Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-08-10
The Greenback Meeting at Wal
halla on Monday.

The Grcenbackers of Oconcc consisting Of n
few whites and colorcd persons, held meeting
at the court house on Monday last. The Demo-
Gratis turned out in very considerable numbers
and the court house was well filled. BY ar
rnngcmcnt it was agreed that there should be Il
joint discussion. Major Thomas ii Russell, the
Grccnbacker leader, readily consented TO this,
but Messrs II. c. IIarbin and ". II. IIarbin,
the leaders Of the movement in this county,
were aycrsc 10 it. After much confusion and
the pulling off their coats and putting them on
many times, and the holding Oh and off of these
two gentlemen, Mr.. II. G.. proposed Mr.. W. II.
as chairman, TO which position he was unan-
mousy called by Mr.. IL. G. MIR. John 4.
Daniel was proposed as secretary. The meeting
having thus become organized, Mr.. II. G.
llarbin was introduced as tho first Grecnback
speaker. lie began without doubt" that the
Grcenbackers were all right and proceeded to
arraign tho Democracy for their msdecis,
"wihout doubt" This speaker waxed SO
warm under double influences that he pulled his
coat off before he got through with the excuse
that lie was from between tho plow handles and
speaking was moi his fort. The objections that
he urged TO the Democracy were tho passage Of
the stock act, the election law and the Univer-
sity and Citadel Academy bills.
Major S. =. DENLY was by agreement intro
duccd for reply. The Major made fine speech
in which he completely replied to the oft re-
pcatcd md stale charges of the Grcenba ckcrs.
lie showed clearly that the Grrcnbackcrs could
be allies TO nothing else except The Republicans
We wish that We had space 10 report the
Majors able speech at length 1t is sufficient
however TO say that it struck responsive cord
in The hearts of the large assembly crowded in
the court house.
Major Thomas Russell followed Major Dcndy.
His speech may be formulated as follows: lst
An assault on the national banks ID On the
stock law. 3D. On the election law. 1th On
tho University and Citadel Academy bills.
During the delivery Of this speech, which was
very lengthy, occupying over an hour and n
half or two hours, Mcssrs. S. p. Dcndy, ". j.
Suibling and j. S. Werner subjected the speaker
to a very sharp questioning, by which it was
shown first Tint Mr.. Russell had perverted the
theory Of national banking and had plagcrized
from Democratic orators on the subject I'd
That he was one Of the first advocates of tho
stock law in Anderson county, and that he had
the Inv passed by petition, in his township. over
the majority of voters who had expressed them
selves as against it at the polls. 3d. That
while he cantcd on the hardshps Of the election
law, rs against Grcenbackcrs, lie voted for the
Black Code and the strongest criminal code,
then passed against the negro. 4th That he
was in the Legislature of 1866 that changed the
old South Carolina College into n Universiy--.a
proposition which Mr.. Russell denied, until the
journal was produced OH him.
at The conclusion Of Mr.. Russcll's speech j.
S. Werner was called for very Justify by the
Democrats. The Grconbackcrs dcmnrrcd how
ever 10 this and set up suoh n yell as would
have done honor 10 first class old corn shuck-
ing after the bottle had been passed freely
| around. Mr.. Werner proceeded however 10
speak amid the confusion and showed that the
two speakers who were now such champion
Greenbackers and anti. Democrats had been
advocates Of the stock law, and in proof thereof
produced petition with Mr. II. G. Ilarbn's
name signed to it, in his own hnnd, asking tho
Legislature to pass it. lie showed also that
! Mir. Russell was strong advocate Of tho stock
law. and that he had voted for the Black Code,
which disfranchiscd the negro, and also was
member of The Legislature that organized the
University in 1866, and that having then voted
for it ho is responsible for its existence.
Mr.. Russell, with large part of his Green
back friends, ran from these unwclcome truths
and left tho meeting in the hands of tho Demo-
Gratis and good portion of tho most intelligent
| Grcenbackcrs who were disposed to have the
whole truth.
Many very ridiculous scenes Mapped through.
the dny. Ono large black darkcy took soat
by Major Russell and kept close up to him, al
tho while cheering Justify.