Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-04-03
speech.of General Wade Haupton.

The following lisa full report Of the speech
of General Wade Hampton, delivered at the
seeent mass meeting offreedmen in Qolnm;
bia;
Ny FK1fsDs:-Y,u have requested rae tc
give you 9 few wordsof advice today, and ]
accept theinyitatio1r in the same. d1spiril
with which it was given. There have been
few incidents of public character that have
gfatifed me more than this mark Of couftt
dence from the celered people OF This district,
amongst,whom my life. has been PASSED And
it gives me pleasure TO- say. thai bY them
have always been treated with kindness aud
respect. Nor has their. conduct towaIds me
changed in the slightest degree Since the
change in our relative positions. am, there.
fore, justified in calling you my friends, and
I hope that as my past conduct to you has
made yen lock upon me as your friend, so
my advice and actions in the future will but
ton6rm you in, that belief. You may mot
know, perhaps, that I was the first Southern
man who addressed colored audience after
the close of the war. This did nearly two
years ago, in theSlower. part OF. this district,
and the advice I gave them shall repeat
now. Again, last fail, in an address to many
of my old soldiersin PiGkens district, touch.
ed upon the duty Of the whites towards the
colored people, aud / shall read to you What
I said on that occasion.
'tThere is nne other point on which there
should be no misunderstanding as TO our po-
sition no loop on which TO hang a possible
misceastruction as to our-yiews, and tbat is
the abolition Of slavery. :. + +! The
deed has been done. and / for one, do hon
estly declare thatI never wish to see il re,
voked. Nor do I believe that the people Of
the South would now remand the negro to
slavery, if they had the powcHto do so uu
questioned. Under oar patcrnal care, from e
mere handful ke-grew to be. mighty host.
He.came to, us,a hsathen-we made him n
christian. idle, viciocs, savage in his own
country, in ours-he became industrious. gentle,
civilized. Let his history as slave be com
pared hereafter with,that which he will make
for himself as freeman, and by the result Of
that comparison, we are willing to be judged
A great responsibility is lifted from our
shoulders by his emancipation, and We vii
lingy commit his destiny to his own hands,
hoping that he may prove himself worthy oi
the new position in which he has been placed
As slave, be was faithful to Us; as freeman
let us treat him as friend. Deal with him
frankly, Justly, kindly, and my word for it
be will reciprocatc your kindness clinging tc
his old home, his own country and his former
masters. If you wish to see him contented
industrious, useful, aid him in his efforts to
elevate himself in the scale Of civilization
and thus fit him not only to enjoy the bles
sings OF freedom, but to appreciate its duties. }
Imention these things to you, tnletyou see
that have held ono language ia reference tc
your people since yoar freedom, to give you
the assurance, if you need any, of my sinceri
ty in all the advice Shall offer to you to- day
/ regard the. invitation you have extended t,
us to-day to offer such advice, as honorable
alike to US and to yourselves. It's Git all
-ssqsr,-arid .fthose,zwho-see
persistently 5misrepresent the feelings OF The
whites and the blacks Of the South towards
each other. 1t is honorable to us, as it show,
that you look upon us as your friends friends
with whom you wish to act and from whom
you are willing to seek counsel ': is hon
orable to you as 1t proves t. you cherish
no i'll will towards your foru masters, that
you conlide in their hone y and that you
look upon them as your natural and lifelong
friends.
Your own orator Of the day, who has just
addressed you, has spoken wisely and kindly
on this topic, and ths advice he has given
you approve of heartily. Why should we
not he friends? Are yod no! Southern men,
as We are? Is this not your home as well rs
ours? Does not that glorious Southern sun
above US shine alike for both of US? Did
not this soil give birth to all OF u.? And
will we not all alike, when Cur troubles and
trials are over. sleep in that same soilc in
which we first drew breath | see before
me b,nncr, on which is inscribed ",unitel
we stand,' divided We fall" That motto is
full of significance and truth. for your wei.
fare is inseparah'y linked with that Of the
whites OF the South. If We are uni astls
taxed, you will have to pay your share; it
we are oppressed, you will snlfas.; if we aye
ruined, you wall be destroyed. Your pros
perity depends entirely on tsat ef ynur cour-
;..y, and whatever fate awaits the white people
ot the South will he rou:s.
rhavo SAID that if.au uuiltst lax is hid
upon the South, you w.ll have to pay yonr
share of it. Let me prove this to yoa, Mwy
of YOU are laborefs on. plantations, working
for portion of the cr,p. We'll, SUPPOSE y1u
get one, or two, or three bales cf coltch, as
your years wages hIoY, ber1ro ycl can; sch
this cotton, for which you have worked hard,
q whole year, you have to pay tax ott~efve
dollars bale; ior cycry bale you have made:
There is case, in which unjust taxation falls
as hard, or harder, OH. you, than it does on
us. Suppose Congress was to tax the wheat
Of Ohio, the lum3er of Maine, the iron of
Pennsylvania, or lh. factories Of Nfassachi-
sctts in the same way. woHld not the people
OF those States complain bitterly? Wjni
they not send nen TO .Gengr esq who weu!d
use every effort to-, bsve this Unjust. tax re.
moved =? So you must do, for every blem
that is struck at the South falls on you, as
we'll as on US. want to make You feel that
you are Southern zen, with al! your hopes,
your feelings, and yo;r Interests. identified
With the South; for that is The TRUE position
tor you TO occupy.
Now lei us consider for fe~ moments lie
subject which has brought you together to-
day, the Military Bill just passed by Con-
gross. You'must beac in mind .rhat a grea.
many persons, amongst whom is'the Prrsi-
dent of the United States, think that this Bill
is unconstitutional that Congress had nc ail
,hority to pass it. Now the only way by
Which that question can be settled is by q
decision of the Supreme Court of tie United
States. That Court will declare the Bill
either constitutional or unconstitutional. If
constitutional you will, byit, all be allowed
% vote. How win you vote? Whom will
,ou select to make thu new laws which are
% govern tho State7 Will you choose men
Tho are ignorant Of all law-.all science. of
to make your laws aud to frame
,our Government? VIII you place in office
hese strangers who have focked here to
,lunder what little is left to us? Or will
,ou trust the men amongst whom you have