The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-02
Governor Porrv,s specch.

Governor PGrfys6 Speccns
Senator, and Members oftlp House Of Representatives
have come here today to bid you farewell as Provie
ona Governor Of South Carolina and to congratulate
you the restoration Of the State once more to
vernmert and Independence member Of the Federal
Union. Like the leader OF God9 chosen people OF old,
have had the honor Of conducting you through the viii
permitted to enter It Tbt great boon has been
ed for my distinguished friend. who is now about to be
inaugurated as the first Chief Magistrate Of Che State
ever elected By the sovereign people. Il not within
'three days, he win within very short time bs able
10 pass Won over the confusion and military rule under
which you have so long lived to that happy state In
which you win be able to govern yourselves, ane eDloy
al the rights and privileges Of free and engh med
people. Under his wise and able administration hope
to the good old State revive, prosper and once
am sure, gentlemen, that may say With perfect
propriety as the representative Of the Federal Govern
nent in South Carolina that the State has done enough
to Jntite her to be received back as member OF the
Federal Union with all of hec Constitutional rights
fully restored. She foremost In assuming the post
Of danger in the recent revolution and in her appeal
in defence Of what she honestly believed 20 De ner
reserved rights IS State. Calamity and nohly her
sons fought through the war; pouring out their blood
and sacrificing their lives on almost every oatteneid
throughout the Southern States. When conquered by
overw helmng numbers seeing their towns and villages
nothing but smouldering ruins, their beloved state
widespread desoaton their wives and HisterB ana hit
tie children aged parents at the point OF starvation
like brave men they accented the decrees OF Cod and
submitted themselves 70 the dire fortunes OF war BAD
and SILENT with manly forttude and frmness, they
were made known, they were hrst, with generous
pride and high chivary to assume the humiliation
which their State had been foremost In bringing on our
common county.
AS soon as the Presidents Proclamation issued,
the people of South Carolina went cheeruy forward
and took the amnesty OATH They promptly assembled
in Convention under the order Of the Provisional Cover
nor and reformed their State Constitution, de-
sired by the President They abolished slavery, and
freely gave up their two hundred millions invested in
slaves. When advised to adopt the Constitutional
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
aboshng slavery South Carolina was the first Southern
State which ratified the and set an example for ner
sister States to follow She has been first also in pre-
narinr wise and humane code Of laws for thu proteo
lion Of the freedmen in all their rights of personal pro-
perty and allowing them to give testimony III her courts
of Justice She has elected her Represent2tves IN
both Houses OF Congress, and commissioned them to
feet State Government with Legislative, Executive and
Judiciary Departments all republican In their Character
and the members Of esch swearing to support che Con-
stution Of the United States Her ordinances OF seces
sion have been repealed and she now pledges herse 70
stand by the Union in good faith and with all sincerity
Having done all this, you and your Stat have done
your duty gracefully aad faithfully, as becomes gai'
liant and generous people who afraid TO assume
any position where honor and patriotism prompt l
know the President desires to relieve you OF military
rule and your Representatives once more seated n
the councils Of the nation. cannot believe that Con-
gress will exclude them by te oath, which does not
apply to members OF Congress- fo they not officers
Of the Federal Government early decided in the
history Government Nor has Congress any power
to impose its members any other osth than that pre-
ecrbed in the Constitution. To admit contrary doc
trne would enable the majority In Congress to exclude
the minority, because they were Democrats or sfafea