The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-13
RECONSTRUCTION HIN SOUTH
CAROLINA.
Gov. Orr's speech.
CHARLESTON, s. G. April

CHARLESTON, S. c. April 8, 1866.
At the Board of Trade banquet last night
the hall was draped with the flags of the
principal maritime powers, the Stars and
Stripes entertwined with the Palmetto en-
sign, being festooned conspiciously at the
head of the room.
Gov. Orr responded to the first toast
"The State of South Carolina" After allu.
, ding pleasantly to the practical evidences Of
reconstruction exhibited by the social gather
ing of the citizens of Charleston, in common
with the military, naval and civil officers OF
the United States around the festal board,
he continued as follow II desire to state to
you that your commerce, manufactures and
agricultural interests will all remain para
lyzed until our political relations are re-
established with the Government at Wash
ington, and until you secure representation
in Congress.
While the Constitutional Amendment was
proposed to South Carolina, as State, and
our own voltion i'll that capacity could be
exercised, ! opposed its adoption; but the
] acts of Congress recently passed has assum
ed that this country is conquered Terri
tory, and we conquered people, and conse-
quently that that body has right to dictate
terms. The power exists in that body to
dictate those terms, it is certain for the
4 next two years, and when they place them
selves squarely and broadly upon that plat
form, for one do not propose to go to the
Supreme Court or anywhere else for the
purpose of disputing that power; but, in
good faith, will accept the terms, humilia-
ting as they may be, and openly, fairly and
squarely urge their adoption before our peo-
| pie. [Great applause.]
With reference to the DISTINGUISHING
clause, think it was an unfortunate one
1t is better, however, that some should be
excluded than that we should refuse to ac-
cept the terms proposed when there is
reasonable certainty that if we do not accept
those terms other and harsher terms will be
proposed. Looking, therefore, to the inter
| ests of the great mass of the people OF South
Carolina, and believing that the threat of
confscation will not be carried into effect il
we accept the terms of this bill, and be-
lieving that confscation will follow if we do
not, knowing, also, that we shall be benefit
ted by its acceptance, l say that, in my hum
posed by Congress. Applause 1 would
therefore, say to every man in South Car
olina who has not been disfranchised, that
as soon as the proper order has been issued
he should proceed to register and prepare to
vote for the best man that can be selected to
form constitution under which we and our
posterity can live.
1t your interest, further, that the black
man shall vote with you in the common
election. have heard good deal said of
controlling the vote of the black man. It |
has been supposed that his vote will be con-
trolled by personal influences notwithstand- |
ing his convictions of interest, but you are /
mistaken. That vote is destined to be con-
trolled, not by personal considerations, but |
by going to the black man and talking to
him in private conversation, and proving to
him that his interest in South Carolina is
yourinterest that the white mans interest
is the black mans interest. think it can
be shown to any rational black man that it
is to his interest to mako his friends here
rather than in the State of Massachusetts,
If agriculture flourishes in the State, whose
interests promoted by it Is it not that
mans who occupies the position of land
holder Yet you find Congress imposing
AK Ofthree cents pound upon cotton up
20 September last, and two and n half cents
Iince that date. Look at the last years
,rop, when there was no complaint of the {
'olored people in any section of the State, |
md when we produced hundred thousand !
'ales of cotton. What proportion of that
las gone in the shape of taxation2 One
million two hundred Thousand dollars, which I
las been literally wrung from those people {
n the shape of tax upon cotton, while not a {
ollar has been levied upon the wheat or
rain in Ohio or corn in Illinois Do not Il
hen tell me, gentlemen, that the colored r
eople have not the intelligence to be in e
crested in these affairs. They need repre- \
entation in Congress as much as we do !
hey require that the tax shall be taken off
heir labor 1t is not only the cotton of T.
outh Carolina, however, but the tobacco of {,
-irginiia and North Carolina, which is as n
inequality taxed. "
1t isnot, then, by intimidation and brow u
eating, or by wronging those people, that B
GU are to control their votes, but you must g,
how that it is to their interest to vote with
on. and undertake to say that when those
lcts are presented to those who have intel II
genoe they will be found standing shoulder tC
} shoulder with the white man, aud carry a,
lg out the principles which desire TO urge -
pom you on this occasion. 1t is to be ex- ~
ected that attempts will be made to ALIEN L
10 the sympathies of these people from us. A
hen an emissary comes here from the State N,
New York. Massachusetts or Ohio, and 7,
Iys to the black man, "we are your friends, "a
Q are going to take care of you, vote with Tic
>" these white people cannot be trusted tn
want our colored men to say to those EN-. IN
the Massachusetts man-that in -
'uth Carolina, under this law, it matters 70
IT by whom it was passed every colored m
an twenty-one years of age is entitled to sW
5 ballot, and that he would not be allowed n,
vote in Massachusetts, unless he could n
ad and write; say to the emissary from d.
hio, who comes here for the purpose of tn
wing advice as to how you shall vote, go WIG
OK to Ohio and enlighten the heather tb,
ere before You come here because no -
ack man there is entitled to vote" With az
the last three weeks New-Jersey, Ohio and me
chigan have resolved that the black man ma
all not vote under any circumstances II
latever Therefore, say to those colored "
N, when those emissaries come among car
q, tell them to 20 back and remove the the
am from the eyes of their fellow-citizens paS
ore they come here to take the mote from col
eyes Of our own people. ~
have seen indications in various localities VI
south Carolina to organize colored and and
lite party. 10 be called National Union cor
publican Radical PaEty-I think that il 81
name. do not think this is wise. 9nt
ause believe that the white and colored DER
pie Of those unreconstructed States will del,
her their ends more thoroughly by turD- hav
their attention to their own STATE ~ y.
tics, and when we get the right Of rep 'na a.
ntation in Congress would send men
10 not pledged TO q Republican Union viii
~, not pledged to the Democratic Party. min
/ would send men who would say to Va,
parties, we stand By that party which
give us equal rights, equal Legislation,
equal Justice under the laws and Consti- 81
IN Of this country. arr,
= see NiS + an ems we day,
Instruction Of the Southern States we OUT
fall into the arms Of our old allies and ulati
,iates the old Democratic Party. say racal
rs psdSes "s soulo gts grea
years Of my public career as q represen- lette