Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-09-26

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alike, and not on favored class or section.
And in this connection, he alluded briefly to
the financial system of the country, and the
unjust, discriminating acts of Congress, in the
interest of bond. d.holders-untaxed bond-hold-
ers-and corporations, and against the great
mass of the people and the various industries
of the country, and the absolute necessity for
reform and change in these matters, so vitality
important to the prosperity of the country ;
that the great number Of failures painful
pressure of the hard times-and the vast
number of operatives and laborers out Of en-
ployment, was awakening the whole country
to consideration of the causes, and arousing
public sentiment everywhere to demand re-
forms and repeating and modifying legislation,
and this potential voice of the people must be
needed and respected, and it ,uould be.
By way of further illustration of bad gov
ernment and its ruinous effects, Gen. Leach
next took up the one subject of Republican
rule, for eight years, in South Carolina. He
spoke of its nature and character and merce-
nary objects; its cruel oppression its wicked
legislation ; its dishonesty, recklessness and
corruption its unjust exactions in levying
exorbitant taxes without any corresponding
benefit to the taxed; but on the other hand
stealing and appropriating the moneys thus
raised !; its corrupt and corrupting executives,
legislatures and judiciary, in some instances
to the scandal and disgrace of the country
its shameless rapacity and ruthless despotism.
He said they were aliens, ignoring home.rule,
outraging all the sacred rights Of the people,
despising alike the principles of justice and
the securities of law, intent only on such dis,
honest practices and mischievous legislation
and administration of affairs as would enure
to their own interests and fill their own pock-
cts in derogation Of every principle of right
and justice. .... -. .g,r
These things, continued the speaker, are
true and the picture is not overdrawn. lie
asked, what honest man is willing to see such
men again reinstated in power with control OF
the State Government? If there was one, he
would instinctively turn from him in sorrow
and anguish of heart, to avoid the contempla'
ton Of so revolving an object of pity and con
tempt.
But, he thanked heaven, that though the
people of South Carolina were thus trodden
down by merciless rulers (not of their own
choosing) they were not to be subdued OF
subjugated. They remembered that he
roic ancestry helped purchase those great
and inestimable blessings for them and their
posterity. They were destined to submit
but little longer to their. deep humilia
tioii and exquisite torture of soul, because
they knew that human opinions and senti
ment could not be controlled by force. They
had read that all the prosecutions of the dark
ages only strengthened Christianity thai
God had made our intellectual being; these
thoughts. that, cannot be fettered, but that
soar alof snd swander through time and eter
nity-immsterial, chainless, immortal!
And so it came to pass, continued the
speaker, in the midst of this CALLING oppres
sion and worse than Egyptian bondage, when
the clouds of their misfortunes seemed dark
est and the future of the devoted State hopeless
there suddenly appeared rift in the clouds
and the sunlight Of hope shone upon them, and
as by the mighty influence of some unseen
power, all eyes were turned to the coming
man-to leader-and be was found in the
person of the modest Christian, but brave and
peerless. HAMPTON, and the shouts went up
from one end of the State to the other, with a
unity of sentiment and firm purpose Of soul
never before witnessed, for Hampton and lib
Grafton, and they fought the great battle
peacefully but heroically; for "peace hath its
victories no less renowned than war;" and
they won the victory. And here the people
were met to day to exchange congratulations
for the redemption of their State from politi
cal thraldom and Republican misrue.
= The General then drew in glowing lam
guage the future Of the proud Palmetto State
after which he made short and kind appeal
to the colored people, urging upon them the
necessity of industry and frugality, of main
tanning friendly relations with the white peo'
ple-who would always be the dominant race
of the country-and he urged upon them to
educate their children, as far as they were
able, aided by the white people; to acquire,
if possible, homes of their own, even if small
and humble, so as to be the better able to
take care of themselves and their political
and all other interests that looked to eleva.
ting them and qualifying them to make good
citizens.
There were great many ladies present,
and the speaker said they were entitled not
only to his thanks for the compliment Of their
presence, in coming on so unfavorable day,
but he must address g few remarks to them.
AndSafter telling an anecdete that happily
applied to the illustration of his situation and
produced much laughter, he said there was
no country where the rights of the sex were
so we'll protected and guarded, where their 80
cial position was higher, where proper ap-
probation of them was greater, or where their
influence was more felt, or where admiration
for them often borders on idolatry, than in
our own country. And this is due as much
to our institutions of civil and religious liber-
ty as to the innate gallantry of honorable
men. Beauty and grace of person and man
ners, are woman's heirloom, and woman's
only. The influence of lovel y, true woman
is exalting, ennobling in its effects, and makes
man of honor and soul gentler, wiser, truer,
better, greater
Such is the merest outline of Gen. Leach s
address, which abounded in anecdote and hu-
NOR, and constantly elected applause or
laughter from his hearers, who, for portion
of the time, stood in peting rain, and urg.
ed him to go on! 60 onT' When General
Leach closed, Col. Wilson announced that on
account of the inclemency of the weather, and
the lateness of the evening. the meeting would
then adjourn to meet in the Court House at
7 o'clock.
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