The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-11

judicial, are disfranchised as sheris, Clerks, Tax
stables, Coronels, Road Commissioners, Notafys
Public &c Is it not better that the, classes en-
,braced in the disqualification submit TO 1t tnan
that tho whoemass Of white men who aided IN the
property of the whole people con6scated? do
not Feel that it is degrading to submit to the terms OF
the conaueror. IF so, all who hear me are already
degraded. You all took the amnesty oath, when go
required TO your ana svod
latioh, and adopt the do-nothing, dignity policy,
which gentlemen now talk so eloquently about
Those who acted then should have little more
charity ftr those who propose to act now. Why dld
not gentlemen put themselves upon their dignity
and manhood, when required to abolish slavery,
repudate the war debt and abrogate the ordinance
of secession, which we had passed with 80 mucn
defiance? If we could take all that and maintain
our ''self-respeei," think we may take the G pa
the last without making as ugly faces as some OF
us now make. Let us put q little sugaT,coaSng
around it and swallow the Pill at once and be done
with it; waving the "dignity" for o time, as We
have taken the amnesty oath and voted for all
these measures, now claim that they have done
enough. So We all thought but the conquerors
say not aud it is our misfortune that they are IN
,osition to decide that question for US without
consulting us.
at the close of the war, part Of us were arrested,
and for time we had net the option of leaving
tho country. But all of you, gentlemen, who were
not under arrest, had that opportunity. The way
was open to Mexico, Brazil, Canada, or Europe, or
all go? Isuppose you stayed either from choice
or necessity. Many had aged parents, wives, or
children, or all together, for whose support they
| were responsible. They had not the means to go
very large one-R they had no other attachments
to bind them to the country, remained Tom neces" ne
sity. A very large class, no doubt, remained be-
use with MI it's faults, they still loved then ma
tive land the best, and were unwilling to exchange
this land with it's government for any other. Most
of those who then left have since repented and re-
turned. We then choose this as our government,
and again placed ourselves under it's protection,
What follows? It is our imperative duty to give IT.
our allegiance, and to support it's nag wherever IL
may wave, against every enemy, foreign OF 90
mestic. There is neither manllness, dlgmty, nor
good faith in any other course.
A new era has dawned upon lls, and whether Tor
veal or woe, we must act our part, and make the
date ourselves to circumstances. God has given
us magnificent country. It needs Development.
| We lack labor. We lack capital Let us invite
both. And when Northern and Western men come
among us, let us treat them as friends. In war
we were enemies. The war has ended, and we are
| again under the same government. Our ancestors
| were the same. Our blood the same. Then let
us do all in our power to heal the wounds opened
by the war, and as little as possible to irritate.
This is the only way to advance our own prosperity
The more population We have, and the i more ore
better the merchants trade, the more patients the
doctor has, the more cases for the lawyer the bet
ter the freights on the railroad and, indeed, the
better for every interest OF the whole Stlte.
am assailed because have recommended our
! people to do what the conqueror requires on the
suffrage question. Men are gTavely discussing
the question whether the negro shall be allowed to
vote. This is q needless waste OF breath. Con.
gress has settled that question for U.s. We have NO
is not now the question. 1t ls shall the great mass
of our white men vote?
If we accept the position and act upon it. the
ballot will remain in the hands OF mne-tentns o. o.
so it will be taken from them and given to q very
small class Of white men and the negroes. Dur
ing the war the blacks acted nobly. We sent ou1
! white men to the field and the negroes, who knew
our failure was their freedom, stayed at home
and acted as protectors to our families, and
made support for them and their masters IN
the field. Their fortunes Of war have placed
them upon terms Of civil and political equality
with us. Many of them have nursed our chill
dren, others have been the companions cf our
boyhood, and our servants in manhood. Their
interests and ours, must be IN great de-
gree identical in future. What sense ls there,
then, in such action on our part as will ALLEVIATE
| them and make them our enemies. think We
i
by kind and just treatment, that we are their best
1 friends In giving this advice, trust may not
be considered as selfish. am not courting their
votes. They have no right to vote for me, as 1 am
Ineligible to office am caught on three horns o.
the dilemma, if you will allow the expression, as
have been member of the State Senate, Judge
! of the Superior Courts, and the Governor Of my
State and have taken an active part in the rebel
lion. While may be denied the political privi-
! eges of citizen, am not unconcerned abort the
| f,,1,, ~ fho T hav ohi
| and friends who are not dishanchised. wish to
see their government and their country the best it
can be made. .-sg4...z.
A few words in reference to the right Of the Gov
ernor and Legislature to call q Convention. 1t ia
contended that they have no such authority, be-
] cause the preamble OF the Sherman Act declares
our State Governments illegal. But it will be seen
| by an examination Of the Act that the body of 1t
declares them legal; till set aside by Congress-. BY
the Shellabarger amendment it is declared that the
\ present State Governments are provisional only,
subject to the paramount authority Of Congress.
| Now what is q Provisional Government? 1t is q
temporary Que, subject to be set aside, but lega'
while it exists. The intention of Congress-, no
organized by the President, Illegal but to legalize
them temporarily, till Congress- thinks proper to
set them aside. ANY constitutional act, therefore,
which may nov be done by the Government and
Legislature, is legal.
It maybe said the Governor is, subject to the
constitutional amendment, and therefore dis4uali-
fed. This may be true; but it does not yet ap-
pear. So soon as that fact is established he may
be set aside, but this does not abolish the EIecu
tive Office any more than the resignation Of all the
Judges in 1860 would We abolished our Supreme
Court, or that the dea b Of the incumbent would
| abolish the Office. Charles J. jenkins may be de-
clared ineligible, but that does not destroy the
Government of the State. Till he is so declared
by the authority having power to enforce the Judg-
ment his acts are legalmade 80 first by the Presl-
dent, and then by Congress.
Upon that point, at least, we have now the con-
currence at both Departments Of the Government:
Which is right and which wrong, in the contest
over this question: tits not my purpose to enquire.
do not stand here at this hour to- praise or to
censure either. I stand here to say what; in my
Judgment is best for Georgia in her present condi
tion.; I do not think Governor Jenkins should
hesitate to convene the LegisIature-to call con-
venton to comply promptly with the requirements
Congress who can take the oath aud take their
seats. When this has been DONE, I am satisfied
| the test oath will be repealed, but never until
then:
In conclusion have only to add that give no
advice to others that I am unwilling to act upon.
Since the surrender have taken the amnesty oath,
which did not feel, at tho surrender, would ever
consent to do. I am satisfied did the best that I
could have done under ther circumstances; :nnd I
feel fully conscious that have done no act OF dis
loyalty since that time. have kept my oath rel-
giously and sacredly thus far, and God being my
helper shall not violate: it in FUTURE, Prolonged
applause by the large audience. ;@,,,ss.r
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