The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-11-20

! SOBER SecOnQ tnOuSnC. anu sldf 0iHS o.'ei.
at the reality which their imagination had
before only pictured? IT these things be,
is there no :'tide in the affairs OF men Z!
Is it no time to step in with d calm and
patient address to reason and understands
ing? Is it no time to say, "let us, who
witness tho facts, testify of the condition
to which our country has been reduced
for we speak of what we have seen and
do know" Think you, they are not in a
condition of mind to listen TO that
Why is it-can you explain it-that in
every State in which elections have taken
place, the evidence is overwhelming that
the people arc returning to reason, sense.
fraternal feeling and affection. Even
Vermont! Vermont! Vermont!!! i'll
her election this Fall showed, manifestly.
| that the domination of the Radical party
was shaken! How is it with New Jer-
sey, Massachusetts, Kansas, Minnesota
and Montana-thosc children Of the West,
where one would think the tide of fanat-
icism had flowed out? Are not men COM
ing to their senses? (? Is this hotide in the
affairs of men to be taken at it's flood {?
Is it nottrue, thon, that this statement of
facts will do US good? If we raise our
voice in wisdom, moderation and truth, it
will assist those who arc our friends, and
put arguments into their mouths; for we
testify of things among us, as the neces-
sary result of tie policy which has been
pursued. Therefore, this protest will do
moral good, and practical good. 1t will
do justice to. ourselves, and render aid to
those who are our friends.
Having settled that something must be
done,I remaris first that that paper was
submitted to committee Of twenty. By
that committee it was carefully, slowly
and distinctly read. 1t was referred to
subcommittee Of seven, which this MORN
ing spent two hours in considering the
address in detail, sentence by sentence,
and in changing every phrase that seemed
TO imply a threat, for tanner words suited
to these times
(Which men must speak with bated breath,
until they believed every man North and
South, or anywhere in the world, could
accept it. 1t there is in it word Of
threat, of compromise, or acquiescence,
it is there by mistake. If there is an
-erunciatiou OF wrong followed by dec
laration Of acquicscencc, it escaped attet-
tion. 1t is true! And that is always Of
fcnsive to somebody or other. 1t is man.
ly. There is nothing cowardly about it.
And what is its structure?
The particular fact with which it has to
deal is, that the State is about to be sub
ected to negro domination, and this isset
forth in a clear and forcible manner. But
it has been observed, "You must say moth
ing controversial" Then why speak ?
Nothing can he said here that will not
give rise to cont troversy. Remain silent;
your silence will be perverted, and while
our friends elsewhere arc describing in
burning words the wrongs we suffer, they
will be met with a reply like this IF
it is such ii monstrous wrong, why is it
that the people affected by it have moth
ing to say? They appear to like it. We
hear no camor, no voice OF expostulation,
nor do they testify to the truth of your
representations" What answer shall We
make !?
/ said that the people dealt with the
fact of negro domination. We are told
these arguments have been repeated over
and over again. | beg leave to differ
with this statement. There is not an ar
gument in it ever made before, for the
simple reason that the argument is in the
facts. II is further said that these things
arc all well KNOWN. But this is not true
Tho merchants of New York may have
become acquainted with them through
their contact or correspondence with the
Southern planter or business man, but the
mass of testimony which the mass of the
Northern people possess, is, as is well
| known, the testimony received from 9TH
urs, not from us. And the facts on which
reliance is placed by that people arc false.
Now, what are you going to do? Let
me carry you to an Incorporated town
where the election is just over. A negro
who, perhaps. the other day was your
slave, is the Mayor. A few other negroes
arc the wardens; they have just gotten
their newly acquired power. You know
how it is with white people who have
power There is pleasure at first in the
mere exercise of authority. The streets,
perhaps, arc to be worked upon, and the
white man, the gentleman, the proud
chirulry OF Soutl Carolina, Win negro
marshal near him. whip in hand, is driven
to the task. What will be the result
Somebody will begin, "Beholdf what a
,rreat fire a little matter kindleth."
What will be the end 1t must not
come if we can prevent it. Let us, il
possible, arrest these evils before they
reach the threshold.
With e. eat Difference to your judgment
Mr.. President, and that Of others, it seems
to me that it may be done. Let us, IN
any event, solcmnly protest against this
great wrong. AT the same time, L come
back to the point started with: Unless
what we do is OF one voice and one ac
cord, we had better cover our faces will
our hands, and return to our constitucn