Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-26

atOm.
The Columbia papers Of the 10Th inst
bring us the full details Of the celebration
by the colored people on the evening be
fore, Of their enfranshisement tn,
Caroliniaa says
" In anticipation Of the event. theil
committee Of arrangements selected Tia,
speakers for the occasion, and il is sieff
ticant and noteworthy fact that, notwith
standing the presence in the city of theii
Northern friends and sympathizers, thC
gentlemen called upon 10 address fhi,
assemblage were our own citizci 2, who had
been identified ia person with the war
men who have been disfranchised by the
same act which has created this political
equality between the two races, and vel
men who heartily possess the confidence o
the entire Community"
The speakers on the occasion were Hon
W. +. DeSaussure, formerly a Senator il
Congress, Hon. Edward Arthur, Hon. w
II. Talley, James q. Gibbes, aud Rev
David Pickett and Beverly Nash (both col.
ored.)
The Coroliaiaa, referring to the speeches
says:
The sentiments uttered on the occasion
are worthy Of the time, worthy of cur peo-
pie, black and white, and are living evi-
dence Of that honor which, thank God, still
stirs the common heart. The speeches by
Rev. George Pickett and Beverly Nash
(bOth eolored), were models Of excellence
and deserving Of all praise as emanations
OF sensible thought from a source that
should be appreciated. Speaking for their
race, they treated in the present condition
OF affairs in a spirit of common sense,
which we confess was not anticipated, and
which encourages the belief that the rela-
tons between the white and colored men
Of the State are too intimately connected
to permit an antagonism or diversity of
interests now or hereafter
Gen. Wade Hampton made an effective
address, which will be published in full.
He said
Recognizing fully the new obligations
imposed upon the colored man as a citizen.
he advised him a. 10 the manner in which
he should hereafter conduct himself az a
member Of the community. He alluded
not only 10 the necessity of education. but
Of an identity with the people among whom
the negro was born and reared, whose in
terests were in no way different from his
own, and whose policy was to be in the fl-
ture as much the work of the black man as
OF the white. The speaker referred like
wise TO the Importance of harmony in all
the relations between the two races. as es-
sential in determining the welfare of the
people and securing permanent peace and
prosperity"
The following is the substance OF the
speech made by Beverly Nash (colored)
FELLOW CITIZENS: | have been taken
somewhat by surprise and am not pre-
pared TO say all that l want to, on this oc-
easion; but we know what we have come
here for. We have come 10 celebrate the
right OF sudrage-the one thing needful
to place us on common platform as citi-
zens The question has been asked, whether
We are prepared for this condition of things
on nOt2 / do not blame orr people for
IL, doubts on Z is subject he,arse -.
iorinr alashhea eas calculated 20 make
them doubi bnt whether we are prepared
~ not, we are now entitled 10 vote, under
The recent law. | must confess that do
not like that law in all respects, because it
disfranchises gentlemen in whom we have
more confidence ihan anybody else. and
iorbids them to represent our country as il
should be represented in the councils of the
people. My doctrine is that every man.
whether ignorant or not, who is compelled
10 pay taxes, is entitled to vote. Ii is a
matter Of public policy that we should be.
because there is discontented element in
our midst composed Of the ignorant people
of both classes, which would be greatly dis
turbed if they were prevented by con-
vention of the State from exercising the
right to vote, and we should have reyo-
luton in a tea-kettle For the purpose of
peace and quiet, therefore, in our State !
want to see everybody vote, except the
women. believe, my friends and fellow
citizens, we are not prepared for this snf-
frage. But we can learn. Give a man
tools, and let him commence TO use them,
and, in time, he will learn trade. So il
is with voting. We may not understand it
at the start, but, in time, we shall learn TO
do our duty.
Il has been saidthat Calhoun was master
Of South Carolina; Clay The dictator of
Kentucky, and Webster the emperor of
Massachusetts. But hereafter we are 10
vote for principle not men. And we have
good men in our midst; men we can trust
men who are our friends, and have proved
by their acts, that they are the friend of
the State. Ia these gentlemen we must
have confidence, until they have proved
that they do not deserve IT, | do not be-
lieye that there is a man in this district
who, If you will reason with him about
these things, will not agree with what !
say. We recognize the Southern white
man as the true friend of the black man.
You see upon that banner the words. uni
ted we stand, divided we fall - and. If YOU
could see the seal Of the society which that
banner represents, You would find the white
man and the black man standing with their
arms locked together, as type Of the
friendship and the union which we desire.
We feel that the white man has not un-
derstood the black man as the black man
has understood the white man and if the
citizens Of South Carolina had all acted
after the close Of the war, as these gentlemen
have done to-day, and spoken their kind
sentiments as freely, our State would not
regret the loss Of twenty thousand colored
citizens who have gone abroad because they
had not sufficient confidence TO stay. Alter
the remarks we have heard te-day, we be-
heve there is a better incoming Twelve
months ago Mr.. Gibbes said Fellow
citizens, we are willing 10 meet you half
way !" and We are glad 10 say that the re-
representatives. and public men Of Richland
district have done soon the present occa-
sion. We feel that we are understood here,
and We believe that eolored men viii here
after enjoy the rights and privileges which
now belong 70 their race, There is less
prejudice here less prejudice everywhere
South Of the Potomac against the colored
man than there is North Of IT, lApplanal ]
saw in Washington, a few days ago, men
more violently opposed 20 our advancement
than any gentleman here; and We know
that the S,ates Of New Hampshire. Ohio and
perhaps some Others, have refused that
political equality which exists and has
been accorded in South Carolina. IL is
cur duty, therefore, 10 ideutify ourselves
with thi7 eoil. Here we have grown from
childhood 10 manhood Many Ofus, white
and black, have been brought up together;
We love the people; We respect their honor;
We know their worth, and / ask whether.
under these circumstances. having the
power 10 do 50, We ought not 10 petition
Congress 90 remove the disability which
shuts out that portion OF our people from
the elective franchise In vglnp, -, -