Year: 1868

of the State may turn the scale in favor OF
the Democratic party.


Our people must not despond, nor relax
their efforts if there should be failures
elsewhere. On the contrary, they will have
reason to hope and much to stimulate
them to Increased energy, for it is vet
possible to win. State elections are in.
huenced and sometimes controlled by local
issues; and it has often happened that
these go one way, and il a few weeks
thereafter, III the same place, tie Presiden-
tial elections another. This may be the
present canvass; and, indeed, we have
reason to hope SO. Recently We have re-
celved reports from all parts of the State
which induce the belief that South Caro-
lima, with proper effort, will be carried for
Seymour and Blair. Let not the failure
to do SO be ascribed to you.


Ihe canvass III which You are nov en-
gagged Is full of excitement, which will
Propably continue and increase to tie end.
we trust, therefore, that it will not be
amlss to drop You a word OF caution -
The crlminality Of few, aud perhaps the
lndlscretlon of many, have placed it in
the power of malice and Misrepresentation
to iDjure us, and seriously to damage the
common cause. We urge you, therefore,
not only to prevent violence, but to ah-
stain from the violence of it. We
are dealing with a false and subtle foe
prolific IN inventions, and venomous in
purpose-a foe who fully understands the
temporary profit Of a nlmble lie, which
too often achieves its end before the truth
can even buckle on her armor.


We need not urge upon you tie policy
and the duty Of treating, with great kind
ness and forbearance, the colord popula-
ton of this State. This you have ever
done. and will continue to do as long as
you are permitted. We have no doubt
you will make manifest the untruth of
the malicious charge, that by force you
have compelled their votes Or by intimida-
ton kept them from the polls Their
minds are rapidly opening to the truth
that the vagrant white man OF the North,
as well as the renegade of the South, who
and who have been driving them TO des-
truction. are not true friends, and are un-
worthy of confidence and support. With
a fair opportunity they will return to you,
as their estrangement is owing entirely to
the false teachings and malignant efforts
of the Northern emissary. 1t cannot be
forgotten that the State voluntarily, in
1865, invested the colored population with
every civil right; and that the Democratic
party, in Convention in April last, recog-
nized them, under the previous action of
the State, as an integral element in the
body politic-and expressed its wiling
ness, when in power, to enfranchise them
to the extent which the public veal and
their own good might warrant. The posi-
ton then taken by the Convention, and
which was announced to the people Of the
State and the country, is now re-affirmed.
We beg you to remember that the
Democratic party of the State was not
for the purpose merely Of sup
porting the nominees of the party, but for
higher purposes and more enduring ends.
1t is possible that our present leaders may
be defeated. but our principles will sur
vive. The liberty of the individual the
being and welfare of States, the Constitu-
ton of the United States, Federal Union
under it, are objects worthy of patience
and enduring efforts. In the success we
hope for, our organization will be most
useful; and, IL case of defeat, it will be-
come essential. We, therefore, desire to
impress upon you the necessity of preserv-
ing intact and in full energy the admirable
of the Democratic party in
South Carolina.


WADE HAMPTON,


Chairman Executive Committee.


j. d. POPE.


J. ?. THOMAS.


I. ". MCMAsTER,


W. NJ. SHANNON,


JAMES CHEsNUT,


Chairman Auyiliarv Committees