The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-04-10

rational black man that 1t is to his inter-
est to make his friends here rather than
in the State of Massachusetts.
+ 1t is supposed that because the black
man has been held here in condition OF
servitude for ages past, so soon as re-
straints have been removed from him, he
will at once become the enemy Of the
white man. 1t will be declared that the
Northern man has set him free But it
may be remembered that it was not the
first, nor the second, nor the third years
nor till they were called upon to fight in
the armies of the United States, that they
were set free by the Northern people, the
question arises with them: this relation
having been destroyed, we occupy 10
tally new position. What, therefore is
our material, our social, our personal in
tercst? l suppose that many of the col
ored citizens of this State, both before
and after the war, are able to cite the
names of Mr.. A. f., and c., who have ex-
tended to them pecunary assistance.
If agriculture tlourishcs in the State,
whose interest is promoted by it? Is it
not that mans WHO occupies the position
of landholder? Yet you find Congress
imposing a tax OF three cents a pound
upon cotton up to September last, and
two and half cents since that date.
Looking at the last years crop when
there was no complaint of the colored
people in any section Of the State, and
when we produced 100000 bales of cot
ton, what proportion Of that has gone in
the shape of taxation? s1,200,0o0, which
has been literally wrung from these pco-
pie, in the shape of tax upon cotton, while
not dollar has been levied upon the
wheat or grain in Ohio, or corn in Hi
nois.
Do not, then, tell me, gentlemen, that
the colored people have not the intelli-
gencc to be interested in these affairs
They need representation in Congress
as much as we do They require that the
tax shall be taken off their labor. 1t is
not only the cotton of South Carolina,
however, but the tobacco Of Virginia and
North Carolina which is as equally taxed.
1t is not, then, by intimidation and brow
beating, or by wronging these people.
that you are to control their votes; but
YOU must show that it is to their interest
to vote with you, and undertake to say,
thar when these facts are presented to
those who have intelligence, they will be
found standing shoulder to shoulder with
the white man, and carrying out the
principles which I desire to urge upon
YOU on this occasion.
1t is to be expected that attempts will
be made to ALLEVIATE the sympatlies OF
these people from u.s. People will come
here and see that the negroes have been.
pcrsccuted. We conccde the fact that
theirs was Il condition Of scrvitudc. They
were so under the law. 1t was believed
to he right, but the relation is changed,
and now, every dollar which the black
man earns by his labor goes to his pocket
in precisely the same way as every dollar
which the white man earns goes into his
pocket. Now, therefore, our interest is
identical.
AS scmc of these remarks are likely to
60 in print, l would here take occasion to
say one or two things which [ desire to
90 upon the record. When an emissary
comes here from the State of New York,
Massachusetts or Ohio, and says TO the
black man, we are your fricnds,-wc are
going to take caroof you; vote with us;
these white people cannot be trusted; l
want our coored men to say to these en-
issarcs. to the Massachusetts man,-that
in South Carolina, under this law, it mat
,ters not by whom it was passed, every
coIored man, twenty-one years OF aye is
entitled to his ballot. and that he would
not be allowed to vote in Massachusetts:
unless he could read and write. Say to
the cmissary from Ohio who comes here
for the purpose of giving advice as to how
YOU shall vote, go back to Ohio, and en-
lishton the heathcn there, before you
come here. because no black man there Is
entitled TO vote. Within the last three
weeks. New Jersey, Ohio and Michigan
have resolved ..thut the black man shall
not vote under any circumstances what
ever.
Therefore say to those colored men,
when these cmissaries come among you
tell them TO go back and remove the beam
from the eyes of their fellow-citizens be-
fore they come here TO take the mote from
the eyes of our own people.
have seen indications in vanouS To-
calities in South Carolina to organize a
colored and white party, TO be called u
National Union Republican Radical Party.
| think that is the name. | do not think
this is wise; because / believe that the
white and colored people of these unre-
constructed States will further their ends
moro thoroughly by turning their atten,
tions to their own State politics; and
when we get the right of representation
in Congress, would send men there not
pledecd TO Republican Union party ;
II not pledged to the Democratic party, but
| would send men who would say to all
parties: We stand by that party which
will give us equal rights, equal legislation,
and equal Justice, under the laws and con-
stitution Of this country.
II. n