Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-07-12
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Public Meeting. at Edgeield c. IL.

/.
L asonic and Odd-Fellow's Hall, at. this place on
Thursday last; to listen to an address from tho
Rev Doctor FREsou. on the subject ofsthc tela-1
ions that exist between tho whites and tho ffesd-
non of.this District. -. = - y
The stage was va occupiedby Tie Rev. Or. FREycH,.
WILDE and the, Rev.. L. R.
awALTsrY. - ~
Mr.:GwAbrSEY having introduced to. the moet-
ing, Gen. WILDE and DR.. FRENCH, Gen. Wilde
aftcr few introductory remarks, in which nc
spoke of the:mecting being voluntary aud semi
oicinl, and the necessity of correct military rule
till the full functions of civil goVcrnsent could
be organized, requested DR.. French to.address
the meeting. ,4.eS - ~ -@s.y' II
In COMMENCING, DR.. FaENcH- regretted theab-
sence of the ladies, saying that what Tho mad 10
say. he dssire1 heard by all. It was strange
Providence that had brought bim here. He Sad |
never entertained an idea of ever being here |
Had come solely on mission Of conoilIation. A.
his address to the freedmen the next day, he de-
sired all the whites to DC present, He intended
to speal, to them frankly. plainly aud he would
try to do so,rlgstsF ,His.mission to thsm'and to
all was 30 DO g1iod. lie had thought he had socn.
the hand of d,i in this war from tho beginning,
andhowevct much we might differ With bin, it
vet remained to be seen whether it had been wagea
in vain or not 1t may turn out perhaps, that
the defeated party. is even more blessed than the
successful one. He, Of course, was tutoring but
his own individual opinion. He dare say lie ewould
say, some wrong things He desired correction
wherein he might bo at fault-desired guidance,
and would tuke it all kindly. We had no idea of
the resorts to Which the North had to fy because
of Southern successes and prowess.' For eighteen
months tho North had been afraid of the South.
it had been afraid of England and. France-it
stood staggered. But then, the North became en-.
:tircly revolutionized; on .indescribable- change
took hold ON its people. We had not seen mat
tcrs from their stand point God conquered the
North, or we aever' could have conquered you.
We hato no cause Of boasting. ourland is one Of
| general mourning. So much, at least, has the
war cost the North. There is llimitable wealth
in the North, and the South in her irlpoverish-
mczt shall haIc assistance. She must tyincrcase.
| Coming back under such O strong government
although with ompty pockets and: disappontea
hopes, the North yet.thinks tho South groat. Lei
| the ucople of the South then, look with charity
on tue past. Let theh, throw away prejudice, and
they will then be able to bear their trials better
| than they ever anticipated they could. They
must put good Interpretation on tho acts Of the
North. Let us agree in heart matters above al
things lie had given the sentiments Of the Nerth'
ern people. Government had taken upon ltsei
theresponsibility Of freeing thenegroes. Whether
right or not, there is the naked fact-it is a sot
tied fact. The feeling of the government, is t.
make common cause with the South in taking care
of the freedmen. Government does not turn ava,
from any. Congress, at its last session, created
Bureau for the care Of all refugees, freedmen anf
abandoned property. Major General HowAnD il
bat the head of it. lie is good, christian man
Gen. SAxroS is now acting On his place, ard Gen
WILDE is acting with him. Tho government ha
not yet had time to fully develop its policy in tht
working Of this important Bureau. 1t will seni
men over the State, however, as carly as nay b
convenient, to look after the interests Of refugees
freedmen, &c.
Tho Doctor nero read. orders showing The car
of government, and how kindly Disposed tn
military are. lie said government does net hol'
planters responsible to clothe or support thci
freedmen. He enforced and hoped, however, thu
tho claims Of humanity would prevent their being
driven of by former owners. If repliy wished
government will take and caro- for them as soor
rs it can. He gavo en- account of the state o
things on tho Coast where ho has becn stationed
for the lest thrco years, and spoke also Of TIT
character and success of the negro under the nsv
influences Of n state of freedom. Government
he said, has made the blacks, citizens OF th'
United States 1t will be for us to say, what kint
Of citizens they shall be in South CnrOlna. The.
are, be further said, dangerous clement turue.
loose in their ignorance, and hence for thcil
proper education, schools would be established fal
and wide. He was going to remain, and make
COMMON cauac among US, to bring about as .quicl
as possible, harmony, prosperity and happiness
as to what government. would do With. freedmen
he was sorry he was now unprcpored to say
Nothing could be done for minors till the Bareau
was moro fully established. Ho .counsclled, how
cvcc, tbsrai! frgolmca remain with their former
t::,ncrs Tor the present. He could impsrt nc
light on wiat would be the condition Of things
in these premises tho next year. BE said the
policy of tho government in regard to the army
would be, that it consist in future Of 10000
troops equally proportioned, and tha. that num-
Der would be retained, except when rendered un.
necessary by the progress of tho Institutional
civil law and the evidence of our ability to gov
ern ourselves without tho aid of military presence
He spoke favorably Of the character of the troops
hcre-said they were the only available ones al
/ tho .imo,-that consequently whenthey were sen.
it could not be helped, aud ho hoped that no OBJ:
lection would be urged against them. Disabusisg
the minds of our people, and, scouting the idca
thet the government had sout tho troops now here
with any such idea as humiliation, the reverend
gentleman closed his r.marks. =
| --o---
The Rev. Dr.. French and the Freed
men of Edgefeld.
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