National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-07-10
The Fourth of July Celebration at Orange
burg, y. g.


burg, y. G..
To he Editor of Tie National Republican,:
DEAR SIR: Our little town witnessed pro-
cession of 1000 colored voters, who came in
from every part of the county, on the morning
of the Fourth of July, to hear Hon. E. w. M.
Mackey, and others, tell of the political situa.
tion and by their presence assert that they,
too have n share in the pride of American inde-
pendence, nevertheless they are practically de-
MED its benefits.
About ten u. m. 1900 horsemen appeared
in town, cnlivened in their march by a small
band from Columbia, s. q. The procession.
after marching through the town, went to
convenient grove and was there addressed by
Hon. L. w. NJ. Mackcy, United States assist.
ant district attorney, and others. Mr.. Mackey
reailirmed the Republican principles, and de-
clared that the next President would be Re.
publican Grant, if he would accept, or some
other; but q Republican. He urged the coll
ored voters to go to the polls and vote and cast
the burden upon the Democrats to count out
| their votes and steal the Offices He said South
Carolina would regain her former position
among the Republican States effectively in
| 1850
Hon. D. A. straker followed Mr. Mackey. He
thought that there was little for the coored cit
izen to celebrate on the Fourth of July Ameri-
can Independence was to the colored citizen
practically n myth and freedom and liberty
II mockery; yet the times justified our coming to-
gether and resolving to renew the fight In so Just
n cause. If in 1850 the Republican cause was
defeated by the method of fraud and intimda-
tion, and through the impotency of the Ma
tional Government, not only would he bid fare
well to South Carolina, but to country 81 inn
bccie as not to be able to protect its citizens in
all their rights while II demands from them ul-
legiauCe.
Rev. DR.. Alonzo Webster, whose letter to the
New York Tribune of April 1879, has caused so
much futtering among the Democrats of this
country, next spoke, He urged upon the col
ored citizen to maniully stand up for his rights,
recounted his trials in Kansas, and advised
| that If the opponents of the colored citizen did
not desst from depriving them of their rights
rs voters and give adequate wages for labor, to
look for some place where their rights would
be respected and labor justly compensated.
BY request this terrible letter of DIR. Web.
ster's. misrcpresenting the Democracy of this
county, was read by him. At the conclusion
Rev. Lemuel Arthur offered u resolution to
indorse DR.. Webster's letter as the Just and
correct sentiments of the cOlorcd people of
this county" The resolution was indorsed
by the unanimous consent of the meeting.
George Boliver, esq, clerk of the court of
this county, and Rev. Mr.. Gooseley also ad-
dressed the meeting. Appropriate resolutions
were then offered, reattirmng the allegiance
of the Republicans of Orangeburg County,
black and white, to the Republican party, and
warning the white Southern Democracy that
unless their rights are respected aud just
compensation for their labor given them, they
would seek new homes where these rights and
privileges could be obtained.
Hon. S. Duncan, president of the meeting,
then adjourned the meeting sine die, and all
went home encouraged and prepared for 1850.
Yours, VINDEX.