The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-21

always tried to treat my negroes well, and
1 intend to do all in my power for them
now. / have offered them good wages,
and tell them if they can do better else
to remain with me; and advise all Of you,
who have good homes and good masters,
to stay where you are. Be orderly, quiet
attentive and industrious, and you will do
well. helaw will protect your rights, and
you will then find your best friends in us.
| am sure, fellow-citizens of Richland, that
L speak your sentiments when give this
assurance to the negroes. You will be kind
to them, l am sure and If you are, you
will not only be promoting their interests,
but your own. l thank you for the atten-
ton you have given to me. 1 pray that
your efforts may be crowned by all success,
and that the richest prosperity may reward
them. And in bidding you an affectionate
farewell, beg you to remember that you
may always command my services whenever
you need them.
REMARKS OF L. B. HEYWARD, ESQ.
FELLow-CrTIZENs: In addressing you this
morning, l am confident that entirely
express your feelings, as well as my own,
when 1 say, that the first sentiment this
meeting calls forth is one of sincere con-
graduation, that we have once more the
opportunity of welcoming among us the
!ong-trled soldier and true patriot, who has
just taken his seat-Gen. Wade Hampton.
Passing through many an arduous cam
palgn, the cares and hardships of the
camp, and the dangers Of the battlefield,
he has been restored in safety to his native
State, and has stood before you, to-day. as
able and willing as ever to labor for her
good. 1t is for such as he, my friends
associated with all the sacred memories of
our past, and with whatever there may be
OF hope for the future-it is for such as he,
l say, to rally the broken energies of his
countrymen, to lead us in peace, as he did
IN war, and to restore, If possible, some
degree of prosperity to an unfortunate,
but still proud and honorable people.
On my own part, l have also to thank
bestowed upon me, in electing me to my
present position, and to assure you that 1
Will do all in my power to justify your
choice. Under present circumstances, it
is 4 situation of much responsibilty-anG
while willing to do all that 1 can person.
ally, I must hope for the hearty CO.
operation, not only of every officer and
private in the company, but of every
citizen in this District. If you Will now
give me your attention for few moments
1 will endeavor to lay before you my IDEAS
on the various subjects of interest which
have called us together.
Five years since, we unanimously decided
to withdraw from the association of par
ties, which we thought plotted treason
against the General Government, and after
uueNampleQ endurance, we ma ourselves
compelled to yield, and to accept such
terms as are offered US. I trust npon our
return we shall find the conspiracy ended,
and that some degree of peace and pros
perity yet await us in the future. do not
myself believe that the majority of the
people at the North will deny us the right
of self-government, or that their present
temper is hostile to us-the war seems
certainly to have accomplished somewhat
in that respect. The President enjoys tho
confidence of all parties, and his policy
for the reconstruction of the Government
seems to meet with very general approval,
and it is probable that our Representatives.
will be received and the right allowed us
of participating in the affairs of the
country. But, my friends, one thing we
should never for one instant forget-it is
this: We are not yet back in the Union,
and until we are, there will be no quiet,
and not the smallest chance of success
with any Of us. We may talk, and plan,
and work, and worry ourselves; but unless
we can be received into the Union, it will
all be labor in vain-our existence will be
emblttered by ever recurring humlliations
and annoyances, while every element of
destruction will be fearfully developed
amongst US. Another season, like the
past, and we are ruined. Indeed, had this
state of things commenced month
earlier, our crops would inevitably have
perished for want of proper culture,
kind Providence above has by natural
means saved. We will simply have a
famine, and, with lack of food will over
come every well-known act Of violence and
barbarism, such as have been always pre-
dlcted for us, as the consequence of q
change in the labor system OF the South
Our country must be made to produce
that is the word. We must make money
and l assure you we are now only spending
it. Every bale Of cotton which leaves this
District is just exactly so much wealth, to
be calculated in dollars and cents, going
away from us. 1t is the very life-blood
moving out. We are only weaker every
day. We must stop it, and that, too, in
the next few months. Before next March
we must all be at work. The attempt of
the United States to interfere with, and
direct our domestic policy, has been, as far
as our welfare is concerned, a total failure.
We all see it, and 1 am prepared to prove,
that they have succeeded no better in that
portion OF onr State, of which they have
had undisturbed possession for the last
four years. During the war, and that at
this moment, corn is selling in the city Of
Beaufort drought ground from New York;
at nearly 81 q bushel-this, too, at time
of the year when their barns should be
| full. The country, simply, does not sup
port itself, and the negroes are mostly
paupers on the Government. I could tell
You many curious things on this subject,
but it is enough at present for US to- know
that the failure there is complete, and
they have ruin staring them in the face
! Such fate awaits us, and cannot be
aver led, so long as we are deprived Of the
right OF self-government. We must, then,