Santa Fe weekly gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1864-1869, 1865-08-26
Speech of EX-COngressman
8OyCe of South Carolina

This gentleman delivered an address
lately at WinnsbOro, South Carolina, from
which we extract the following:
Mr.. President; lopproye of the object
Of the meeting, ltis greatly to our in
.Qrcst to have civil government establish
ed in the State, By the theory Of our in
stitutions, while q few great interests are
exclusively conGlel to the Federal au-
thority, large mass Of legislation is re-
served to tho State Individually. The
sooner we have State Government in
operation, tho sooner we will have con
troll over our local legislation, and the
sooner we may look for the withdrawal o.,
military authority, The military, it IL
true, are acting, 50 far as | have learned,
both in this State and adjoining States,
with great propriety. But still ills pre-.
fcrabo to live under civil government,
At the instance Of some Of our most
influential citizens, | went on to soc the
President Of the United States. had
been well acquainted with him as q mem
Der Of the Senate Of the United States.
| I had heard so much of him, his talents,
tho obstacles he had overcome, and the
controlling influence ho had acquired in
his State, that took pains to form bis
acquaintance, and observed him with deep
interest. knew that man who had ac.
complshcd what he md was no ordinary
man, respected in bin the man who
had erected his own statue, and found
Mr., johnson to be man of remarkable
talents, immense energy, great good sense,
q strong will, with perfect solf-roliancc, o
man who belonged to himself, and not to
another.
Noono can have greater adherence Of
that inolably stupid crime, the assassina-
tion Of Mr., Lincoln, than have, but | do
not think that thereby the southern States
have fallen into the hand of u cruel ty-
rant as has been imagined by some. f.
mancibaton is conceded to be fixed fact.
President johnson, am satisfied, will
deal with our people in no ungencrous
spirit All who accept the existing order
Of things, who, in good faith, desire to bo
peaceful and loyal citizens, will, rs
general rule, in my opinion, experience
the clemency of the Government. On tho
great question of the right of suffrage in
these States, Presidept Johnson has taken
/ the conservative position OF referring the
matter to tho Stages themselves, For this
he has received the opposition Of tho ok.
trcmo wing Of tho Republican party, We
cannot but attend the issue oflhis differ
cncc of opinion with great interest, and |
think the progress Of events is such a3 40
indicate that these States will give no
lukewarm support to the Administration
of President johnson,
consider slavery as gone, and tho best
thing for US to do is to recognize thOt fact
distinctly and uneQuiyocally, and accept
it in perfect good faith with all its logical
consequences, Any other course is on
going to protract and intensity the dart
mesa Of the night through which We are
now passing. Let US recognize the gr3ot
fOct that tho negro is no longer y slave,
and lot us act toward him in kind spirit.
This does not, Of course, imply that we
are to sacrifice ourselves for him, but IL
means that we are to give him n fair
chance. This is our policy, this our duty.
Less than this will not satisfy our sister
, States. If, then, after a fair trial, oman-
, cipation proves to be failure, and the nc
gro race Is an incubus on the country, it
t will become necessary to colonizo thgp in
another land.
Our greatest craftsmanship now con-
Il sists in paciGcatiOn with the North. Every
man should lend himsclfto this work.
: Whoever does a kindness to Northern
, man is doing wise thing for his country.
, The history Of nations is the judgment Of
God. Lett acquicsco in that destiny
/ from which there is no appeal. Slavery
is gone, but all is not lost, Our fortunes
are shattercdj we are poor indeed, but tho
5 heavens are still above us; and though tho
, way before us is rugged, let us with great
hearts moyo forward to fulfill our mission,
, whatever itmoy be,