The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-17
Speech of Provisional Governor John,


duced by Judge St;.rnes in few brief
remarks to large and respectable
'assemblage Of our citizens at the City
Hall.
Governor johnson said: After a
sanguinary conflict Of four years, we
find ourselves without civil rights, we
have been compelled to yield to sit.
perior numbers and resources. We
are now deprived. Of all civil govern
ment and stand under the military
authority Of the United States, and
must look to that authority for pro-
lection and the administration of jus-
tice, but | do not think the people Of
Georgia desire to always remain under
military rule. The Administration
desires to do all that can be done to
assist you in restoring civil govern
mcnt, and placing the State in her
proper relation to the Union. For
that purpose | have been appointed
Provisional Governor, aud l am here
tonight to make known my views.
My duty is plain and simplc--the
making Of needful rules for the assem-
bling Of a Convention at the earliest
practicable day, that the people, the
true source of all r1ghsful power, may
erect civil government Ny war
rant for the authority l may exercise
is the proclamation Of tho President
| appointing me.
The duty Of the people is to take
the oath OF amnesty as prescribed by
the Presidents proclamation of May
30, which giants full pardon for all
political offences, to all who were en-.
| titled to take 1t; and be did not think
that the oath WAS intended to humii>
ate the people, but only as necessary
measure to prevent those getting into
power who were not friends of the
Government.
If there were any who deemed that
subscribing 10 the oath as prescribed
by President Lincoln was sufficient to
return them to the rights Of citizenship,
would not say whether they wore
legally right Or not, it was question
useless to argue, as the President had
distinctly said that 10 one should be
eligible to seats III the Convention or
be autitled to vote for delegates VINO
had not taken the cath prescribed May
30; and he would. therefore, urge
every one to come forward and take
the oath, that they may assist in form
ing State Government.
He had been informed that some
We're hesitatln5 to 90 SO, on the ground
that it compelled them 10 support and
obey the Emancipation Proclamation,
which they cid not believe constitu-
tional. To such he would say that.
whether constitutional or not, it woull
make very little difference, as he
thought slavery would soon be abolish
ed by the amendment to the Constita-
ton, which now wanted but the consent
Of but two more States to become the
law Of the land, and he thought that
consent would soon be given. But
whether given or not, as a lawyer, he
believed that slavery was and is legally
abolished by the proclamation. in
virtue Of the power given to the Pre-
sident as Commanier.i chief of the
army and navy, which gave him the
right to declare what should be cap
tured or destroyed, and having declared
slavery dead, it ceased whenever and
wherever the power Of their army
extended; therefore it would be unwise
to refuse to bc qualified so as to take
part in the affairs Of the State on this
ground. Paroled soldiers who have
taken the oath of allegiance would
Il u