Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-03-01

section OF SAID COnsutututionai ahenunheht
Gov. Orr OF SOUrH CAROLINA AND TIE
FREEDxES.-A mass meeting of from 1900
to 1000 Freedmen was held in Charleston, ).
c., on the l4th, which was addressed, among
others, by Governor Orr. The following
extracts from his speech, would have had a
very curious sound, five years ago, and show
that liberal ideas are making progress even
in South Carolina
" But feel it my duty lere, from having
made clese observation, and in my official Ca
pscity TO say, 1t is due to you, it s due TO truth
TO acknowledge that the great bulk Of colored
people in South Carolina. since the eAtraordi-
nary change Iof emlncipationl, have demeaned
themselves with remarkable propriety.
81 have witnessed the migration OF these
(coiorei) people from the State, and as have
seen trains going INTO other States and localities,
il has excited in my mind emotions Of the pro
foundest regret and SORROW. For desire you
to remain here. desire you to continue with
the people Of South Carolina. think It your iu-
terest. The interest Of laborer aud the land
ewner both require that you should be here.
You are placed in this important position. If
you eau get employment elsewhere, if you can
20 to work where you can be better rewarded,
you should 20 But wild, ielusiye hopes have
been doubtless hell out TO many who, after ex-
perience Of sE OF twelve months, will fad those
to be a mere cheat.
" As the Chief Executive # the State, It per-
haps becomes me to say to you, and to reiterate
what have said TO other assemblages Of colored
men, that intend, 20 long rs | continue to DIS
charge the functions devolyed upon me BY the
people Of South Carolina, that those who at
tempt to outrage or oppress you shall have the
laws enforced against them. And shall step
forward whenever it becomes necessary to save
you against what may be the passion or prejudice
Of any locality, or agains, unjust conviction,
and unjust punishment.
81 NoF education is a matter Of very great
consequence. am glad to know that you hsye
organized schools here Your people will be
situated with reference 70 schools as the whites
are in many other places in South Carolina.
In many places schools cannot be organized
1t the next session Of the Legislature ! nave no
doubt a common school system will be iuaugu-
rated, lrhich iriH embrace e0!9Tff as lrfN a!
the irhife race. | am Of opinion that Il may be
successfully carried out in al the lower portions
Of the State, but in my region the sparseness Of
the population will perhaps prevent IT,
! shall take OCCASION. in nv next message 70
toe Legislature, 10 Teuominen1 that a school tsz
le levied upon both white and black ani that
every dollar levied upon YOU shall 20 10 the sup
port Of your children, and every dollar levied
upon the whites shall 20 TO the support OF white
children. -
In closing Gov. Orr touched upon the
,abiest Of politics. ayowing himself in layor
OF limited negro suffrage. lie said
- sm prepared to stand By the eolorei man
sho Is able to read the Declaration Of Indepeni-
euce and the Constitution of the United States.
am prepared to give the colJred man the PRIV
ege Of going TO the ballot rex and vote. Ire
mendous aYplhuse.l
The idea Of universal suffrage, think csn
.emaugtrgte 90 t.-e il.ll..se-. pol,uE % you, is
a mistake. You must remember the larger
portion Of you here tonight ate people OF intel
ligence-mueh more so than those outside Of
Charleston. Many Il y9u have had the advan-
iages Of education. Your contact and associa-
tons have been in such channels that you had
'tysntages Whicl the average OF people outside
i cities do not possess. | 90 not mean 10 cen
sure those who cannot read, but | would ask
iuG AllA4 "a AAtg N4AiA ht mag
% confer the elective franchise lutn .e.lu teEths
Of those hying on plantations, who have not
had opportunities OF preparing their minds for
the e1erclse OF this highly important junction Of
determining who shall represent you and levy
taxes upon your propsrty. Are you prepared to
DO it,
''I say to you, therefore You gust practice
,.iienGs upon tAst subject. Ani, IN my judg
.rent. those people who are advising a different
course, are not friends 20 your interest. Give
you chi!iren such intelligence A. shall quality
them for an intelligent exercise Of the elective
franchise and the viii secure il. Do not
tronble yourselves uu5n the -ubie1; oi politics
him your people might pfeH Fsrg much by
fAs erperieHct that aoMs y Us uhue people
hare had in South Carolina. | think the
more you work snd look after your own business
aud eeomomize your own time tie better