The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-07-17

OHiN DIdNG tuuG GOU INV Do rCCOR-
nizeu; that the inalienable and ma
tural rights of man be respected by
the laws of the land.
The Government has shown itself
most liberal and magnanimous, and
the Northern people most charitable,
toward the Southern people. No
other Government or people in the
world would have been so forgiving
and charitable. Ever since the close
of the wal, the North has been giving
food to those who slaughtered their
sons and fathers on the tlc-fields.
l repeat, that you are mistaken if you
think they hate you. They are the
best friends you have in the world.
My colored citizens, you have
been told that military necessity freed
You, and nothing more The condi-
tion upon which Abraham Lincoln
was first elected was that slavery
should be, by Congress, prohibited
from tho Territories. The Union
Republican party held it to be an
erH, which should not be extended.
Merely because he was thus elected,
the South robelled. Up to that mo-
ment, the Government had no power
over slavery in the States, it being a
local institution. But when the South
thus rcbelled-when those States thus
forfeited their rights-whcn, from the
Rocky Mountains to Maine, the bit
ter wall Of the widow and orphan
was heard for husbands and fathers
who had fallen on many battle fields
when heavy debt was being rolled
upon the Govcrnmcnt-then the
North arose in the might OF its pow
er, and said, "!Slavcry shall cause all
this no moro, and shall exist nowhere
III all this broad land" And now,
thank God, man cannot breathe
American air and be a slave. No
military necessity compelled the
North to open its schools and col
lcscs to colored people No military
necessity compelled the North to adj
nit colored men to plead in the
courts. eN N tho Supreme Court of
the United States. No military ne
ccsaity compelled Massachusetts to
elect coiorad men to her Legislature.
No military necessity compelled Con-
gress to pass the bureau bill, the civil
rights bill and the reconstruction
bill. But all this was strenuously
opposed by the spirit and sentiment
Of nearly I'LL the white citizens of the
South. Nothing could havo been
moro odious to them than the doc
trlnc of negro political equality. But
one Of the first acts OF the Legisla
turc of South Carolina, after the war,
WAS to pass the "Negro Code" 1t
was by that act that the Legislature
OF South Carolina declared to the
world its respect and friendship for
the negro. Many of the white citi
Zcns say they are our best friends. If
so, let them show it. Let them
heartily approve of all that the Co
vernment has done, and is doing, for
our elevation. Let them not only
approve, but cooperate, with the
North III all it is doing for our educa-
ton and refinement. Let them ac-
knowledge what our Northern friends
have done for us, and accept and ap-
prove Of the reconstruction bill.
When would these men ever have
given us universal suffrage, which
they would now use to put them
selves into power, if they could2
But, fellow citizens, for long years
our country has been rent by civil
discord. 1t has been recently dovas-
tated by most ruinous war. We are
now cndeavoring to repair these in
juries, to heal up, forever, these
wounds. want to see the South re-
constructed upon those principles
which will strengthen the bands of
the Union and perpetuate peace.
want to see sectional peace and har-
mony; but l believe the only way that
this may be done will be by making
the principles of the Union Repub-
lican party the dominant principles
of government for the nation. [ be-
lieve that they are the seeds of peace
and prosperity In all ages, oppres-
sion has resulted in angry civil strife
or bloodshed. 1t has been the cause
Of both here. [ want to see no more:
| want to see all our fellow-citiZcns
enjoying the largest degree Of politi-
cal freedom. We believe in no class
legislation, but we lay aside all pre-
judice on account OF race or color,
and guarantee to them the full and
free enjoyment of their inalienable
rights. For this reason, we believe
IN the doctrines of the Union Repub-
llcan party. We believe it to be the
duty of colored lren to vote with this
party, most especially because of the
excellence of its principles, and be-
cause of what it has done for the CO.