The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-21
THE COLORED MEETING IN COLUMBIA, S. C.
Speeches Of Wade Hampton, Hon. w. f.
DE sAussuro, Hon. E. }. Arthur, aud
Oth hers-A Unity of Interests Between
whites and Blacks, etc.

In pursuance OF notice published in Sun
days PGhntI, the colOred citizens of the dis
tIlCt assembled in large numbers at tue African
Methodist Episcopal Church yesterday morning
at o'clock, and after forming procession OF
their various societies, marched through the
principal streets, headed by n band of music, 20
the vacant square on Plain street, just beyond
NckersOn'5 hotel, where addresses were de.
livered by General Wade Hampton, w. f. De
Saussure, Colonel William II. Talley, E J.
Arthur, and I.G.Gibbes(w had been specially
invited by the committee to address the colored
people), and Beverly Nash and the Rev. d.
Pickett (freedmen). The proceedings were
opened with prayer by the Rev. Simon Miller
(Teedman).
SPEECH OF WADE HAMPTON, WHITE.
General Hampton spoke of the vast import
ance OF the present movement, not only TO the
COlored, but to the white man. He advised the
freedmen to give their friends at the South
tair trial. and IL they we're found wanting it
was then time enough to go abroad for svm.
patby. 1t was to their interest TO build up the
south; for as the country prospered so would
they prosper. The present state OF affairs was
not brought abouthy the action of the Southern
people, white or black; therefore, neither was
responsible for it.
SPEECH OF HON E. ]. ARTHUR, WHITE.
Hon. L. j. Arthur SAID he was unable to de-
liver a lengthy address, as he was not prepared
tor such an undertaking. He was surprised at
being called on for a speech, and could only
give few words of counsel. The occasion of
| this celebration is one in which you have had
| no agency. III is not the act or the white men
! OF your country. 1t has been conferred upon
! you by the Northern Congress- and he hoped
| that 1t would be the meaus OF enlghtening and
! improving Their mental and moral condition.
! he, in Injunction with the white citizens of
! the South would enGeavor to assist them by all
! the means in their power to accomplish that
! end. They had the right of franchise, and he
| advised them to exercise il with good judgment,
To learn to fully appreciate these great privileges
! which are being conferred upon them, they
| should educate themselves and their children.
| II is the duty and the interest of the white men
to help the colored met in their educational
and moral training. If we were actuated by
! interest alone, we should rather contribute to
| than attempt to retard their advancement.
! They are politically the equals of the whites,
and education will 90 far to make then morally
aud mentally so. Let there be no war OF races
among us-let us look to each others welfare.
1t is true that many of the whites are deprived
OF the political rights which the colored men
will enjoy, but that should not and will not
create envious and unkInd feelings. He con-
! cluded by advising them to regard the white
| men who have born and reared among them as
| friends Let no harsh feelings exist between
us; look to each others welfare and happiness:
and last, though not least, look to your educa-
tlonal and moral Improvement.
SPEECH OF WILLIAM H. TALLEY, WHITE.
Mr.. William H. Talley said he fully appreci-
ated the confidence and respect manifested in
the invitation to address his colored friends in
! relation to the condition of the country and
| would, under other circumstances, have at
the subject itself was one 80 vast in Importance,
and the notice of such meeting so brief, that
he did not purpose doing more than TO indicate
| his hearts concurrence in some OF the views
already presented, intending thereby to add
his testimony OF their correctness. He said
that they had heard that the interests of
the white man and the colOred man Of the
| South were one and the same. They are
parts of the same society, nhabitng the
same land, under the same sun, breathing
the same atmosphere; and If the lessons of his
tory and reason taught anything they taught
that, under such circumstances, the two races
must prosper or perish together. Differences of
soil, climate, and Government are the principal
causes OF difference and consequent conflict of
| interest. In vast country, with wide range
! OF climate and almost infinite variety of SOIL
there must naturally perhaps necessarily, arise
such conflict. Legislation which may be pro-
| ductiVe of good results to one portion of such
a country may be utterly disastrous to
another. Rut with the same soil and climate
and surrounded by circumstances the same
in all essential particulars, the white man and
the colored man OF the South have the same inte-
| rest, the same destiny 1t was impossible at this
time to mark out and recommend any particu-
lar line OF policy. Everything was in doubt
ana confusion. Trade, the mechanic arts,
| every department OF industry, was palsied by
the uncertain, unsettled condition OF affairs.
The country can know no prosperity without
| peace. and that end can only be attained by
disCardng all elements of strife, and promoting
harmony and concert of action. The advice
which common sense gives to the cOlOred
population of the South in the present emer-
eency is, TO try those of the community whom
you have known-those who have hitherto
proved themselves worthy of cOn6dence-those
who have the same interest. Unite with those.
If these deceive you, it will then be time
enough to experiment on the sympathies OF
strangers. He said he knew he expressed the
feeling of the intelligent white men of the South
when he said that they cherished no semblance
OF hostility towards the colored man on account
of his altered circumstances. The enemies OF
| the South will endeaVOr to fOment dissensiOus
and jealousies, for the purpose of still further
tearing, weakening, and plundering our already
desolated land; but if the Southern people,
white and ColOred, stand united, there Is ground
to hope that our children, If not ourselves, may
enjoy long period Of tranquility and peace, OF
prosperity and happiness.
REMARKS OF BEVERLY NASH, 0OLoRED.
Beverly Nash replied to the generally eX'
pressed statement of the white speakers that
they were disiranchised, by stating that the
colored people would present such strong and
unanimous petition to CONGRESS that attention
would be paid to it-in fact, the colOred man
would not rest until the whites had been en-
iranchised. He had respect for man who up.
held his principles at the point of the
bayonet, whereas skulkers and so-caled
Union men at the South he could designate
as nothing better than traitors. He advocated
universal sutrage-belieVlng that the driver OF
a one-horse cart was as much entitled to that
right as the owner of block of buildings He
quoted freely from history to show the import
ance of the right of suffrage, and advised the
colored people III the selection of their candi.
dates 10 look to merit alone AS to not know
ing who or what they would be called ON TO
vote for, the candidates would take care of that.
and by speeches and conversations post them
thoroughly.
SPEECH OF REV. d. PICKETT CoLoRED
The Rev. d. Pickett stated that he wanted it
distinctly understood that he was no office
seeker The good OF his people was his first
consideration. he was opposed to universal