The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-06


policy both demand that they who are to live un-
der the same sky should encourage and aid each
other in the progress Of Life. In youth we have
been playmates, in manhood friends, and because
your condition is changed-we all hope for the
better-should our relations in every regard, be
all reversed, our sympathy DESTROYED, and we
suddenly converted into enemies Does wisdom,
morality or religion, sanction such course? -,
I am sure you must have listened, not only with
pleasure but with improvement, to the eloquent
and sensible address which you have Just heard
from General Sickles. IF the words of canton and
advice which he gave have not fallen on hstless
ears land from your demeanor am sure they did
not), the impression they must have made on your
heads and hearts will tend to your benefit and ad-
vantage he stands, as it were. an impartial OBJ
server between the races. II you follow that ad-
vice, the Government which has made you citizens
will not blush by reflection on their act. You
clothed with certain political rights which, in
the relation you formerly occupied, could not have
been conferred upon you. In the exercise Of those
rights, and in the enjoyment Of the privileges
to which their possession have elevated you, the
Government should have no cause to regret that it
granted the boon, or to realize that the expert,
disappointment. On the other hand, your efforts
should be unceasing to let your conduct bring no
censure on those who accorded you new political
status. am sure If your freedom was conse-
did not contribute they will not ail in accepting
even the necessity which they could not avoid, to
afford to you full opportunity, without let or
hindrance to develop to the fullest extent the re-
curces Of your nature and energy, and to contri-
butte by re dy concession Of all your new acquisi-
tions, to your educational and religious improve
ment. You are among us, and to live with us,
subject to the reviving influence OF the same law,
and the depressing effects OF the same clouds.
Your industry and ability, directed to works OF
and thus to that veal in which we have an inter-
est alike common with you. Can the mind Of man,
unless 30 perverse as not to be in sane
condition, conceive any possible adequate
reason why we should array ourselves in antagon-
ism9 Whatever depresses the white race alike
too identified to keep us arrayed In suicidal
moral warfare against each other.
We have just emerged from long and relent-
less war. When Peace, which should carry heal
to take up the dying embers Of the past, to open
wounds which time, from day to day, IS curing,
and to revive recoliections OF anger and bloody
strifea Let the past be forgotten-we have the
US to hope for. Manhood, honor, and above all
the allegiance which by oath has been renewed to
the General Government, combine to induce us to
redouble our exertions to build up the lost for.
tunes Of the State and make Carolina again bright
You are celebrating to-day the anniversary. Of
our national Independence. You must remember
that while doing this you are as citizens of
South Carolina, not yet admitted into that
Union, which following. the old confederation,
July, 1776, which severed the connection with
Great Britain, and made these States free and
Independent sovereignties." When the people OF
South Carolina renewed by oath their allegiance to
conformity to that action, incorporating into the
body polite fundamental principles which bad no
place there before, it was expected in good faith
that they would not be subjected to legislation
which would suspend for any time their claim to
antees secured BY that Constitution which was
the result of the Revolution of 1776. They, how
ever have thus far been withheld, and are all kept
on trial. as if instead Of being citizens disposed to
sustain the Government, we are traitors, awaiting
very Government which we have lately sworn to
sustain. South Carolina is our State, and she is
misunderstood by those who hold sway in the Ma
tional Council. If she has lost her fortune, she
spllied. When I renewed BY oath my allie,
glance to the United States, I did 1t in good
faith. would have wiHhed my tongue paralyzed
if, when assuming the obligation under oath. I
did it with any mental reservation; and whatever
propr ety claim fos myself II TINS TesaTd ass
open in their resistance, and If they harbored any
malgnity to the General Government with the
oath; they never would have taken it. We have.
Iouf race as wen aha mm o. tns PERIOD OF our
the observance Of proper conduct between our
selves and to the Government, that We have a
right to demand the performance Of all the condi-
tions which were to be the consequence of peace,
and ready acquicscence, on our part in oil the
acquisitions made by Congress. The Civil Rights
Bill, enacted by tho Legislature Of South Caro-
lima, and standing as q law on its statute book,
among other rights oxtended to you, has given
you that OF testifying in the Courts. T am happy
Ito believe that it has not been abused, and thet
the colored people, when called as witnesses,
testify in general as il impressed with the
obligation they assume, when they swear on the
Holy Book. Why should it be otherwise2 They
were always people OF religious propensities, and
when not permitted to be taught to read and write,
they clung to that Bible as the hope Of their salva
ton. Continue to be guided by It's precepts and
its njunctions; educate your rising generation for
by doing that you will make them good citizens,
and they will be better prepared to appreciate and
enjoy the new political rights Of which they have
been the recipients.
Your solicitation for me to continue has induced
me to say mora than I had intended. trust Solth-
Carolina may soon be recognized as State OF the
Union, with oil the rights to which she is entitled.
That fng which you bear has upon it her star, and
yet sho is not permitted to claim the light Of it.
It is the emblem Of great nation 1t never will,
trust, be other than the symbol as we'll OF tho
honor ns the glory Of tho Union, Appreoiating
your attention, I wish you prosperity and happi-
ness, ..'