The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-09-09

giving the Convention a few words of
counsel and advice upon such matters as
would come before them. lie was 100
unwell, however, he said, to make a
speech and begged to be excused.
Mr.. Harry Noah was elected tempora-
ry secretary. The chair appointed q
committee on credentials, consisting of
one from each county, and with w. A.
Hayne, of Marion, as chairman.
About 6 o'clock the committee on cre-
dentials made their report. In the case
of Beaufort the Smalls and Whipper
contesting delegations we're both admit.
ted on half votes, and in the county of
Union, in which there were contesting
delegates, both delegations were exclud-
ed.
On motion of Deas the temporary Or
ganization was then declared to be the
permanent organization. The rules of
the House of Representatives with un-
important exceptions were adopted as
the rules for the government of the Con.
vention.
On motion of Shrewsbury, of Chester
field, the Convention then went into
secret session to discuss the question of
nominating State ticket.
From s o'clock until nearly midnight
the Convention remained in secret ses-
sion, excluding reporters and everybody
who was not member. The object OF
this secrecy was to permit such a discus
sion of the question of nominating State
ticket as would give the members full
opportunity of ventilating their opinions
without the fear of having party secrets
discussed.
AS soon as the doors were closed
Shrewsbury, from Chesterfield, introduc'
ed a resolution that committee of three
from each Congressional district be ap.
pointed to prepare report upon the
advisability of making nominations OF
not, and that, in the event of the com.
mittee determining to recommend that
State ticket be placed in the field the
officers to ompose such ticket be recon-.
mended to the Convention by the COM
mittee.
Mr. Chatfeld, of Aiken, the proprietor
of the Highland Park Hotel at that
place, moved to table the resolution
He said he had consented to serve as q
delegate in the Convention mainly fol
the purpose of exerting such influence as
he possessed to dissuade the Convention
if possible, from placing State ticket in
the field. He felt that the approaching
campaign would prove q crisis in the
history of the Republican party of the
country, and he was firmly convinced
that if the Convention nominated 8
State ticket it would seriously injure the
chances of the Republican electoral
ticket in this State. He felt satisfied
also that no ticket which the Coz 7entior
might nominate could possibly be elect
ed, and, in his opinion, it would be fal
better to remain quiet and let the Demo
cratic party disintegrate, as there were
already strong indication of such a re
suit within the next two years. If, how
ever, the Convention put up ticket the
Democracy would be united, while nc
possible good could result to the Repub
Iican party by such course. He wa:
satisfied furthermore that there were ne
respectable men in the Republican party
who would consent to run on State
ticket at this time, and the Convention
would be unable to place in the field s
ticket of sufficient character to give il
strength with the National Republican
party. He considered the nominations o
State officers at this time unwise and inex
pedient in the extreme, and he warned
the colored men that if they insisted
upon using their majority to put ticke
in the field the cry Of drawing the colol
line would be raised and the electora
ticket seriously, if not fatally damaged
One of the delegates from Chester
replied to Chat6eld, and spoke in sup
port of Slate nominations. he thought
the party had remained inactive long
enough, and the time had come to make
a fight for the recovery of the State tc
Republican rule. He didn't see any
difficulty in running State ticket along
with the electoral ticket, and he thought
it the duty of every Republican in the
State to advocate such course.
John NJ. Freeman, of Charleston, also
spoke in favor of State nominations
He did not think it would cost any more
to run a State ticket with the Electoral
ticket than to run the Electoral ticket
alone. He thought that if the Republi'
can party was left to itself much longer,
without head and without organization
it would fall to pieces. He had no hope
Of electing such a ticket, but it would al
least have the effect of keeping the party
together, and of giving it new life and
energy for the following election.
Thomas E. Miller, of Beaufort, made
about the best speech of any in favor OF
State nominations. The Republican
party was tired of doing nothing, and
nothing but a warm, spirited campaign
would keep them together. He had not
the slightest expectation of electing their
State ticket, but it would keep the party
together. He asked the white men in
the Convention if after all their protesta-
tions of friendship and love they intend
ed to desert them now at the very first
breath of danger. He wanted to know
whether these men who claimed to have
freed them and to have come to South
Carolina solely for their advancement
would dare to leave them now at time
when their very existence was in the
balance. If they did it would establish
very clearly that these men affiliated
with the negroes solely for the purpose
of securing government patronage, and as
soon as anything like danger or work
appeared they shrank from incurrring
social ostracism, and were too cowardly
to come to the front like men and
90 down with their colors fying.-
Tfsuch was to be the disgraceful conduct
of the white men in the Republican
party better by far had the party be dis
banded at once and the colored man
learn that he would have to look else
where for our friends. There was but one
way to keep up the party and that was
by keeping it organized with competent
leaders ready for action at any time.
E. NJ. Brayton, the internal revenue
collector, opposed making nominations,
urging similar objections as those offered
by Chat6eld.
D. A. Straker, of Orangeburg, Thomas
and others, followed in favor of making