The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-12-11
The Union League.

y y&aoSo AnSobthS VI NouuClle NO. lU,
Union League of America, held in
their hall, December 4, 1867, the fol-
lowing preamble and resolution were
unanimously adopted:
Whereas this Council and all other
f! Councils of the unicc League OF
America have been misrepresented;
therefore,
Resolced, That Committee of
Ten be appointed, with the Presi-
dent of this Council, to prepare an
address to the people of the State.
S. B. THOMPSON, President.
j. d. JAMESON, Acting Secretary.
FELLow-CTTIzENs: We have had
various reports derogatory to and
denouncing the Union League of
America We, knowing these to be
false, and that they are made by bad
and evil disposed men, ignorant of
our object, and that, if onr c.gani-
cation was better known in the South,
the condition of our State would be
different to what it is, and opposition
to us would cease. Our object is to
preserve our liberties as a people,
maintain the supremacy of the same,
protect and strengthen all in their
rights of property and person, de-
mand and sustain the education and
elevation of the laborer, and instruct
our people in the duties of American
citizenship. That we cherish no
animosity to the white people, is
proven by our conduct and behavior
during the war-when every advan-
tage to make mischief was in our
power; when nearly every white man
that could bear arms was sent to the
front; though we knew that our free
dom was being contended for by the
Union armies, and that our brethren
were in the field; and though we
loved the flag of our country and
hailed its approach with delight and
Joy, yet we can point proudly to
those days, and say that, though we
loved freedom, we are willing to for.
get and forgive the past. We would
ask, what cause have we to breed
strife, now that Congress has de-
clared us citizens of this glorious
nation? All we ask is for peace and
our rights. Let the only rivalship
between the white man and the black
man be who can do most to restore
our State to the Union, and restore
her to that state of prosperity,
wealth and honor that she should
occupy. We would call your atten-
tion to the fact, that during the un-
settled state of affairs in 1865, our
quiet demeanor in every public
gathering goes to show that we have
no disposition to trespass upon the
rights of the whites. We would
welcome all of the people of the
State to join rs. We want all loyal
men to come forward, and let us meet
and bury the prejudice of caste, for
the love of our State and our COM
mon country. The impression that
we are hostile to the whites of the
South is wrong. We have no preju-
dice to any man for his color. We
advocate the rights of all men. We
believe in political equality. We
advocate manhood suffrage. We ask
for nothing for ourselves that we are
not willing to grant to others; nor
will be satisfied with anything less.
What man of reason will say
ohat, uaHiuS Deou raised TO
the condition Of freemen and citi-
zens by the Government of the
United States, would we not be
wanting in manhood, did we not con-
tend for all of the rights OF Ameri-
can citizens. What would become of
us-what would be our condition-if
we are left here by the Government,
free only in name, and without the
power of protecting our rights under
the law? Would the Government
have kept faith with us if it had done
so? No longer slaves, does not
sense of right and justice demand
that the rights of freemen should be
given us? Refuse to concede this
right, and the people of the civilized
world would laugh to scorn the free
dom that was given us, by that far
seeing and lamented statesman,
Abraham Lincoln. We cannot be-
lieve that the white man has the right
to cast ballot and to exercise poll
tical right, and then deny that right
to US, because our skin is little
darker than his, and whose intelli-
gence may be no less than his own.
NO, no-God forbid. Now that we
are men and fraon,ap MO will ,,o1,o,