The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-21
CAMDEN AFFAIRS.

PRESENTATION OF A FLAG TO THE Hon.
JAMES M. SCovEL.-Last evening Washington
Hall, IN South Camden was filed with a large
audience of colored citizens the occasion beng
the presentation OF a beautiful American flag TO the
Hon. James NJ. Scove Tor the noble stand ne has
taken to secure the right OF Suffrage to all, without
distinction OF color
Mr.. Ware, of Philadelphia, was introduced, and
spoke as foows-
Ladies and conference.-the very pleasant task of
presenting to the Hon. james nj. Scovel the flag of
our glorious country-(app ause)-has been assigned
to me Honorable as the task is, and pleasant as it
would be under every circumstance; in view OF the
donation, which is the flag of our country; in view
of the donors, who are the people with whom am
identified, the task, although pleasant, although
honorable, is onerOus. cannot at this moment tee
myself equal to the occasion, yet am persuaded to
notice at least some of the distinct characteristics
consideration. We have before tonight
statesman, one who has been and is q radical.
lApplause) When say a radical, 1 mean one in
the lntensest sense of that word. 10 be political
reformer in the State OF New Jersey during the last
five years was something more than to BE- reformer
IN the state OF Massachusetts, or of New Hamp-
shire, OF of Maine or even IN the State of Pennsy
vania 1t was to stand in the foreground without
much behind you; to stand in the State given over
to hardness Of heart that no longer ago than 1864
upheld and voted for General McClellan-who was
In opposition to Abraham Lncoln-the Only
Northern State that did with the exception OF Della
ware. james NJ, scovel looked like the midday sun
upon the troubled ocean laughed at the pillows
and defed the storm. 1t is an easy matter to be a
radical now in New Jersey, when sde has turned
Republican. 1t is cheap business now, but it was
the same right to differ with other Republicans of
the State OF New Jersey as Senator Wilson had
to dlher with Senator Sumner in the first session of
and Senator Wade do? Why may he not differ the
same as these gentlemen on the subjects within the
scope Of the Republican party? He has dared to do
so, and in dong so has shown manliness enough
it was not republican at the time he struck at
servatlsm, and led the hosts of Republicans
until victory has perched upon their banners in this
Radicalism is not fossil, it is growth Our fore
fathers in the days of 1775 moved to break their
connection with Great Britain. They were radi-
Gals, they were retormers, and were determined not
to pay the tax on tea. They threw it overheard.
They were determined they would not submit TO
the stamp act. II Great Britain had granted what
they desired, there would have been no revolution
in 1776 to break asunder their ties with her. If
their radicalism had been carried forward to the
present day, the Constitutional amendments
would have demanded universal suffrage all over
the land The first man that died in this country to
establish flag to float over and protect us was
man identified with my race-Cnspus Attucks. There
but that time has gone by. The colOred soldiers OF
1864 and 1865 took up that flag. They marched
with 1t to Fort Wagner, and defended It then, and
made IL honorable, well as their labOrs all
through the war; Applause
They rescued the name of the people VINO had been
branded as towards, and made 1t more honorable
than it Lad ever been before. The colored soldier
had more to meet than he white soldier. rhe
latter had not TO be promised that he should be a
citizen; be was already one. The cooTed man
hadn't even that promise. There was time in this
country " hen we were hunted down from one end
of it TO the other but we have bided our time
When our armies victorious the colored man
was called on out as soon as the defeat at Bull
Run, Fredencksburg, and second Bull Run etc they
were called on, and If 1t hadn't been for them, the
country would never have triumphed over this Re.
belhon.
There was mana radical, who was full of the
genuine radcalsm-h hIS name was John Brown, of
Ossawattome. applause That man had pTin.
cIple in his heart; and trust and believe that that
gentleman (Scovo) has princlple too. The former
GoF red oeeH n M me henCG TO carry W out yer ne car
! forfeit on the gallOws, in Virginia. The speaker
continued his remarks at some length, and in con.
cluslon, presented the flag, in the following appro-
! pirate language, to Mr.. ScOVel:-Sr, permit me on
! behalf OF the Committee, TO present you with this
ensign OF our national greatness, which we have no
| doubt you Will defend with your life
The flag is about u by feet, and is made of the
! finest silk. shield, artishcay painted on the
blue field. contains the following inscription 1--WE
repose our faith in God. TO our country we ire
! true, and make no distinctions between races" On
/ the opposite side, Presented TO the Hon. James
! NJ ScoVel, the friend of humanity, by the African
! American citizens OF Camden, New Jersey, Decem-
J Der 20, 1866" Attached to the flag is a superior
| role terminating in spear, and dangling from the
| top are two beautiful tassels. II cost 500.
Mr.. ScOvei received it thankfully, and spoke in
substance, as follows HE had been pleased to hear
the able add ress OF the gentleman who had preceded
nm, and would be dong injustice to himself as
we'll as those present, who had assembled there IN
! ibis mcement weather, ii he did not thanG them,
from the bottom OF his heart for the very beautiful
| gift; and promised them that God willing, he would
never dishOnor or disgrace it, Applause J He
! would never abandon the position he took in
! the Legis ature in 1868 in favor of the equal
! rights OF man-equal justice to every man in the
land and the sooner 1t done the Better 1t will
be Tor all This flag says there viii be no more dis
tinction of color tins country. tie suggested TO
those present, TO get up petitions and present them
to the Legislature requesting that the word "whte"
may be stricken out of the Constitution. They
| not resist your call
He would be glad to do all he could with his pen
and his purse to hep forward their right to the bal
| lot, A niend-a cOnservatiVe-had TO d him II the
negroes had an opportunity cast a ballot, tleY
| would vote the Democratic ticket lie didn't believe
It, but thought that the TWENTY-FIVE Thousand black
men in tho State of New Jersey would vote the Re
publican ticket Speaking OF Andrew johnson, be
SAID If he didn't execute tine laws the people would
executeshim. In conclusion, he said he mad learned
| they hau formed Union Leagues H. entreaTed them
| TO keep them up, and 20 forward in the good work
OF eleyating themselves and they could r-st assured
| that there are men IN Camden who would assist
! lhem, and before long we would have tnIs Govern
| ment ut to live in, and they would have every
aGTantage guarded by the strong hand OF power.
| 1ne Lades' National Suffrage League then sang
"RalY ROnnd the F.aR. Bows % whlch elicited the