Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-06-11
A Sharp Rebuke to Senator Wilson-A
Southern Talk to the Negroes.

o0uCnern IalK TO the Negroes.
Senator Wilson is not having it all his own
way in the South. At Montgomery, Alabama,
he invited reply, and got the following from
General Clanton, who spoke from the same
stand and to the same audience:
''The gentleman from Massachusetts says
you ought to identify yourselves with the radi-
cal party at the North because they have waded
through bloody war of four years to set you
free, to give you the right to sit upon juries,
ride on railroads. testify as witnesses in courts,
and much else. [ deny every assertion he has
made on these points, and challenge him to the
proof He who says that this war commenced
by the North to set you free and confer on you
the rights which you now enjoy, falsifes the
history OF the country; not intentionally, l hope
The government, during the late war, again
and again declared most solemnly that this war
was not commenced or being waged for con-
quest, or with view of interfering with our
property in slaves in the States. t5e
Mr. Lincoln urged us to return to the Union
pledging the government to receive us most
cordially and give slavery it's protection in the
States. We were threatened with emancipa-
ton if we did not come back. In one hand the
government offered us union and slavery"
and IN the other was rebellion and emancipa-
ton. Having gone to war on principle the
South choose the latter. No man knows this
better than the honorable Senator. Nor will
he or General Swayne, who is on the stand,
deny the assertion [ am now going to make.
that we could have gone back in the Union and
held you as our slaves to-day. You are not in
debted to the North or the South for vonr free
dom, but to God. Instead of abusing us, you
ought to remember that this rebellion, which
you are taught to despise, by your enemies and
ours, who only come amongst you for your
votes, was an instrument In the hands of God
for your deliverance, so far as mortal eye can
devise the purposes of the Creator - asss
The Southern people do not envy YOU your
| freedom. They would not restore you to bon
dage if they could. They have your well-being
at heart. It did not fire a gun for slavery
More than half the Southern army never owned
a slave. Hardee, Cleburne, and many others,
signed petition long before the war closed
for your freedom, and to afford you an oppor
tunity to volunteer and assist your white friends
of the South in achieving Southern indepen-
dence.
President Davis recommended this course,
and L, In the theatre in this city, endorsed his
policy in the presence of very large assembly,
| and stated that would take pleasure in com
handing colored troops. You acted well your
part during that unfortunate struggle, for which
you deserve, and have, the gratitude of every
Southern man and woman in our midst. Again
as to how you became free. The North aided
to free you with bayonet and by military proc
lamations only as they believed it would injure
us and raise up hostile element in our midst,
and seemingly making your welfare secondary
consideration. To render this act of theirs
valid and constitutional it was necessary that
we should act. We called together our con
ventions, and without hesitation made you con-
stitutionally free forever We also gave you
the right to testify in cases where you are in
terested, and [ advocated, in this State House,
your right to testify in all cases.
''His party is in power, and he is here aiding
to keep them so. He is here to form politi-
cal alliance with you and what few whites can
be induced to join him. They want Office, they
want spoils, and they want to retain power, 1t
is not because they love you better than other
| people. warn you against him and all like
him, at home or from abroad.
There can hardly be doubt that Gen. Clan
ton takes the right view of this whole subject
politically, and probably as to the mysterious
providence in the freedom Of the slaves also
| He spoke further at considerable length, rebu-
| king also very pointedly few white radicals of
the South who were present. He repealed also
an assertion of Mr. Wilson that the Mexican
war had been brought ON in the interest Of
slavery. and showed that MIR. Calhoun and Mr..
Clay both opposed it, and added:
THAT war gave to the North California,
Utah and New Mexico. Though only a boy |
followed the old flag through that war, with
many thousands good and true men from my
section who only regarded the national honor Of
our common country. Petersburg hsdec.