Year: 1868

The Presidential Campaign in the Country


Great Enthusiasm Of the Pe0ple-NIeetings


Numerous and Largely Attended--Negro


Clubs Organized and Organizing-The Negro


Reaction as Seen.


NEWMAN, Ca, August IL, 1868.


Seldom II before in the history Of this state,
have the people thereof entered into Presidential
contest with greater enthusiasm and determination
than they have in the present one Outside OF the large
towns this activity Is particularly noticeable-the
more as the present Is busy season for work.
which keeps the planters and farmers employed on
their crops thus leaving as one would suppose, put


little time for attention to politics. Yet you cannot
enter county in this state where meeting has not
just been held Is about to be held. Under the
management OF the State Central Commlttee-a very
able and energetic one-barbecues at the rate OF
three or four a week are being given or announced
to be given. These gatherings OF the people en-
naasse, without regard to color. Frequently bar
becue is attended by over twenty thousand persons
OF whom over onehalf are negroes The vast con-
course is here fed wEiskeyed and addressed by nu-
merous orators, who announce the democratic
creed ana urge vigorous efforts to win votes for Sey
mour and Blair. Not a single barbecue has yet been
given but what has proved a complete success in
point OF attendance, good order good feeling and
the winning OF hundreds of negroes from the radical
ranks


The minor meetings are so numerous that it would
be difficult task to estimate them. Probably the
total number will not be less than one thousand In
this State alone by the time the Presidential election
day arrives referred in former letter to the fact that
one gentleman General w. T. Wofford Is announced
to speak nearly every day during the present month
There are, perhaps, fifteen or twenty Other well
known men who are working for the democratic
party at the same rate Two noticeable features at
these meetings the moderation OF the orators and
their candid admissions of General Grants great
military reputation, and though they insist that he
no statesman and cannot be compared with Mr. Sey-
In this particular, regret Is invariably expressed
at his having allied himself with the radical party.
1t is fact worthy OF record that the men who par
tcularly speak In this manner are eX-rcbel officers
Let me not be misunderstood. Scarcely an eXrebel
In the South believes General Grant military genius.
Ask the great mass Of them who put down the rebel
lion, or who Is the best general in the Union army,
and the answer will be unhesitatingy General Shcr-
man.


The next feature referred to is the pursued
toward the negroes. part OF every speech is de-
voted exclusively to them, and never falls to have
effect. At the close OF each meeting 'colored con-
servative clubs" are either formed or new members
enrolled into existing organizations. sometimes
white man. at the solicitation OF the negroes accepts
the office OF president of their club, and although he
may never preside over them more than once they
feel proud of and grateful for his c0ndescenson


am sure 1t Is not an over-estmate when state that
there are probably two hundred and fifty negro
democratic clubs in the State and that they will aver





without new clubs being formed, and every day adds
to the number OF those already organized. 1t Will
thus be seen that Georgia will almost certainly be
carried for the democratic ticket, and as her nine
electoral votes will assuredy be counted the canvass
here becomes Of great interest that of any other
State. According to present appearances nothing
short OF absolute force or gross stupidity on the part
OF the democracy can save the radicals from an
wheming defeat next November


While the democrats are carrying on a vigorous,
aggressive campaign, the radicals continue apathetc
and almost Indifferent. They are SO bewildered and
cOnfounded at the numerous deserons from the
ranks of their negro allies that they have not the
heart to pursue an energetic course. AS at present
constituted the delegation IN Congress from this
State comprises four radicals ana three democrats.
Next fall predict that the democrats will carry all
but two, the Savannah and Augusta districts, and
should they carry every one II would not be matter
for surprise. Heretofore the most turbulent aud
radical negroes In Georgia have been those living IN
the counties lying between the two cities named
above. They have been overbearng, insolent TO the
whites, neglecting no opportunity TO excite riot,
though invariably whipped when they do succeed in
getting up one. That even in this species OF Hayu
the radical backbone is almost broken by desertIons
to the democracy Is a suggestive indication OF the
formidable extent OF the negro reaction.


Nor Is this abandonment OF the scallawags and
carpetbaggers confined to any particular Southern
Louisiana and south Cafollna have an whelming
majority OF registered negro voters, yet the demo-
cratic Leaders there boast boast that they viii carry
The Alabama radicals admit that unless the
Legislature casts the electoral vote they will be
badly beaten. or Florida, Arkansas and North Caro-
lima the same thing can be said. In fact II the
pet-bag Legislatures fail in their present efforts to
choose electors for the States they pretend repre-
sent, seymour and Blair will receive the entire forty
seven votes they are entitled TO- There Is no exag
gerati0n or Misrepresentation In this statement. or
course circumstances may transpire between this
and the day of election to again estrange the negroes
from the whites; but as things now stand l cannot
perceive the slightest chance Of the radicals win
ming.


After careful examination OF the registered vote
In the various Southern States venture to give the
following figures as the probable result for members
OF Congress. Under any circumstances the people
certain to vote directly for their
that the extent Of the reaction will be their
chOice:-