The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-05-05

L 4,
he was afraid that when the era of the
New South did come it would find the
lands of the farmers in the hands of
aliens, and the sons of the present own
ers sunk into condition OF slavery more
abJect and degraded than that of the
slaves which their fathers held.
| Say, you men of South Carolina, "
exclaimed Mr.. Tillman, "who own the
soil and pay threc-fourths of the taxes,
how do you take this system of dry n,,rs-
ing, this intolcrable insolence?" He
urged upon them to find out what was
the wish of the farmers on this subject
and then go homo, and in the primary
assemblies aid in securing true mon to
represent them, he cared not what was
their calling, whether lawyers, doctors,
preachers or what not, so that they were
prepared to do that which was for the
best interest of the farmers and all other
classes.
| What tho farmers wanted was self
government. Since 1876 the negroes
had been corralled in convict camp
with the Democratic party as q guard
over them. The guards had sunk into a
deep sleep, while favored few had been
ioraging the fields and rcapimg all the
benefits and cmoluments. He earnestly
protested his loyalty to tho Democratic
party, and said that ''no private citizen
! had done or riskcd moro than he had in
1876" If the reforms advocated by him
were adopted he believed that the bottom
would be reached, and the future would
| be bright with hope and not dark with
| gloom as now
In the years in which he had struggled
to his present position as farmer he had
learned little about farming, and when
| he came to die he would probably have
learned about as much rs he might have
learned i'll four years Mt well conducted
Agricultural College.
Capt. Tillman's address (of which the
above is but an imperfect synopsis was
well received, and was repeatedly ap-
plaudcd.
At the close of his address Capt. Till
man declared the Convention ready for
| business
DIR. w. I'll. Zimmerman, Of Edgcficld,
nominated the following gentle
men rs temporary officers Chairman, J..
f.. Tmdall. Nicc-Prcsidcnts- First Dis
trict, w. L. Brookcr, Lexington; Second
District, w. j. Talbcrt, Edgcfcld; Third
District, j. a. Slgh, Ncwbclry; Fourth
District, NJ. l.. Donaldson, Greenvillc;
Fifth District, j. II. Hardin, Chester;
Sixth District, T.. l.. Stackhousc, Ma
rion; Seventh District, George .Tupper,
Collcton. Secretaries f. Cheatham,
Edgctield, and Thomas w. Holloway,
| Ncwbery.
The Chair appointed Mcssrs. Thinner
man, Stackhousc and Thomas IL commit
| tee to inform the Chairman of his cleo
ton, and they retired and soon returned
conducting Mr.. Tindall to the platform.
Mr.. Tindall returned his thanks in n
graceful speech, concluding as follows:
| "Thc grandcst of all civilizations is
that which is built upon the social
country life of an intelligent and virtr-
Gus people. 1t shall be only necessary
for this intelligent body to announce
their wishes, and there will be found
no party in the State who will have the
temerity to stand i'll the way of their en-
| forcement."
a committee on credentials, consisting
| OF one member from each County, was
| appointed, to whom it was referred to
examine credentials. The committee re-
tired, and tho Convention took recess
| till 3 p. Nj.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On motion, Commissioner A. p. But
Ter and Master j. N. Lipscomb of the
State Grange were invited to seats on the
floor of the Convention.
MIR. Allen, of Spartanburg, moved
that Governor Thompson be invited to
address the Convention. Mr.. Evans, of
Chesterfield, opposed the motion and it
was lost.
Mr.. Williamson, of Sumter, moved to
reconsider Mr.. John j. Dargan sug-
gested rising vote, If there were OBJ
jections or charges against the Governor
they should be made openly.
Mr.. Evans disclaimed any reflection
on the Governor, either as an official or
as an individual. He simply meant that
the time of the Convention should not
be taken up with general speech making.
The Chairman ruled the discussion out
OF order, as the Convention was not vet
organized.
After little further debate a motion to
receive the report of the Committee on
Credentials was carried, and this report
was made by Mr.. Clarkson, of Richland.
The list OF delegates included the names
of two hundred and scyenty-fve per
sons--eyery County in the State being
represented except Barnwomm, Beaufort,
Georgetown and Horny.
The report was adopted and The tenn
porary organization was made pcrma-
nent.
The Chairman said he thought the
matter OF inviting Governor Thompson
to address the Convention should come
before the body, and he hoped some
member would make motion to that
|