Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-07-21
SPEECH OF W. W. BoYcE, ATwINNsBURo


The following speech was delivered at Wiuns.
boro, s. c., On the 2lst of June, by Mr.. W. W.
Boyce The meeting was held for the purpose
Of restoring as speedily as possible civil govern
ment in the State;
Mr.. PRESIDENT; l approve of the object of
the meeting. ltis greatly to our interest to have
civil government established in the State By
the theory Of our institutions, while few great
interests are exclusively conided 10 the Federal
authority, large mass oflegislation is reserved
to tho State individually. The sooner we have
State government in operation, the sooner we
will have control of our local legislation, and
the sooner we may look for the withdrawal of
military authority. The military, II is true, are
acting, so fsr as l have learned, both in this
State and adjoining States, with great propriety.
But still it is preferable to live under a civil
government.
am satisfied from what learned at Wash
ingtOn that President johnson will extend to
this State the same privilege of establishing the
State Government that he has and is extending
to the States of North Carolina, Mississippi,
Alabama, and Georgia, SO. No discrimination
will be made against this State. | am satisfied
that the President is ready to establish our State
Government as soon as he thinks public opinion
is ripe for it. The object of this meeting is to
make known the sense of the people OF this dis
trot on the subject. From all can learn upon
Of informing myself Of the wishes of the people
Of the State, am satisfied the great mass of the
people, by an overwhelming majority, amount.
ing almost to unanimity, earnestly desire the
establishment Of State authority in entire har
mony with the Government Of the United States
lRpprehend that in this large meeting there will
be but one opinion on the subject.
might stop here, but presume you desire to
hear something of my late visit to Washington
At the instance Of some of our most influential
citizens, l went on to see the President of the
United States. had been well acquainted with
him as o member of the Senate of the United
States. had heard 80 much of him, his talents,
the obstacles he had overcome, and the control
ing influence he had acquired in his State, that
| took pains to form his acquaintance, aud OBJ
served him with deep interest. knew that
man who had accomplished what he had, who
from the most adverse position had risen TO be
successfully, member of the Legislature,
member of Congress, Governor and Senator, was
20 ordinary man. l respected in him the man |
who had erected bis own statue, and found Mr. |
Johnson to be man of remarkable talents, i'm i
mense energy, great good sense, strong will, |
With perfect self-reliance a man who belonged |
to himself and not to another.
No one can have greater adherence Of that
inefably stupid crime, the assassination of Mr.
Lincoln, than have, but | do not think that
thereby the Southern States have fallen into the
hand Of cruel tyrant, as has been imagined by
some. Emancipation is conceded to be fixed
fact. President Johnson, | am satisfied, will
deal with our people in no ungenerous spirit.
All who accept the existing order of things, who,
in good faith desire to be peaceful and loyal cti-
aens, will, as general rule, in my opinion, ex-
perience the clemency of the Government. On
the great question of the right Of suffrage in
these States President johnson has taken the
conservative position of referring the matter to
the States themselves. For this he has received
the opposition of the extreme wing Of the Re-
publican party We cannot but attend the issue
Of this difference of opinion with great interest,"
and think the progress of events is such as to
Indicate that these States will give no lukewarm
support to the administration Of President john
son.
consider slavery as gone, and the best thing
for US to do is to recognize that fact distinctly
and unequiVocally, and accept it in perfect good
faith with all its logical consequences Any
other course is only going to protract and inten
sfy the darkness of the night through which we
are now passing. Let us recognize the great
fact that the negro is no longer slave, and let
US act toward him 10 kind spirit This does
aOt Of course imply that we are to sacrifice our
selves for him, bat it means that we are to give
him fair chance This is our policy, this our
duty. Less than this will not satisfy our sister
States. II then, after q fair trial, emanci patton
proves to be a failure and the negro race is an
incubus on the country, it will become necessary
10 coloniEe them in another land.
Our greatest statesmanship now consists in
paeifoation with the North. Every man should
lend himself to this work. Whoever does kind
ness to Northern man is doing wise thing for
his country Let us forget the horrible struggle
through which we have passed as much as We
can. Let us look before US and not behind US. |
Let US not despair of our country. God is wiser
than we are. The history of nations is the
Judgment Of God Let us acquiesce in that
destiny from which there is no appeal. Slavery
is gone, but all is not lost. Our fortunes are
shattered, we are poor indeed, but the heavens
are still above us and though the way before
US is rugged, let us with great hearts move for
ward to fulfil our mission, whatever it may be.
We will soon be invited to resume our position
ss one Of the United States, on terms Of perfect
equality. As we have had the greatest war upon
record, so l trust we may have the greatest
peace Upon ourselves will depend in a very
large degree how advantageous this peace shall
be to us. If we are wise there is still hope for
US In the future. If we are weak every step
will only plunge US deeper into the Serbonian
bog. We must act under the influence of new
Ideas. We must not listen to our passions, but
to our reason. And the future may bc more
auspoious to US than the most sanguine now
imagine.