_May 19._ We had a queer scene here on Tuesday. It is probably the
first time that the slaves--contrabands--freedmen--have asserted
themselves our fellow-countrymen by claiming the right of voting. A
meeting was called in Beaufort to elect delegates to the Baltimore
convention.[163] It was assumed that we could stand for the sovereign
state of South Carolina, and so we sent her full complement of sixteen
representatives, and furnished each with an alternate. There are
hardly thirty-two decent men in the Department, it is commonly
believed. A large half of the meeting consisted of blacks, and _four
black delegates were chosen_, Robert Small[164] among them; the others
I believe were sergeants in the South Carolina regiment. At one time
there was considerable excitement, and white paired off against
black,--but on the whole both colors behaved very well.
The whole affair will be laughed at by the North, and it is hardly
probable that the delegates will be received. I hope they will.
In this hope W. C. G. was to be disappointed. Not one of the
delegates was received.
With a group of H. W.'s letters the story goes back to home
life.