Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-17
Mass Meeting of Freedmen.

Academy grove Shcn Leetings nave peen ex-
rcmely rare in this part of the State consequent
ly the one in question excited considerable a.ten-
tion and interest.
At dawn of day on Saturday, troops of Freed.
mon might have been defliug along the.
roads leading to our town and by eleven o'clock
there was assembled, at the appointed rendezvous
a large audience of these people, both male and
female; not less, it seemed to us, than one thou
sand.
The meeting was to be addressed by Major
STONE, q. S. A., representative of the Freedmen's
Bureau at this place, ANDREW RAMSAY, Esqv
HENRY Boss, (colOred) and PRINCE RIVERS (eoI-
ored.) The speakers, together With Rev, DAVID
HAnRIs, (color.d) and LAWRENCE CAIN, {eOioredl
assembled tho platform about IL NJ.
Tho Meeting was opened by Rev. DAVID HAR-
nIs of our village, in ferront and feeling prayer
invoking the blessing of Providence Upon the
occasion, and duplicating for union, peace and
harmony. We trust that tho audience will proht
by his words.
After tho prayer, Major JosrrH ABSEr was
invited to rsst upon tho stand, which was ac-
copied
1t was then announced to the audience, by
LAWRENCE CAIN, colOred schoolnaster Of this
place, that ANDREW RAMSAY, Esq, would addrsM
them. Mr.. RAMSAY promised his remarks by
saying that there was no longer any question as
to slavery; it was abolished and could not bc re-
vivod. The question he desired to diract their
attention to was tho Reconstruction Act Of Con-
gre,s-and particularly the Registration Of Vo-
ters He urged every man to register his name,
to appear at the polls and to be sure to put in his
vote for the man who would support his the Freed
mans interests not to be induced from so doing by
designing perrons, but to exercise their right hon.
e,tly and Independently, Mr.. R. assured the Meet
ing that such thing ascond,cation or division OF
land must not be expected that such measure
was proposed by Thad Stevens and small party
in Congress, but that it WAS now pretty well set
tied that 10 such thing would Le effected, and
that if the Freedmen got lands or lots, they must
most a,surcdly d., scby hard work, and with their
own money. Mr.. r. spoke forsome time, and con-
cuded by counselling union, moderation and
harmony.
HENRY Boss was next announced. He imme-
diately ATTRACTED the attention of tho Freedmen
by assuring them that he was their friend, had
been born among them. and, until within fe1
years past, lived with thtm. All in the sound of
his voics knew him. He inteI ded to speak freely
and plain. Slavery WAS an issue Of tho past; lot
;t 20 without any il-feeling OR bitterness. He
wanted all to prosper, both black and white. True
he was free before the war, but this was not to be
compared to his freedom now. Formerly, though
FREQ, hv was paid for his work at the pleasure Of
his employer 1t WAS now different thing. BE
urged tho great Importance to the Freedmen OF
education; without it; they could not understand
either freedom or Government. Ho had studied
hard, night and day, 10 improve his mind. They
could do the lsme and the time and money
spent around grog shops and street corners wore
ftaken up in study, thoy would soon be astoniahed
Nat their improvement. Conf,caton, ho raid, was
delu,ion. Those OF the Freedmen who expected
to get land without working for it, and buying it,
would, in the end, be wofuly mistaken. No such
thing need be hoped for, He would tell them
that, for once and all. They should be sure, he
continued, to register their names and vote for
Convention beeauIe said Convention Was to form
= Constitution for them, and they ought to elect
thereto such persons as affiliated with them and
would stand by them Nothing could be Of greater
importance to them, and they must never lose
sight of it. 1t was his duty to sag that the Freed
mon had better not expect social equality with
the whites. He should not Co. or wish to SO, into
white mans rnrlor, or put himself upon terms
of social relationship with tho families of white
men. But the Freedman should stand up for that
political equality, which is now bis by Law. Th!s
speaker ended by iaying ho waa born and raised
hcre and expected to die hare, and the balance Of
bis life would be spent in endoavoring to enlighten
and serve his friends. He, and two others, who
had been detained from the Meeting by accident,
would bo in the community for the purpose Of
teaching the Freedmen thsir right, and interests
And, if they teach in the spirit Of moderation
erinced by this speaker in his public remarks,
ws think they uiH be productive Of no harm; on
the contrary, of great good.
At tho conclusion Of this speech, Judge J.oHx
E. BACON WAS called for. The crowd opened and
Mr.. BACON advanced TO tho stand. Mr.. BIcos
remarked that ne was surrounded by those who
had known him from infancy and now desired to
hear his sentiments. lie would be recreant to
duty to the welfare of the District Of his nativi-
ty, if he reused to respond to tho cordial invita-
ton offered him. He would not attempt to con-
ce,l his real opinions, nor di,,emble the honest
convictions Of his heart but would follow tho OF.
ampl. of prominent citizens Of the State in other
Districts, as we'll as tire prOmptings Of his better
nature, in Offering such advice on the occasion as
seemed to him right and proper. He would not
deal in tropes or figures, but endeavor to speak
plainly, and to suit his remarks TO the audience
Tho advice given to tho Freedmen by tho pre-
ceiing speakers, he regarded as sound and polite.
A Convention would undoubtedly be ordered,
sven though e-ory man in the State vsted sssinst
it. Congress had determined to have Conven-
tion. Congre.s MAS all-pomerful and would be
obeyed. 1t wss then our policy to rote for such
Convention whilst we were allowed to do so;
otherwise we might eventually bo refused any
share in its counsclr. 1t was to frame COnsti-
tu,ion under which We are to live and wasof vital
Importance to every man. 1t had been truly
said that slavery wss an iIruo Of the past. Sln-
very Was irrerocably gone. No power on earth
could revive it, eron If this were desired. Slave
ry MAS no longer question. The former slave
was now free, entitled by Acts of Congress, and
of the State, to the benefit Of all legal rights and
remedies, and by the former to universal suffrage
Il. honestly believed the sooner tho Freedmen
were educated, the sooner they would understand