The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-03-28

AN IMPORTANT
! COZ lL(lRED MEETING.
Speeches Of General Wade Hampton,
Honorabies VIZ. Do .Saatssure, Ed
seard Arthar, W. IL. zdilcy, and
. james q. ,Gib5es ddressss By
Rev. Dayid .Picketts and Beverlo
-ie Ndsh Cotored. - ID .Grdtifuipg E.rs
preston of Sebtimesstl - The .Negros
Belieee IN Soa tl.er, IA fesa, etc, etc. !.
- One Of the, most remarkable meetings
ever convened in South Carolina was
held in this city. yesterday I; the occs
7 sion being a celebration by the colored
: men Of this city of the passage of the
8 Sherman. .Shellsberger. Blk, investing
them with the right,of suffrage and re,
cogniziug their political equality iuthe
eve Of the law. p :; :; ~ ;
In anticipation of the event, theft
iCommittes Of Arrangements selected
the speakers for the occasion, and it is
q asignifcapt and noteworthy fact, that,
notwithstanding the presence in the city
: OF their. Northern friends and sympa-
'thisers, the gentlemen called upon to
address This assemblage were our own
z citizens who had been identified ia per-
? son with the war---mep who have been
disfranchised by the same act which has
created this political equality between
the two races, and yet men who hearti.
lp possess the confidence Of Ahe entire
community. ... -, --.~....
4. The sentiments uttered on the occa-
sion are worthy of the time, worthy OF
our people, black and white, and are a
living evidence Of that honor hich,
thank God, still stirs the common heart.
The speeches by Rev.. George Pickett
and Beverly Nash, (both .colored.) were
models of excellence, aud deserving OF
all praise as eDanationsA OIL sensible
thought from a. source that should be
appreciated. Speaking for their race,
they treated in the present condition Of
: affairs in q spirit of common sense,
which we confess was not anticipated
and which encourages the belief that
the relations between the white and col.
ored men ofSthe State are too intimate,
: ly connected to permit sn antagoniSm
or diversity Of interests, now or here
after. 80: "a =. - e -.. 3.
The negroes have hkewise been graf
fled by the assurances Of our best men
that their rights will be respected, and
that there is a sincere and friendly de-
sire on the part of all citizens to identi.
: fy them with th , policy Of the State
The meeting took place a. the eas,
end Of Plain, street, in a large, open lot
where stand had been erected for the
speakers. A long ard. orderly process.
). sion Of colored societies, preceded by. q
band of music, assembled here, shortly
before noon, and, ina few minutes, fif.
!, teen hundred or two thousand persons
were gathered. : - .-, .
The. writer was not present in time
to hear the remarks Of Rev. Mr.. Pickett,
fcolored,) the first speaker, but they
will be published in foil hereafter.
@Ta Hon. W.EF. DeSaussure, formerly
u. s. Senator from South Carolina, fol.
lowed. - W. ....,,. p. -
- He said he had been compiimented
J. In being called npon to address his fel-
'lowsci,izens on this occasion. It was
one Of great importance, inasmuch as i,
afforded The citizens OF Richland Dis.
IS trict an opportunity to understand each
other concerning their political affairs
The war had accomplished certain re.
suite which twas unnecessary to- dis
. cuss, but which had placed us in the
presence Of. great political facts. These
it became US to acknowledges and &C
.cept. He had been called upon. by the
colored citizens, as a friend, 10 advise
: with them in their present condition
and he would give them his frank opin
ion in, regard TO their duties. First
moderaiionsshould continue TO prevail
? as ii had before prevailed. Notwith
standing the prejudiees Of the rest o.
the world to the contrary, the white
people Of the South !. were; the ,best
friends Of the negro; and the negro, on
the other land, had proven himself wor
Thy Of the confidence he had received
Hence 1t was that we -cheerfully Iecog.
nized che Political rights established BY
the recent enactment OF Congress, asd
The equality Of the c6iored man before
the law. ifH,s = ,sls'f fss... =. .e
Having entered upon THE new career
: GiiliIlIlIDfgt' SEEl6jSiss SlEE g. Z. :.
- Il &