The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-19

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and aespetisiSs N.Y. Is tSss hanss fSs sss8eaIs senl
should be suiicientty au3iblal Tor the
A1hesscaa peobls to Hearand properIy
understand Phey did hear, hear iiookine
ON, and seeing who the contestaI,ts
were, and what the struggle was
about. Determined that they would
settle this question on the side of the
Constitution and of principle, pro-
claim here to-day, Us I have on pre-
vious occasions, that my faith is in
the great mass Of the people. In the
midst of this struggle, when the
! clouds seemed to be mos. lowering,
fmy faith, instead Of giving way,
loomed up through the clouds, be-
yond which I saw that all would be
well in the end. My countrymen,
We all know that tyranny and despot-
ism, ia the language of Thomas JEFF
| ferson, can be exercised and exerted
moro faithfully by the many than the
one. We have seen q Congress gra-
duaIly encroach, step by step, and
day after day, upon the constitution
al rights and fundamental principles
OF Government. We have seen O.
Congress that seemed to forget that
there was a limit to the sphere and
scope of legislation. We have seen O
congress IN minority assume to ex-
erclse power which, if allowed to be
carried out, would result in despot-
ism or monarchy itself. This is the
truth, and because others as we'll as
myself have seen proper to appeal to
the patriotic and republican feeling
OF the country, we have been de-
nounced in sevelest terms; SANDER
upon SANDER, vituperation upon vitu
peration of this villainous Character
has made its way through the press.
What, gentlemen, has been yours
and my sin? What has been the
cause Of our offending? I will tell
you. Daring to stand by the Consti.
tuition OF our fathers. I consider the
proceedings of this Convention the
more important than those of any
convention that ever assembled in the
United States. Great applause.
When l look with my minds eve
upon that collection of citizens com
| ing together voluntarily, and sitting
IN council with ideas, with principles
and views, commensurate with all
the States, and co-extensive with the
whole people, and contrast it with the
commotlon of persons who are trying
to destroy the country, regard it as
more important than any convention
! that has sat ut least since 1887. Ire
newed applause. think that may
| also say that the declarations that
were there made are equal to the De-
claration Of Independence itself. 1
cond Declaration of Independence.
lCries or f'Glorious, and most en-
thusiastic and prolonged applause.
Your address and declarations are no.
thing more nor less than reiteration
of the Constitution of the United
States. Yes, I will go farther, and
say that the declarations You have
made-that the principles You have
enunciated in your address-are a Sc
cond proclamation of emancipation
to the people of the United States,
Renewed and enthusiastic applause,
for in proclaiming and re -proclaiming
these great truths, you have laid down
constitutional platform upon which
all can make common cause and stand
united together for restoration Of the
States and preservation of the Go
vernnent, without reference to party.
The question only is the salvation of
the country-for our country rises
above all party considerations. How
many are there in the United States
that now require to be free? They
have the shackles upon their limbs,
and are bound as rigidly as though
they were in fact in slavery. repeat,
then, that your declaration is the
second proclamation of emancipation
to the people of the United States,
and offers common ground upon
which all parties can stand APP
planse.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, let
me, in this connection, ask what have
to gain more than the advancement
of the public welfare? I am rs much
opposed to the indulgence of egotism
as any one, but live in o conversa-
tional manner. While formally re-
ceiving the proceedings of this Con-
vention, I may be permitted again to
ask what have to gain, consulting
human ambition, more than J have
gained, excepting one thing? lily race
is nearly run. have been placed in
the high Office which I occupy under
the Constitution of the country, and
may say that 1 have held-from the
lowest to the highest-almost every