Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-04-20
Public Meeting.

House, on Monday last, tho 18th inst. On
motion of Col. j.. n. ROBINS, Col Rop'T. A
THOMPSON was called 70 the Chair, aud j. Il.
GossETT requested to ac, ~ Secretary.
On taking the Chair, Col. THOMPSON said
FHow, CHtseas: I thank You for tho hon
Or done me. We have been called for tho
purpose "f taking counsel together, and. am
sure, we have never before met under circum
stances Of a muro trying and difficult chnrac.
ter. a grave responsibility rests upon us.
but, trust. you are fully prepared to do your
duty in the premises l.et us have fu,iand'
free interchange o! views aud opinions, such
as will, hope. enable us to proceed with bar.
mony amongst ourselves; and with fair
prospect Of realizing, ut no distant day. that
which is dear to the heart Of every good man
the restoration Of all sections of this great
country to that high position OF peace, pros
perity aud happiness. which WAS. at one time,
the pride aud honor of every American citizen
You have hccn called together, my friends.
for the purpose of takin. into consideration
the recent legislation Of Congress, looking to
a restoration OF the Southern States to their
rlsshtful position in the Union of these States
For two years, we have been doing cvervtlhin.
required of us by the President OF the United
States to effect this most desirable object. -
The unfortunate differences Of opinion brtwcrn
the President and Congress, on this subject.
have prevented consu,nmatinn icv0utly to
bc wished. Congress, after an appeal tu the
people has been sustained. What We have
donc for the President has proved nuuatorv,
because the power in the government (Con.
grcssj has interviewed to prevent It's being car.
ricd out
Tue terms and conditions imposed hy Con.
gross, upon which we my be received back
INTO the Union, arc not such rs to comn,nna
them ns the ch"cc of either yon or l. But
they arc such ms ihc cnnq,mrnv rre*crites, and
| accept then rs ,neans OF restoring pcacr
and quiet to the counirv. And. fllow c;ti,
zcns, that course which have marked uu,
for myself, have no hesitation whatever in
comnend'ng to YOU for like purpose.
By the terms ot the reconstruction act mil.
itary law prevails in South Carolina. 1t is
the highest tribunal in the State but. under
the wise and humane orders Of our military
Chl"t civil authority, such us von Yourselves
have legally authorized is TO govern us ,!nr!ng
cur good conduct, or until we have shown by
our own acts. that we reject the terms offered
/ to us hy Congress. And here fellow citizens
cannot too earnestly al:nunis you to be- as
the great majority have been since the tcrmi
nation of the late nnfrtumatc struggle, unirt
praccaa'c, and law at;dng, Executing your
own State laws diligently and fai,fully :r;.
'Ssi>tlnG the iniit iv, wien c;.sl al 70 pro,
tcct life aud property.
y section nf this act. cnnfcrs tho RIGHT of
suffrage on all citizens Of every race and color
who have attained tho age Of twenty one ycnrs.
ms Is the greatest OF nnr unjust and unacn.
erous pnnislmcntS Not thrt we cared tn b.
exclusive. in this respect, with the cn,,rrl
man. but from our intimate knowledge of the
want OF "da"ai"n culture and experience, on
his part. IN 50 important II matter However
with the negro free. we imagined ,hnt !if,.
would be ""c";!ur;!lc. nu; w,. arc he
facts: The Lack man, like the "rcl pcn Of
the forest ar" passing away. nnd neither an.
| noy us t'y their number or bad conduct. To
| admit him To equality before 1hc law" and
invest lim with the right to testify in our
courts, wns the last hair on the camc;'s
buck Nevertheless We have suffered no
positive de'rmcnt thereby The colorcd man
sues or is si"d and gives evidence in the
oonrtS CT the State, very much like the whites:
and now, with less than a twelve months cx
ncrence, we scarcely think Of the novelty
This. my friends, is too much thing of pre-.
ludice with ns--natur.l enough, it is true. but
1t should not move us to acts of unkindness to
these unfortunate people. much less to durcss
of person ornpinion. Let us hope that their
Invcstlture with suffrage, by power beyond
our control, may not produce circumstances of
more damaging or unpleasant c!,aracter-
And now that these people are not only free.
but invested with every right and privilege
enjoyed by the white man, there can be
luthcr cause" of trouble Or nntagonism between
the races. On the contrary, there is every
reason why thcyc should be none We are
citizens of the same State Our destiny is
his dcsiny--our fate is his fate Let us.
then, divest ourselves Of passion and pren
dice, and como fcxward and give him the full
measure of Justice. If lie is taxed, let him
participate in the benefits Of that taxation, as
others may do. 1t is unnecessary for INC to
say anything in relation to association. on this
subject; for, | presume, it is the desire of
both races to have separate schools, churches,
&C., &c.
That section Of the act, which disfranchises
certain persons therein enumerated -ucn Of
nkI Il 1,.,t.,, q. 4