The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-02-08
oAMpEN.s G. FR1DA 17.zMoRNNe, FEBRUAR1 5, las7:
,sTNA7oR PARSONS sPsEcH -.

ssrNA1oR- PARSONS sPEEoH::.
Senator Parsons, of Alabama, de
'livered an address before the State
Legislature on Friday last, in accord
ance with a joint resolution of that
body.
The Montgomery Advertiser says:
The speech was thorough disscc-
ton of the constitutional amendment.
1t was shown that one. .<efcct of this
measure would be todaYfhe cons stitu-
tonal foundation toJauthorize Congress
sicnal alinteEfssened: ip tlss inteFnal Of :,
rsiiIs OF lie Stasss ;stp re, luce the rep
reservation Of Alabama from six to
three members of Congress, and ope-
rate in like manner on all the other
States to elevate the inferior at the
expense of the moro intelligent and
superior race; and to produce war
If races, and re-cnact the horrors of
San Domingo in thc'South.
Much had been said about the Rad
ical enabling act or Standardization.
This and it's effects may pass away,
but the constitutional amendment,
with its obnoxious sections would be
engraftcd on the Constitution and
would bind us and our children for
ever. It was concoctcd in secret,
and the gravest consequences depend
upon the action of the South. 1t had
been said that the amendment once
accepted, the disabilities imposed by
the third section would be removed.
Was a political party ever known to
exist that pardoned and admitted to
his place, member Of any legisla-
tive body, who it is known would turn
and vote against the party that ad-
mitted him? The third section Of
the amendment, obnoxious as it is,
cannot be compared in its consequent
ces to the first and fifth.
The enabling act, would not, as is
supposed, reduce us toa territorial
condition, but would admit the Af-
rican with q few whites, to the priv
ilese Of suffrage, rcorganize the gov
crnments Of th2 States and elevate
the colored to the degradation of the
white race. In this case Congress
<..,a.rser
be accomplished, whereas in the case
of the amendments, the States them
selves would be the instruments of
their own disfranchisement and deg
radiation.
Senator Parsons did not believe
the amendment affected the result of
the Northern elections; it and kind
red measures was not discussed in
the papers Of that section. lie at
tributed that resell more to the fact
that the public mind had not time to
react from the passions and excite
.nent cngendcred by the war. The
great desire of the President is to sus-
tain himself, on the Constitution, un-
til there should be returning sense
of justice in the minds of tie N$th-
ern people; and he believed the Pres
idcnt would be able to sustain him
self and friends, AMI that some ad-
,justment would finally end the conf
test. The great desire Of the Presi-
dent is to adhere to the Constitution
as it now is in letter and SPIRIT
In conclusion, Senator Parsons cx-
horted to patience and perseverance,,
the repression Of iDprudont and ILL
time speeches and expressions, justice
to the freedmen under the laws, and
kindness and forbcarance towards
them in their new relations. AS a
citizen of Alabama he was proud that
her laws are right, but human laws
are not se]f-cxccuting, and the pco-
pie owed it to themselves to sec that
they arc always enforced. We should
do our duty fearlessly and conscicn-
tiously. Ii our position be correct,
no amount of traduction can make it
false; and ifit be wrong, TO amount
of assertion can make it true,
The BLUE RIDGE RAILRoAD.-It