Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-01
The ADDRESS -
Wen'' IL. y1ff HoN. HERsH1t1
lc.. =. ". JOHNSON.

.-sfnK Addreas Of Hon. 'HetshellV. John
&S, President Of Tie late Georgia Conven
ton, delivered before tbat Body. The Ad-
atSss Is earnest, 'eelSgti;uent and suggestive
and giving timely counsel to the North
;aeaiust undue interferrencein our domes-,
&ic relations and intoxicating upon our own
people humane aud liberal policy to tic
blacks. We commend i. to The perusal o.
our tesdefs
Il q trut That our labor system has been en-
Grsly deranged. disorgaaizcd, almost destroy
ed; aud We are now 10 enter upon the expert
tnent, whether or. not, the means Of labo,
which are left to us, the class Of people tt
which We are to look in the future as our In.
boring GLASS. can be organized into efficient and
trustworthy laborers. That may be done, or
hopo it may be done, if left to ourselves.
fIf could have the ear Of the entire people
of the United States, aud if might be per-
naittsd, humble though be, to utter an al
tnonition. not by the way OF threat, but for
ths purpose of animating them to the pursuit
bf policy which would be wise, md saluts-
fy, and fraternal, and best for the county,
would implore them that, so fur as providing
for this organization into class 81 efficient
and trustworthy laborcrs. the Federal govern
msnt should just sihply let us alone. We nh
ders.and the character Of t!dt class sof people,
their capacities, their instincts. md the causes
,zh;cl.8otftrol their conduct. If we Cannot
,uccecd in making them trustworthy and eff.
suL to,
much. when we affirm that the Federal gov
srnmsnt need not attempt it. trust they
will not and that VIC will have the proof priv.
ileve Of being let alone. in the future, IN re-
ference to this class of our people.
So far as we ore concerned, and 30 far rs
The relationships we sustain to them are con-
oerned, We have duties to perform. I am a
Georgian. and speak to Georg,nns, an honera
bio, conscientious, high minded people, who
are prepared to discharge their duties, and
ready to read them from surrounding circuM-
s,ancea begto suggest, and would thnt
could be heard by every citizen Of my beloved
State, that Of all things upon this subject, it is.
most unwise, and unjust. and unkind, for the
iormer owners of slaves to caltivale toward
them feeling of dislike. or unkindne,s, their
emancipation has not been brought about BY
their act; and in reference to the scenes
through which We hive been passing, it is one
Of the most remarkable events In Ill hi.tory.
that such people, with such temptation to
insnrbordnation and insurrection. as was con.
.tantly presented to them during oil the period
Of the revolution. and most especially during
the latter portion of it, shouIi have been so
quiet, 50 c,rcumspeet, 50 we'll behaved, so
subordinate. All over our State, women and
children have been left alone In their houses
of abode, without one single, solitary male
protector the husbands, tho sons aud the
brothers fer away upon the tented 6eld-and
yet our women and children, thus unprotected
have been unmolcsted by the colored popula-
tion. and permitted TO enjoy safeiX and secu-
- was compatible with The condition of the
country. -
I say, therefore. that the emancipation of
the negroes Amongst us is not tho work Of their
own doing. They behaved themselves well
during the var. and the shackles Of slavery
hsihg knocked of. it is not strange that we
should see listlessness. ldleness, thriftlessness
exhibited by them. and in some cases even in
sabordinaiion and ,spirit of mntiny-not
teasonablS men might have expected.
1spesk this for Two fold purpose first, to
pay just tribute to That unfortunate class of
our people. and second. TO remind ourselves of
tho spirit which ought to animate us in our
conduct towards them and in maintaining the
relationship which must necessarily exist be-
tween US in tho future. Our conduct should
30 kind, humane. salutary, magnanilnous, just
Tie result of this will be the production Of n
feeling Of mutual confidence between the two
tsssA
The black race must feel that the white man
10 not his enemy--that he is just aud magnsni.
NOUS and that on the other hand will b-get
ebhauct on the part of the African race, so FAR
as they are now capable of being operated up
on BY such influences, feeling of trust and
confidence and Kindness and n willingness tp
feseond to the duties obligatory upon them,
and thas enable both to move along harmuni.
o,isly ID the prosecution of enterprises, and
perhaps successfully in the promotion Of mu.
eusl interesta.
Now, e Re cultivate thi. feeling. (and any
ether feeling would not conform with our dI-
sizes towards tl,eln,) and this feeling shall he
embodied in wise and well adjusted code of
laws for tho government of both classes, be-
essss laws Tint shall be enacted in reference
f9 one class can not Appropriately besuited to
the other CLASH On account of their color and
Fundamental difference Of race. Asy if ws
shaii adopt such code Of laws that shall give
embodiment to those feelings of justice, kind.
ness. and humanity. which thing it 10 our du.
~ !" cultivate towards them, we may fnduIp.
nope that we may organize them into class
of Trustworthy laborers..
We cannot succeed in doing this unle,s our
selsss WIN feierenee to that class OF. people
tiom Of conduct. We may succeed. if.wsnre
q sain1stedt-not only at home upon our
Riantations, but in our legislative halls If we
Ho not the experiment'vill oily prove to be a
rhutet and l fear It. viii te 1 a.failure. Bu
ist % make tlo experiment in good faith. and
IN proportion as we succeed we shall bc remu-
slseo .M tor tho effort. snd in proportion as we
scah 'ei' let us inaugurate such a policy a,
VII bring into oar midst sturdy. enercst;o