Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-04-02
The speech er Gen. wade ss.mp.

speech delivered BY Gen. Wade IlAmptsS at
Columbia:
Nv FaRSDs-You have requested me to
give yeu few words to-day, and l accept
the invitation in the same kind spirit with
which IL Was given. There have been few
Incidents OF a public character that have
gratised os more than this mark OF conf,
dsnce from the coiored people of this dis>
trict, amongst whom my life has been pass
ed.
There Is one other point ON which their
should be no misundesstanding @ 20 our Dc
sition, no loop on which 10 hang possible
misconstsuciien ~ 20 our views, ana tina, is
the abolition Of slavery.
The deed has been dose, and I, for one
Do honestly declrre thsa I nev q y .sa 70 see
u revoked. Nor Dc I bslisve that the PEG.
- Of H. aoslA useld now remand the ne
gro 20 slavery II they had the rvwer to do
- unYusetiessd. Under our ps,ernal care
fssm mere handful he grew u be mighty
host. lie came TO W. . hea,hen-we made
hun . Christian Idle, vicious, savage in
his own country, in ours he became indus>
triops. gentle, civilized. Let bis history a.
q slave be compared hereafter with that
which hs will make for himself ~ . free
usn, aud by the result OF that comparison
We are willing to " judged. 4 grea, re
sponsibility ID lifted from our shoulders by
his emancipation. and we willingly commit
his destiny - his own hands, hoping that
he may prove himself worthy OF the new
position In which he has been plascd. Asa
slave. he Was faithful to us; as freeman
let 10 treat him a. friend Deal with him
frankly, justly aud kindly and, my word
fer 1t, lac will reciprocate your kindness,
elinging to his old home, his own country
aud bis former masters. II you wish 70 see
him sontcnisd, industrious, useful, aid him
in lila owl efforts 10 elevate himself in the
scale Of civilization, and thus fit him not
only TO enjoy the blessings Of freedom. but
to appreciate its duties.
Your own orator Of the day, who has just
addressed yous has spoken wisely and kind
! ~ % this topic, and she advice he has given
yos approve Of heartily. Why should we
nos Do ftiends, Are you not Southern
men, a. We arss Is this not your home -
well - ours, Does not the glorious South>
srm san above " shine alike for both Of -
Did net this soil give birth to oil Of US p
Aud will Nc not al alike, when oustroubles
and trials ere over, sleep in the same soil ia
which ~ first drew breath? see before
me behoer on which 10 inscribed '.United
We stand, divided 10 FALL" That motto is
foil Of senifissnce and truth, for your vel
faro Is inssparably linked with that Of the
whites Of The South. If We are uniustly
taxed, ysu Win have 70 pay your share; Il
Ne are oppressed, you will suffer il we are
'ulned, yos will be destroyed. Your pros
psrty depends eatirrly on that Of your coun-
- AerA III ia. Al, A..
pie q the South will BE- yours.
the subject which has brought you together
ts.day, the military bill jsst psssed By
| Congress. You ulvss bear IN mind that .
great many persons, sDongst whom Is the
President of the Uni'ed States, think hat
The blu 10 unconstitutional that Congress
had NO authority to pass it. Now the only
way BY which that question can be settled,
is BY decision Of the Supreme Court of
the Uaited States. That court will declare
the bill either constitutional or unconstitu>
tional, yon will, by il, ali he allowed to
vote. How will you vote. Whom will
YOU select to make the new laws which are
70 govern the State! Will you choose men
who are ignorant Of al laval science Of
government, to make your laws and to
frame your government, Will you place
| in office these strangers who have lecked
here 20 plumber what little is left to US -
Or will you trust the men amongst whom
you always lived. 1t seems TO Inc that this
latter course would be the wisest, for as Il
Is to tho in crest Of the Southern whites to
make the blacks enlightened, prosperous
and contented, they would certainly do I'll
in their power to secure those objects. |
do not tell you 10 trust to professions Of
friendship alone. whether they come from
the Southern man or the Northern. But
what ask you TO do, what have the right
to ask Of you 10. that a. we profess 70 be
your ffisnds. you will give u the opportu-
nifty Of showing by our actions, whether We
are sincere or not.
/ II We deceive you, then turn u the North,
and see il you can find better friesds there
! have no fears Of the result for with 10
not only does humanity dictate kind treats
msnt. honest dealing, just laws for the col-
ored population, but sslf.intcrest demands
rom IN the sAme course. A stronger pref
ndics has always existed at the North
against your people than here, and il exists
sui. II this bill goes into operation, you
will first OF all have to vote for members Of
n State Convention. Now your own speaker,
TO Whose remarks on this point I listened
With pleasure and interest, has given you
sound anu practical advice. Select the men
whom you know 10 be honest aud tru>iwor
thy, and who are identified with the State
You ssk counsel Of me. have given il
fully, frankly, sincerely. No personal mo-
tives can possibly sway me, FIR am no
longer citizen Of the United States OF Of
south Carolina. The hill which gives the
right Of suffrage to you DISTINGUISHES me.
have not even home here, tor my home.
aud the homes OF all who love my name.
have been laid in ashes. have no political
rights. ] have nothing to bind me to this
ruined land, but the memories Of the past :
the appreciation | cherish for its people,
and the graves Of my kindred. These ties.
however, arc strong enough % keep alive in
my heart . warm interest IN my State, and
they are sufficient 70 make one strive always
to promote her welfare. This motive, alone,
brought me here to-day. for il was not un-
I'll The ehairmss Of your eommistce urged
ne TO come. upon abe ground that could
thus do good to my own people, and to
his that consented 10 address you.
trust that these expectations may not he
disappointed, and that the spirit which has
animated this messing may spread over the
whole South. l trust that hereafter there
may b. mutual kindness, fosbeasancs and
cooperation between oil classes Of our PEG
pie.
Let those. then, who are familiar With the
cause. the people. and the interest Of South
Careliua, frame the new constitution, and
il you find that yous rights have been il.
aored il you and that there 10 one Law for
the white man and aneshse for the black,
you can justly complain Of having bssn de-.
ceived. and yeu can reject chs oonssitutioo.
This convention, then, will be the means Of
testing the sioesriGy Of me prelesiDsns made
to yoa BY ~ White slsiosns q ~ Goats.
and II yeuss - lheo. Dat supooss The
bill 10 pronounced unconstitutional. what
thsMs You win b Ter in precisely the
sans psstssss ycs Asad before 10 pssseee.-
The pseesat State osvssnsen,sv iil esusinus
! aad the pssseat laWs win prsssil. 10 vim
then be for W to prove that our profession,
Of friendship we're lot idle. and while can
not speak foe others, tell you wha. am
willing to sss done-I sm willing to give the
right Of suffrage 70 all who can read and
d! who pay cerlsin amount Of taxes. and
agree that MI. white - cell a. black, Who
do not possess these qualifica' ions, shall be
exclsdsd. would uSt take THE right from
any who have hsresofors exercised il, bus
Z