Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-05-29
jfor endorsing Henry Clay's emancipation

scheme for Kentucky be was my 'polltica
leader. Inever knew him to do wrepg, but ]
fear we will never lookupon his like again
The gentleman from Massachusetts say:
you ought to identity yourself with shefR Radi
cal party of the North because. they. have
waded through bloody Ear of -four years tc
set you free, to give you the right tc sit upon
iuries, ride on railroads, testify as Bitnesse;
in courts and much else. ! denyevery asser
ton he has made on these points, and chal-
lenge him to the proof. He who says that
this war was commenced by the North to sci
you free and confer on you the rights which
| you now enjoy, falsifies the history of the
county not Intentionally, hope. The Gov
ernment of the United States, during the
war, again and again declared most solemnly
that this war was not commenced or being
,waged for conquest, or with view of inter
fering with our properiyin slaves in the States.
Mr.. Lincoln urged Us. to. return 10 the Union,
pledgiug the Government to receive US most
cordially and give slavery itsp protection in the
States. We were threatened with ennancipa-
tion if we did not come back. In one hand
the Government offered us Union and Sla-
very," and in the other was @rebellion and
emancipation" Having gone to war on prin'
ciple, the South chose the latter No man
knows this better than the honorable Senator.
Nor will he or General Swayne, who is on
the stand, deny the assertion. that am row
going to make, that we could have gone back
in the Union and held you as our slaves to-
day. You are not indebted to the North or
| the South for your freedom. but to God. In
stead of abusing US you ought to remember
that this rebellion which you are taught to
despise, by your enemies and ours, who only
come amongst you for your votes was an in
strument in the hands of God for your deliv-
erance, so far as mortal eye can oiVine the
purposes of the Creator.
The Southern people do not envy you your
freedom. They would not restore you to
bondage if they could. They have Jour we'll
being at heart. did not fire gun for sla-
very. More than half the Southern army
never owned slave. Hardee, Cleburne, and
many others signed petition long before the
war closed, for your freedom and to afford you
an opportunity to voiunte and assist your
white friends OF the Soulhin achieving South
ern independence.
President Davis recommended this course,
and I, in the theatre, in this city, endorsed
his policy in the presence Of very large as
sembly, and stated that | would take great
pleasure in commanding colored troops. You
acted we'll your part during that unfortunate
struggle, for which you deserve, and have,
the gratitude OF every Southern man and wo'
man in our midst.
| The gentleman says' that the Mexican war
was brought on AID advocated by Mr.. Cal
houn for the purpose of increasing the area
of freedom. No mau ought to know better.
than the honored representative Of Massa-
chusetts that the statement is untrue. Mr..
Calhoun, and also Mr.. Clay, the great South
ern giants alive at the time, opposed he war.
Mr.. Calhoun. was 10 the last the bitterest op-
ponent Of that war-predicting as he did the
disastrous results upon the peace Of the coun-
try. Instead of that war being waged for
slavery it was.-rery evident, as.slhe result
proved, that any territory adjoining US which
could be acquired would be free territory.
That war gave TO the North, California, Utah
and New Mexico. Though only boy, fol
lowed the old flag through that war, with
many thousand good and true men from my
section who only regarded the National Hon
or of our common country. Again as to how
YOU became free. The North aided to free
you with bayonet and by Military Proclama-
tions only as they believed it would injnre US
and raise you up hostile element in our
midst; and seemingly making your welfare
secondary consideration. 10 render this act
of theirs valid and cohatitutiona1 it was neces-
sarv that we should act. We "alled'together
our conventions and without hesitation made
you constitutionaly free forever. We also
gave you the right to testify in cases where
YOU were interested, and advocated in this
State House your right to testify in all cases.
. You now enjoy many privileges here not
enjoyed by your race in the Northern States
AS the gentleman has congratulated you upon
your improved condition here, and created
still greater expectations for Your future po
litical and social relations in the South, let
me tell you what great blessings THE North
has conferred upon your race even in his own
State.
First, until very recently, although your
race at the North free, and have the 'ad-
vantages of the free school system of which
he boasts, and few in numbers, vet whilst
your numbers rapidly increased as slaves in
the hands of cruel masters referred to By him,
vet with him at the North they have dimn-
ished, your race have been and are shi. ex-
cluded from Northern hotels, steamboat cab
railroad cars, and places of amusement.
They have been frequently expelled from
such places and sometimes mobbed Tor claim
ing the rights of white people. And whsthas
been the result of every effort on their part to
obtain redress and. establish their rights by
law. They have in every instance, unless it
be very recently signaly failed. The courts
Of the country were against them. | saw in
Northern newspapers, and l believe ii, 10. be
true, for Ibave no where seen it conyradicted,
that about the last of 1866, or thefrst of the
present year, Frederick Douglas, nulatto of
New York, who is said to be highly educa-
ted and polished man, who conducts himself
with great propriety everywhere, travelled as
far west as St. Louis, and. was there and
everywhere on his route refused admission
into the first class hotels Of the North and
West. Nearly every Northern State has dis.
criminated against them as Jurors, witnesses
and heretofore at tho ballot box. They no
where at the North enjoy, in fact all the
rights of white people, and In most States
North they are by local laws denied political
equality at the present time. One or moe
States went so far as to deny them settlement
within their boundaries altogether.
You have been reminded by the gentleman
of pecuniary favors conferred the supplies
voted you by his party, and the Bureau under
Gen. Swayne in Alabama, as another reason
why you should act with the Republicans. !
believe Gen. Swayne to be friend yours. |
believe the gentleman who has just addressed
you is also friend, for they have no. cause to
be otherwise, but no better friend than am
and many other Southern men. Many Of US
have been educated by your labor, and hope
shall live long enough to ay'you back with
mpound interest in promoting education
amongst you, which l tell your is the only
hope of your race.