Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-09-14

| | should prefer thai she should not be repre-
scuted in the halls OF Congress until her dele
gutcs can enter them as free men, representing
a sovereign State, with all her dignity, equal
| ity and rights unimpaired" When that day
comes, there may be restoration of the
Union in fact, as we'll as i'll theory; when
North and South, forgiving the past, even if
they cannot forgot it, may meet as equals on
some common ground, where the honor, the
rights and the feelings of both can be recog-
nzcd and respected. But until that day
docs come, in the words of Patrick Henry,
Gentlemen may cry peace pcucc! but
| there is no ]'cucc" /"
is scarcely necessary for me to say that,
entertaining the views | have expressed, |
think it far preferable the State should re-
main in its present condition. under military
rule, than that it should give it's sanction to
measures which we believe to be illegal, un-
constitutional and runous. 1t is my honest
and firm belief, that the voluntary acceptance
OF these measures by our people would surely
bring, not only to the South, but to she Whole
country, evils far greater than any we have
yet suffered The North, flushed with sue
cess, and drunk with power, may not be able
to realize this fact; but as surely MS tho South
fNlle victim to irresponsible and unlicensed
power, 80 surely will the North lose its libcr
ties Ruin to the South will react on the
North, and if we are crushed into the dust
the Northern people will sec but the foreshad-
owing Of their own certain doom. Recognize
as an established principle, the right Of any
political party that may be in the ascendancy
to fix upon all who differ with them laws un-
authorized by the Constitution of the United
States, aud we shall begin that downward ca.
recr which will lead us steadily through con-
fusion, anarchy and blood, to the certain over
| throw of republican institutions and free gov
crnmcnt. Believing this, | regard 1.-THE duty
OF every man, in the exercise of the right ac-
corded to all by these military bills, to oppose
their adoption by all lawful means. AS the
people have the privilege, then, of expressing
either assent or dissent on this question, l
advise them, earnestly, to record the latter as
fully and socmn|y as possible Let cUn,y
man register and cqst his uotc against nc
Convention, sincc the question will be made
on that issue.
These, gentlemen, are the conclusions to
which have been brought by the most anx-
ious consideration of those important mat
ters soon to be submitted to the people of the
State" They have been laid before you at
greater length than intended, but it seemed
to me best to let you have my premises, as
we'll as my conclusions, in order that you
| might judge of the correctness of both. can
only declare that / have discussed this mo-
mentous question with the single desire to ar
rive at the truth, aud I hope that it has at
least been discussed in g temperate and dis
passionate spirit let me bring one other
subject, suggcs! ri by your letter, to your con-
sidcratiou, and l shall tax your patience no
farther.
You say, truly, that l. as we'll rs yourselves,
have hoped and strivcn for entire harmony
of action among our people" 1t has been
my most earnest desire to secure this harmo-
ny, as it has been my constants effort to allay
| cxcemenb, aud 20 oo.nnol ohadience to the
laws. This has been the prevailing sentiment
among our people, and if it fails Of its object,
il vii! not be our fault.
AS it is of the last consequence to maintain
the same amicable relations which have here
tofoe existed between tho whites and the
blacks, cannot too strongly reiterate my
counsel, that all classes should cultivate har-
mony and exercise forbeamnco. Let our poo
pie remember that the negroes have, as n gen
eral rule, behaved admirably, and that they
arc in no manner responsible for the present
condition Of affairs Should they, in the fu.
turc, be mislcd by wicked or designing men,
let us CO, der how ignorant they necessarily
are, and /, us, only the more, try to convince
thcm that we are their best friends Deal
with them with perfect justice, and thus show
that you 7sh to promote their advancement
and enlightenment. DO this, and the nc, ,rocs
will not only learn to trust you, but they will
soon appreciate the fact so evident to us, that
,rc co, do withoat MeDs tar better Mon Mcy
can 10 withom us.
On n lato public occasion. where many of
you we're present, | expressed my perfect will
lingncss to see impartial suffrage established
at the South, and l believe that this opinion
is entertained, not only by largo majority of
the intelligent and rejecting whites, but also
of the same class among the blacks. ] dcprc-
cato universal suffrage, not only on general
principles, but especially in the case before
us, because | deny che right of Congress- to
prescribe the rules of citizenship in the States.
Tho Supreme Court has decided that negro
is not a citizen of tho United States, and Con.
aress cannot reverse that decision by an act.
The States, however, are competent to confer
citizenship on the negro, and | think it Is tho
part Of wisdom that such action should be ia
ken by the Southern States. Wo have rec.
ogniaod the freedom of the blacks, and have
placed this fact beyond all probability of doubt,
denial or recall. Let us recognize in the
4 same frank manner, and as fully, their politi.
cal rights also. For myself, I.confess that I
All, pcrfectlywilliug to SEQ constitution adopt
a N. tk.l 4 .Il- -