The Portland daily press., 1882-08-22
A Converted Bourbon

Judge T. j. Mackey, of South Carolina, an
nounces himself as an independent candidate
for Congress Judge Mackey was Confeder-
ate soldier, and of late has been an active Dem
ocrat. He is an uncle of E. w. NJ Maokey, an
earnest Republican, recently seated in Con-
gress from South Carolina. After the war he
became an earnest Union man, and was ap-
pointed trial justice under the Military Gov
ernment. He was elected a State Circuit
Judge in 1872 BY Republican Legislature, and
was reelected by the Democratic Legislature
to the same position in 1876. In 1877 he took
the stump for Tilden and Hampton. There.
after he was a bulldozer of the most approved
type. He is represented as fearless man; as
ready with his revolver as with his tongue. He
has no superiors in the State as stump speak
er and promises-if not shot before the cam
paign is over--to tell some wholesome truths to
the ruling powers in the State, with whose
plans and past history he is perfectly familiar
The following interesting extracts from his ad-
dress, which is headed "The Unholy Sacra-
ment of Fraud" are specimen bricks of these
he will throw at the Bourbons:
announce myself as q candidate for Con-
gress from the Vth Congressional District. L
make this announcement in obedience to the
|. wish of a large number of my fellow citizens
who speak from the ranks of the people. I
recognize their call as a protest against the
disastrous misrule that now upholds itself in
South Carolina under the falsely assumed
name of Democracy. It builds its power on
broken constitutions and clothes itself with
fraud as a garment. The open and notorious
violation of the sanctity of the ballot under the
direction of Democratic leaders has repelled
capital from this State, as the dead line of
American civilization. Opinion is power, and
American public opinion controls the move
ments of American capital. 1t will not hazard
itself in State where the solemn obligation of
an oath is deemed less sacred than allegiance
to party, and where perjury at the ballot box
is assured protection by perluy in the jury
box. 1t shrinks from a land of perpetual un-
rest, whose rulers constantly proclaim to the
world that over it is impending the danger of
negro supremacy and the consequent impair
ment of all values.
Colored citizens do not and will not challenge
white supremacy. When this is the true issue
l shall stand on the line of my race and msrch
to fate abreast with it; but the coored people
have not attempted to assert their race major
ity by even nominating State ticket since
1876. I advocate for them fair representation
in the Legislative and Executive Departments
of the Government This is needed IS meas
ure of repose for the State, and is demanded
by every consideration OF policy and justice.
The Bourbon Democrats sound the
false alarm of NEGRO rule' to keep the discon-
tented white workingmen from baeaking ranks
and trampling their ring rule under foot. n
General Hampton, speaking for the Demo-
cratic party, said in his speech at Chercaw,
September 26, 1876: eve recognize this as a
land of free speech, a free ballot, free press,
and land of free men," Read this declara-
tion in the light of the recent election law,
which disfranchses a majority OF the colored
voters and not less than $1,000 white voters,
nearly all of the latter being ex-Confederate
soldiers.
These causes are sufficient to account for the
fact that although South Carolina is inhabited
by brave, generous and hospitable people,
and her genial climate woos the immigrant to
her cheap and fertile lands, yet out of her 49,,
100000 acres of arabic Iand there are only
100000 in cultivation. The great tides of i'm
migration that are steadily flowing into other
Stats never cross our borders. We have mag
nificent waterfalls which should be turning
millions of spindles, that are finging their
spray in the sunlight, as idle to-day as when
centuries ago the plunled Indian shot down
them in his bark canoe. In the States OF the
North money is borrowed readily on mortgage
at per cent. per annum, while in our rural
districts the farmer pays from IL to % per cent.
and the regular bank rate is per cent. per
month. In the midst of this money famine
the people appeal to the Legislature in vain
for relief against the phosphate and railroad
monopolsts who are grinding them to powder.
Men who hold office by the grace of the man
ayers of elections, and not by the free votes OF
the majority, are not apt to feel very sensibly
their obligations to the people.