Brevet Major-General E. R. S. Canby, Commanding 2d Military District of South Carolina issued orders for the delegates to assemble in convention at Charleston, S.C., January 14, 1868.
The Convention composed of 124 delegates, a large majority being colored, met at Charleston, on the date named.
T. J. Robertson, white, was elected temporary President and Dr. A. G. Mackey, white, was elected permanent President.
W. J. McKinlay and H. E. Hayne were elected temporary Secretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively.
General Carlos J. Stalbrand, white, was elected permanent Secretary. Josephus Woodruff, white, compiled the proceedings.
John R. Pinckney and Peter Miller were elected Sergeants-at-Arms.
F. L. Cardozo was Chairman of the Committee on Education.
S. A. Swails, Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Regulations.
Robert C. DeLarge, Chairman of the Committee on Franchise and Elections.
Colored members were on all of the Committees, in most cases being in the majority.
In looking over the proceedings I find that the following named delegates took a very active part in all of the deliberations:
R. B. Elliott, R. C. DeLarge, F. L. Cardozo, J. J. Wright, W. J. Whipper, W. J. McKinlay, S. A. Swails, A. J. Ransier, R. H. Cain, B. F. Randolph, and W. B. Nash.
The Constitution provided for the election of Senators and Representatives on April 14, 15 and 16, 1868, to assemble at Columbia, May 12, 1868.
The Convention adjourned sine die March 14, 1868.
The Constitution adopted in 1868 stood unchanged until 1895 when a Convention was called to meet at Columbia, on September 10, 1895, to revise it.
The fact that the old Constitution stood for nineteen years after the Democratic party came into power (1876) shows that there could not have been anything objectionable in it to the Democrats or they would have changed it immediately after regaining control. It speaks volumes for the wisdom and foresight of the men of the Reconstruction Period.
In the Convention which met at Columbia in 1895, there were only five colored delegates and they were all from Beaufort County, a county which has very few white persons in it. The delegates were W. J. Whipper, Robert Smalls, Thomas E. Miller, James Wigg, and L. R. Reed. Of these, W. J. Whipper and Robert Smalls were delegates to the Constitutional Convention which met at Charleston in 1868.
As General Smalls died only about two or three years ago what a wealth of information he could have furnished pertaining to the Reconstruction Period had your request been sent out before his death.
Inclosure 2 contains the names of State Senators and the counties they represented. In several cases of Senators and also of Members of the House of Representatives I cannot recall their initials.
There were 32 senators, the majority being colored, of whom the following were conspicuous for their activity on all important legislation:
S. A. Swails, J. H. Rainey, R. H. Cain, W. H. Jones, W. B. Nash and H. J. Maxwell.
Inclosure 3 contains names of members of the House of Representatives at various times. Some served more than one term. The more prominent were: R. B. Elliott, S.J. Lee, Dr. B.A. Bosemon, J. H. Rainey, R. C. DeLarge, J. A. Bowley, W. J. Whipper, D. A. Straker, C. M. Wilder, Prince Rivers, F. H. Frost, T. E. Miller, and W. H. Thomas.
The House of Representatives was composed of 124 members and colored members were always in the majority.
Inclosure 4Names of State Officers.
Inclosure 5Names of Federal Office holders.
Inclosure 6Names of Congressmen who represented South Carolina.
I shall never forget the scene in 1876 when Col. A. C. Haskell, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee at the head of the Democratic members of the legislature forced his way into the Hall of the Representatives then occupied by the Republican members. Pandemonium reigned for a time. There were two Houses, each having its own officers trying to transact business at the same time. Finally the U. S. soldiers were called upon and those Democrats who had no certificate of election were ejected.
All of the Democratic members then withdrew and formed an organization in another hall.
Three colored Republicans whose names I do not care to mention went over to the Democrats, but the latter could do nothing without the Senate which was admittedly Republican.
The struggle was kept up until Mr. Hayes was inaugurated President, when he withdrew the U. S. troops, leaving the Republicans without any protection.
Governor Chamberlain and the State Officers elected with him seeing that they were deserted by the National Administration withdrew from the contest, leaving Gen. Hampton who was the Democratic nominee for Governor in possession.
The Democrats then organized the Senate and House of Representatives, and in joint session elected Gen. M. C. Butler, U. S. Senator. D. T. Corbin, who received the Republican votes, contested, but the Senate which was Republican by a small majority seated Butler. Senators Don Cameron from Pennsylvania and John J. Patterson from South Carolina, both Republicans, voted for Butler.
That there was no one killed or injured while the contest was going on is remarkable when the great excitement during and after the "Red Shirt" campaign is considered. It shows what absolute control the gubernational candidates had over their followers. No doubt the Democrats, who were assured that the U. S. soldiers would be withdrawn, did not care to make a slip as Chamberlin was still governor and the troops were practically under his orders.
Thus ended the Reconstruction Period in South Carolina.
At every step the Republican Party in South Carolina was betrayed by Republicans.
Col. T. W. Parmele, white. Superintendent of the Penitentiary, appointed as a Republican by Gov. Chamberlin, recognized an order from Gen. Hampton for the pardon of a convict. Legal complications ensued and the case was carried before Associate Justice Willard, white, of the Supreme Court, a Republican elected by the legislature, and he decided in favor of Hampton.
Three colored members of the legislature deserted to the Democrats, which practically made the House Democratic.
Col. Parmele and Justice Willard were Northern white men.
This paper would not be complete without some reference to the prominent colored men who helped to make history during that eventful period.
Robert Brown Elliott
Born at Boston, Mass., August 11, 1842.
Entered High Holborn Academy, London, England, 1853.
Entered Eton College, 1855 and graduated in 1859. Studied law.
Member of the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives of South Carolina, 1868-1870.
Assistant Adjutant General.
Elected to the 42nd Congress.
Resigned his seat in Congress and was elected to the House of Representatives of S.C. for the second time, and was elected Speaker of the House.
He came within a few votes of being elected U. S. Senator in 1874, but the powerful influence of the Pennsylvania R. R. Co., was exerted in behalf of John J. Patterson, white, the successful candidate. There was a colored majority in both branches of the legislature at the time and had the colored members so desired they could have elected Gen. Elliott.
In 1876 Gen. Elliott was the nominee on the Republican ticket for Attorney General and was elected but was forced to withdraw with the rest of the ticket.
He was Chairman of the State Republican Committee during the campaign of 1876.
For scholarly attainments, legal acumen, political sagacity and oratorical power, Robert Brown Elliott stands out as the most brilliant figure of the Reconstruction Period.
Joseph H. Rainey
Joseph H. Rainey
Born at Georgetown, S.C., June 21, 1832.
Although debarred by law from attending school he acquired a good education and further improved his mind by observation and travel.
He was a barber by trade and followed that occupation at Charleston, S.C., until 1862, when having been forced to work upon the fortifications of the Confederates he escaped to the West Indies, where he remained until the close of the war, when he returned to his native town.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Georgetown County.
Elected to the 41st Congress, being the first colored man having that distinction, and was re-elected to the 42nd, 43rd, 44th and 45th Congresses, five successive terms, the only colored man with such a record.
He received a caucus nomination as Clerk of the House, from the Republican members of Congress, the only colored man who has ever been honored by a Republican caucus.
The House was Democratic.
He was a delegate to several National Republican Conventions.
Served as Special Agent for the Treasury Department.
Polished in his mannersa fluent and convincing speaker, he was prominent in the Councils of the Republican Party.
Gen. Robert Smalls
Born in South Carolina, at Beaufort, April 5, 1839.
Although debarred by Statute from attending school, he educated himself with such limited advantages as he could secure.
Removed to Charleston, S.C., in 1851, worked as a rigger, leading a sea-faring life.
Employed on the Planter, a steamer plying in Charleston harbor as a transport, which he took over Charleston Bar in May, 1862, and delivered her and his services to the U. S. Blockading Squadron.
In recognition of his services was appointed Pilot in the U. S. Navy, and served in that capacity on the monitor "Koekuk."
Promoted as Captain for gallant and meritorious conduct, December 1, 1863, and placed in command of the Planter, serving until she was put out of commission in 1866.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Beaufort Co.
Elected to the 44th Congress, and re-elected to the 45th, 48th and 49th Congresses.
Was a delegate to every National Republican Convention up to within a short time of his death.
Collector of the Port of Beaufort, S. C.
Died two or three years ago, the last of the "Old Guard" in S. C.
Alonzo J. Ransier
Born at Charleston, S.C., 1834.
Self educated. Employed as a shipping clerk in 1850 by leading merchant, who was tried for violation of law "in having a colored clerk" and fined one cent with costs.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives of S.C.
Elected Lieutenant Governor on ticket with Gov. R. K. Scott, in 1870.
President of Southern States Convention held at Columbia, S.C., in 1871.
Presidential Elector on Grant and Colfax ticket in 1868.
Delegate to National Republican Convention in 1872.
Elected to the 42 Congress.
A man singularly gifted with political farsightedness.
Robert C. DeLarge.
Born at Aiken, S.C., March 15, 1842.
FarmerSelf-educated.
Agent of the Freedmen's Bureau from May, 1867 to April, 1868.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Member of the House of Representatives, 1860-1870.
One of the State Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
Elected State Commissioner in 1870.
Elected to the 42d Congress.
Very prominent in the Party Councils.
Rev. R. H. Cain
Born in Greenbrier Co., Va., April 12, 1825.
His father moved to Ohio in 1831 and settled in Gallipolis.
Entered the ministry at an early age and became a student at Wilberforce University in 1860 and remained there one year.
Removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., at the breaking out of the war where he discharged ministerial duties as pastor for four years.
Was sent by his church as a missionary to the Freedmen in South Carolina.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Charleston Co.
Elected to the 43d Congress, and re-elected to the 45th Congress.
Bishop in the African Methodist Church and a power in that denomination.
William Beverly Nash
Born in South Carolina.
Of limited education but endowed with wonderful common sense and political foresight.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Richland Co., in which Columbia is located.
For one term (four years) was Chairman of the Powerful Ways and Means Committee.
An elector on the Hayes and Wheeler ticket in 1876.
It was reported that he was offered $100,000 to vote for Tilden and Hendricks. Had he accepted the offer the Democratic ticket would have been elected, as the vote stood 186 for Hayes and 185 for Tilden. Be it said to his eternal honor he was beyond price.
Stephen A. Swails
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Represented Williamsburg Co., in the Senate.
Elected President pro term of the Senate for the whole period.
A very strong character and exerted considerable influence in legislation.
Was in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry.
Had musical talent of a high order.
Judge Lee
Judge of the Municipal Court of Charleston, S. C.
A man of ripe scholarship and of high legal attainments.
Until President Roosevelt appointed Judge R. H. Terrell of Washington to a similar position, I think he was the only colored man who ever occupied such a position.
Francis L. Cardozo
Born in South Carolina, at Charleston.
Educated in Scotland, at Glasgow University.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
Secretary of State for four years.
State Treasurer for two years.
Scholarly, courtly and dignified.
Took great interest in the education of the colored youth, and was popular among the boys on account of the fatherly interest he manifested in them.
Moved to Washington, D. C., after 1876 and accepted a position in the office of the Auditor for the Post Office Department.
After serving for several years in the Department he was elected to the Principalship of the Colored High School in Washington, a position he filled with honor and credit to the race and himself. After his death the Board of Education named one of the School Buildings the "Cardozo Building" as a tribute to his great interest in the educational welfare of the colored race.
Henry E. Hayne
Born in South Carolina.
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
State Senator from Marion, Co.
Secretary of State.
Was very much interested in the education of the colored youth.
Richard H. Gleaves
Served two terms as Lieutenant Governor.
Elected with Gov. F. J. Moses in 1872 and with Gov. D. H. Chamberlin in 1874.
Was nominated a third time with Gov. Chamberlin and elected but forced by the Democrats to withdraw.
Henry W. Purvis
Born in Philadelphia, Pa.
Son of Hon. Robert Purvis, the great Abolitionist. Member, house of Representatives, 1868-1870, and then was Adjutant General.
Was Adjutant General of the State most of the Reconstruction Period.
He was a man without fear.
In the campaign of 1876 he went to Edgefield, the homes of Generals Butler and Gary, the Democratic leaders, and regarded as fire eaters and spoke on the campaign issues. He also went to other parts of the State equally as dangerous and filled his engagements.
J. J. Wright
Delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
On account of his great legal ability he was elected by the legislature as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State. (There were two Associate Justices.) He had the respect of the entire Bar of the State.