o
sentence had been committed to paper.
This is much to be regretted, US the speech
was pronounced by those who heard it to be
mastery effort. Col. Aiken has won hosts
OF frieuds not only 10 Cincinnati aud Ohio,
but among the delegates from all parts Of
tho country, and wherever Grange is cs-
tabished in this broad Union, the future
Congressional career Of this representative
farmer will DO watch cd with friendly inter
est.
The whole Of the session of the Grange
on Saturday morning was spent m discussing
amendments to tho constitution and bylaws
recommended by the committee.
Section of Article a, which created q
Court OF Appeals, was stricken out, and the
master and executive committee were con-
stituted as a Court of Appeals.
Article 6. alter very earnest discussion,
was amended, reducing tho membership fees
from SIS for brothers aud 50 for sister, to So
for the former and 81 for the latter-ycas
46, nays 9.
The recommendation Of the committee to
amend the preamble to tho constitution, so
as to allow members an extra vote for every
5000 members, was ably and earnestly dis
cusscd for two hours, but lost by vote of
10 yeas to 25 nays.
The afternoon session was opened at 80
L. NJ, Worthy Master Jones in the chair
After music by the choir the committee
on constitution and bylaws made their re-
port.
A motion to make tho sessions of the
National Grange biennial instead of annual
WAS discussed at some length, but finally
voted down.
A resolution dcnouncing the dcmonitiza-
tion of silver was offered By w. II Cham
bcrs, Of Alabama, and referred to committee
on resolutions.
An invitation was extended by j. NJ.
Blantop, of Virginia, to hold the next
meeting of the National Grange in the City
Of Richmond.
After the promise Of genuine old Virginia
hospitality by the brother, aud a discussion
exhibiting much good feeling, the invitation
was accepted by large majority.
Somc other business was transacted re-
lating to reports of committees, but it was
not of general interest