Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-06-14

can members to recognize Wallace
as Speaker. Myers, very intelli-
gent mulatto, Hamilton coal black
negro, the finest specimen of brains
and courage | ever saw of his race,
both from Beaufort, came over end
joined the Wallace House. Then a
mulatto named Bird, of Fairfield,
came over but the Democrats had
stayed in that hall four days and
nights and no line of battle, mo-
mentarily expecting at attack, ever
suffered greater nervous strain, and
to make matters more uncomforta.
bic the Republicans had possession
of the gallery above the Hall, where
they had hundred cutlhroats,
armed with army rifles. But for the
fact that cool and brave men from
all over the State poured into Co.
lumbia as soon as the Democrats
went into the State House, not
one member would have gone out
alive, but the revenge on the
Republicans, white and black,
would have been fearful. Some
of our men sat within ten feet of
Mackey during those four days and
nights, to kill him instantly when
the first shot was fired, and though
he realized his peril he never tlinchcd
We had obtained our object in secur-
ing the three necessary members,
and being informed that the United
States soldiers had received orders to
clear the hall of Democrats, we
quietly walked out to Carolina Hall,
carrying quorum with us, and com
plctely blocking the Republican gov
crnment. A suit was brought by the
Democratic State officers, before the
Supreme Court, to determine the
title to the Offices, and it should
never be forgotten that Willard, af-
forwards elected Chief Justice of
this State, though a Yankee and
Republican, decided the case in fa-
vor of the Democrats.
In the meantime, however, two
separate State governments were run
with their full quota of officers, and
the people paid their taxes to the
Hampton government freely and vol
UNFAIRLY. But for the good iudg-
mcnt and nerve of Governor lamp
ton and those associated with him,
coupled with the entire confidence
in and devotion of the people of the
State to them, anarchy and slaugh-
ter would have been inevitable.
Those who afterwards spoke disparag-
ingly of the man who redeemed the
State in 1876 are worse than slandcr-
crs and ingrates-they are traitors to
their State, their country an their
race.
When the matters were finally set
tied, and the fearful incubus Of ne
gro domination, that yoke of ignor-
ancc and corruption was thrown off,
redeemed, rcgcncratcd and disin-
thrallcd, South Carolina sprang for
ward in the race of mental, moral
and financial progress and showed
her sons and daughters were worthy
Of their noble sires, who had 50 gal.
lantly fought for their liberties and
rights against overwhelming odds
from 1861 to 1868, who had sacrificed
property, comfort and life itself
rather than submit 30 tyranny and
oppression.
You are to take the places of your
fathers and mothers who are silently
passing away year by year, and intlu-
cncc the dcstinics of this section in
the onward march Of progress and
development. Will you raise the
standard OF our people mentally and
morally, will you encourage cduca-
tion and honor, will you stand for
the right against selfish greed and
ignorant prejudice Will you mould
public opinion 80 that truth and JUS
ticc, religion and patriotism, purity
and principle shall be respected and
rewarded and avaricc, scllishness,
and fraud and deceit shall not only
be condemned, but punished. Pub
lie opinion is the sun in our form Of
government, which regulates the
whole body polite. If virtue and
purity are required of every public
officer and expected Of every private
citizen, progress and elevation will
follow, as the night follows the day
but if lawcssncss, intolerance and
blatant dcmagogcly are approved and
rewarded degradation, dishonor and
rctrogression must result.
In one condition we have warmth
and light, beauty and life and health
and strength in the other the sun
IL in eclipse and we suffer darkness
and chill, shadow and death. You
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