The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-06
COLUMBIA.
Thursday Morning, July s. 1865.

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Celebration of the 4th Of July by the
Colored Population of Columbia
and the Surrounding Country.
a great concourse of coiored peopl Ia,
male and female, assembled for the cele.
bration Of the day at an early hour. A
procession. consisting wholly of males, and
estimat TO be from four to Eve tho usand
in number, commenced its movement from
the corner of Marion and Blandiug street,
and moved for the College Chapel at 81 a.
N. The column, moving in pairs, occu-
pied one hour in passing any one given
point The colored spectators. females
mostly, who lined the streets during the
march of the procession. we're probably
more numerous still. Altogether, some
ten or twelve thousand colored persons
were present. more than one half Of whom
were probably from the surrounding couu-
try. When the procession reached the
College, it moved into the Chapel and
David Pickett was called to the Chair
The exercises were opened with prayer by
S. W. Newton; after which the Declara.
ton of Independence was read by James
Barmfeld. II. D. Edwards was then in.
troduced to tho audience aud delivered an
oratiou. which is described to US as quite
eloquent and impressive. His subject was
mainly industry and the necessity of labor,
as the true means for securing freedom.
He described to his colored bre thren the
blessings that would follow to them from
the proper use of their freedom, and the
dangers of its abuse. He counselled them
to faithful working, each in his vocation;
to the necessity of earning living for
their families rs we'll as themselves; that
they should teach their children to read
and write, and train them up duly in the
fear of the Lord. Such was the substance
of this DISCOURSE which is described as
judicious. moderate and impressive.
The orator Of tho day was followed by
c. Carroll in similar strain, who also, in
forcible manner, endeavored to impress
upon his al ditors the value of these
wholesome truths.
And with these speeches at the Chapel,
the exercises being concluded the line of.
march of the procession was re formed
and the column. moved to the skirt OF
woods near the Ladies Hospital, where
bountiful supply of flesh and fowl, bread
stuffs, cakes, pies, fruits, DC, awaited the
gathering crowd. A hecatomb of beasts
of all sorts, We're barbecued; thousands of
chickens perished for the benefit of human
Liberty; turkies, ducks and hams; pigs and
other small deer; 1000 loaves of bread,
cart loads of cakes and pies, to say nothing
ofcookies, stickeys and other creature com.
forts. smoked on the platters, and were
eagerly despatched. These were all com.
lnodities of regular purchase by the com.
mittee. There were large voluntary con,
tributious, besides, of bread, cakes, pies,
jellies, &c. The people did eat, but. as we
learn from the complaints of sundry, they
were not all equally we'll filed. A table
was assigned to the white guests, the men
of no color, people of Columbia and other
parts. Several of these are described as
well to-do representative citizens of the
city. For these, some good wines were
provided. and champagne momentarily
snliyened the hearts of many who had
previously drank large potations of the
real article.
After the meet discussion of the meats.
speeches we're made severally by Mr. -
Jeuks, Col. Van Wyck formerly leading
member of Congress from Now York) and
Ccl N. Haughton, Commandant of the
Post; all of whose speeches are described
to US as iudicious in character, moderate