Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-07-12

Public Meeting. Of EdseisId c. H.
"A highly respectable meeting,of thecitzena of
Eagefeld yillpgo:and sicinity WAS ,hodin the
Masonic md Odd Fellows Hall, at this place on.
Thursday last, to listen to, an address from tha5
Rev Doctor FREsouson tho subject ofathe' Selasa
tious tbatscxist between tho Whitosond tho freed
mon of.thiE District. ~. '->sS' 8 .t'T -!
.The,stass was occapiedfBy !EssRev. Or. FaEscH,T' 4
Brigadier.Gereral WILDE and the Rev. I, b.
GwALTSRY.,,, ..,.sz--a /. ?. 49, -. sEaa
Mr.;GwABTSEY. baying Introduced 10 the moct-
ing, Gen.swIEDE and Dr.. French, Gen. WItpE'.
after few introductory remarks, IN which nc |
spoke of theE!msctihg being voluntary end semi
oficial, and tie secessity of correct military rule
Till the full functions Of civil goFernaent could
be-organized, requested DR., FRENCH 70 address rs
the meeting. ae.., '3.zss - - 4s'.-'5: II
In eo.n!nc,fc ., DIR. FRENCH fsgrettad the'ab-.
sence of The ladies, saying that what lhO had TO
say, he desired heard.by all. TT wassa strange |
Providence that had brought him here: He Dad |
never entcrtained nm idea Of ever being here.
Had come solely mission Of eoncillaton q .4sss Il
his address to the freedmen the next day, he del
sired all the whites to be present.. He intended
to speak. to them fsausy plainly aud he would
try to do so,rigs ,His'missiou to&thsnpand to 1
all was 10 10 g66d. lie had thought be had soen-1
the hand; Of G,d in this mar from tho beginning,
.an;t However much we might differ with hiu, i
yst remained to be seen whether it had been wagsa
in vain.or not. It may turn out perhaps, that 3
the defeated party is even more blessed than the
successful one. He, Of course, was uttering but
his own individual opinion. He dare say helwOadr
say some wrong things, HoE desired correction
wherein he might be at fault desired guidance;.
and would taka it all kindly. <Ws.had no idea of
the resorts to Which the Nortb had to fysbecause
4 Of Southern successesand prowess. For cig6tsen
months the North had been afraid Of the South
| ithad been afraid of England and. FrancsNit
stood staggered. Butthen, the North became en-:
Etrely rsvolutionized; j an indeacribable change
took hold.onits people. We had mot seen mat:
tcrs from their stand point God conquered the
North, or-we never could have conquered you.
We haso, no causoof bo.sting. ourland is one Of
general mourning. So much, at least. has the
war, cost the North. There is ilimitable. wealth
in the North, and the South in her ippoverish-
mcnt shall ha1p assistance. She must increase.
: Coming back under such a. strong government
although with ompty pockets and aisappeintss
: hopes, the North yet.thinks tho South great. LEI
the people Of the South then,. hook With charity
on tile post. Let theh throw away prejudico, and
they mill then be able to bear thcir trials bettel
I than they ever anticipated they could; They
must put good Interpretation on the acts Of the
: North. Let Us agree in heart matters above al
things. He had given the sentiments Of the Nsrth
ern people. Government had taken upon itsei
the responsibility of freeing the.negroes. Whether
right or not, there isathe naked fact-it is set
tied fact. The feeling of the government, is-tt
mako common cause with the South in taking cart
: of the freedmen. Government does not turn ava,
from any Congress, at its last session, creatcdi
Bureau for the care of all refugees, freedmen ant
abandoned property. Major General HcwAnp il
bat the head of it. He is a. good, christian man
Gen. SAxTuS is now acting in his place, ard Gen
WILDE is acting with him.. Tho government ha
not yet had timeto fully develop its policy in tb,
working of this important Bureau. 1t will eeni
men over the State, however, as curly as mag b
convenient to look after henterosts of refugees
freedmen, DC. 49, -
= Tho Doot6rr nero read orders showing Pic car
> of government aud how kindly disposed tn
military are. He said government does notho1'
planters responsible to .clothe or support thoi
freedmen. Ho enforced and hoped, however, thn
tho claims of humanity would prevent their beini
driven of by former owners. If really wished
government will take and caro- for them as sool
rs it can. He gavo an account of the state o
> things on tho Coast where he has been stationed
for the lest three years. and spoke also OF th
character and SUCCESS of the negro under the new
influences of a state Of freedom. Government
he slid, has made the blacks, citizens of th
Unitod States. It will be for us TO say, what kiut
y Of citizens they shall bein South Carolina The.
are, be further said, o dangerous clement turuet
loose in their ignorance. and hence for thci
proper education, schools would be established fa
and wide. he was going to rcnaiu, and make
common causc anong US, to bring about s,quicl
as possible, harmony, prosperity aud happiness
as.to what government would de'with freedmen
he was sorry he was now unprcpared to say
Nothing could be done for minors till the Barear
was moro fully established; He counsulled, how
.arcr, thatal; freodmca remain with their forae,
:ancrs for the Prcscnt He could impsrt nc
light OH ~tat would be the condition of things
in these premises the next year. BE said the
policy of tho government in regard to the army
would bo, that it consist in future of 100000
troops equally propostioned, and that that mum; n
Der would be retained, except whom rondcred.un.
neccssaryby the progress Of tho in.titutionfol
civil law and the evidcnccof our ability togov-
ern ourselves without tho aid of milie,ry presence
He spoke favorably of the character of the troops
hcre-said they were the only available ones al
: tho .ims--tthat consequently whentheS were sent
it could not be helped, and he hoped that no Oh:
lection would be ursod against them. Disabusiag
the minds of our people, and. scouting the idca
that the government had sent tho troops now here
with any such idea as-hrmiliafion, MS the reverend