Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-08-15
The Republicans Conventlon.


The Republican COnventlon. I
This body met In tho State House on the
7th Instant, and was called to order by n. B.
Elliott, Chairman of the State Executive
Committee. The Convention sat with closed
doors. Q. O. Bowen, exrSherifl of Charles.
ton, was elected temporary and afterwards
permanent Chairman of the Convention. On
the call of counties oil were represented ex.
cept Edgeaeld, Horny, Piokehs and Spartan
burg. A committee on rules and also on
platform and resolutions was appointed. Sen.
ator Cochran, of Anderson, then introduced
a preamble and resolutions to the following
effect: Whercas, Gov. Hampton has fulfilled
oil the liberal pledges made by him in the
last canvass and has discharged oil tho duties
of his high Office without favor or distinction,
because ofrace or condition: lst. That the con.
vontion will not mako my nominations for
Governor or other State officers, but arc
willing to entrust the government to the
same hands under their removed pledges.
2d, That President Hayos is cn-
titled to the confidence Of tho Republican
party rs far as he has underworld to carry out
tho pledges of the party adopted in Cincinnati
in 1876. Sd, That in declaring against
any nominations for State officers the conven.
ton do not intend to discourage tho nomina-
ton Of local Republican tickets wherever it
may DO deemed proper, and demands fair
representation on the boards of canvassors
and commissioners Of elections. 4M,
Donounces violonco to Republican votors in
sono counties md particularly dcnounces the
unseating of tho Charleston delegation by tho
last Legislature and the seating of Democrats
in their place. 5M, That the convention la
ments the want of intelligence and integrity
which often characterized the administration Of
the government of this State during the supro
macy Of the Republican party and entreats
local conventions in making nominations to
select men Of intelligence and integrity as we'll
as Of devotion to the party.
These resolutions were referred to the CONS
mittee on platform and were finally defeated.
A resolution was introduced that commit.
tee be appointed to wait on Gov. Hampton
and request at his hands the appointment Of
ono Republican commissioners of election 10
each county and one manager at each cleo
tion precinct. After long and bitter dis~
oussion tho resolution was defeated. A
resolution proposing to nominate full Ror
publican ticket for State officers was referred
to the committee and finally defeated. A
lengthy preamble and resolutions in roforonoe
to the oppressed condition of tho people, the
stagnation Of business, Co., was laid on tho
table.
On the second day the platform was taken
up and adopted. We clip from tho News and
Courier the substance of tho platform and
further proceedings of the day;
Section l. The Republican party of the
State of South Carolina, in Convention as
sembled. believing that tho principles of
equal, civil and political rights arc vital to
the interests of good government, and that
they can only be enforced by the party which
has engrafted them upon the State and MAJ
earnest adhesion to the platform and prinei-
Piles adopted by tho National Republican
Convention at Cincinnati on the 10th day Of
June, 1875.
Section 2. We reiterate our abl1orrence
and reputation Of all forms of violence, IN
timidation or fraud in the conduct of elections
or for political purposes. and denounce the
same as crime against tho liberty of Amori
can citizens as we'll as tho common rights Of
humanity, and while we insist upon and will
Sealously guard the right Of every citizen
ireoly to choose his political party and deny
the unfonnded chargo that tho Republican
party countcnanccs and interferes with the
oolored voters who may choose to vote the
Democratic ticket, we do protest against and
denounce tho practice inaugurated in the
campaign of 1876. and again revived in some
counties by the Democratic party, of attend,
ing Republican meetings and conventions
and by show of force and other forms of in.
hmidation disturbing such meetings or taking
part therein without the consent and invita-
ton of the party calling them.
with unfuithfulncss to its pledges as demon.
strated by tho journals of tho last Legislature,
which show that tho only pledges redeemed
wcru those for which the entire N.Dub.ienn
voto of both houses were cast
Section dcnounces the Democratic party
for frauds and intimidation committed ut tho
lust election. for assassination and murders
committed preceding the election, fer violent
seizure of the Stnte Government after that
election, for tho frauds committed at oyery
special election since, and for tho system Of
intimidation that still prevals in many coun.
ties whereby Republicans are prohibited from
meoting and organizing.
Section s dcnounces tho Democratic party
Tor unseating representatives so rs to increase
tho Democratic majority in tho Legislature,
especially in tho matter of tho seventeen
charleston representatives, and for re-
suslng to givc representatives representation
among the commissioners of election, and on
the boards of managers 10 the special olec.
tions in Charleston, Orangoburg, Sumtor and
other counties; for frauds committed in those
elections, and particularly for stealing in
Sumter six boxes containing Republican
majoritios, and for refusing to count the votes
cast at certain precincts in Beaufort and
Orangeburg; for alleged irregularities on tho
part of the managers appointed by themselves.
Section 9 arraigns the Democratic party for
en0Cting q lazy abolishinr nnmnrnns nranin az %