The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-09
cad upon the block and call upon the knife to


and we simply appeal to them not to put the Sc;
Of their consent upon any illegal act. We counst
moderation. We make no factous opposition
those in power. We go on to show that tn
emancipation was great error in q material sense
and prostrated the commerce Of the country; an
then set forth the evils that exist. Sir, believ
there would not be one thousand votes in Sout
Carolina to-day in favor of freenslaving the colore
race. They are free, and free they will remain
now and forever The Radicals go a step further
and claim that they are dong better than ever be
fore, that they are making the land to blossom
like the rose. May we not by presentation
fact, brand that as falsehood? May We not in
troduce figures to show that only two mulon
bales of cotton now grow where five used to grow
May we not p oint out the consequences to tn
North of this great depreciation, and solemnly de
clare to the people that if they persist In fastenlu
upon the colored race the right of franchise ant
of the jury box, we arc politically, commercial
ly, morally, religiously and socially ruined? An
told that in South Carolina cannot express thos
opinions, and say to my master, Your punishment
is beyond what flesh and blood can bear?
Mr.. President, disguise the matter as you vii
the great issue now to be met by the people
North and South is the question OF negro rult
and negro supremacy. Upon this will turn tht
Southern States may carry the election. In {
question OF morals or ethics You may be refined
III n question of law you may be subtle; but IL
great questions before the public mind you mus
make the ISSUES broadly. They make themselves
So The people care not for refinement or subtlety
Therefore the palpablc issue of the approaching
Presidential election will be, shall the negro rule
Upon one side or tho other of .hat question South
Carolina must register her vote, and l ask you
shall we quietly fold our hands now and here, anc
allow this monstrous proposition to pass without
even protest? II that be the spirit Of this body
am mistaken in my estimate Of the character o
these gentlemen AROUND me.
REPLY OF GENERAL CHESTNUT.
Hon. JAMES CHEsNUT (AIr. DeSaussure in the
Chair. Mr.. Chairman / think my friend has
stated with great accuracy The real question be.
fore the Convention-Had we better adopt this ad.
dress or do nothing? am clearly of the opinion
that we should do nothing. We were brought
here by the invitation of our frienls to counsel
with them on public affairs, and it il my deliberate
judgment TINT we should remain silent. But it,
on the other hand it should be determined that
something must be done then it is true that the
publication of this paper wo1ld be legitimate and
proper. l still contend, however, that it is mol
expedicnt. l do not object to the prime ples an
nounced. We fought for them, and that is ouI
protest 1t stands upol the record, and the peo-
pie of the country will not for one moment be mis-
led by any want OF verbal action On the part OF this
Convention.
think my friend from Beaufort (Mr. Pope) has
shown in the clearest possible manner, the fulfill
ty of putting forth that paper. Does he believe II
necessary to announce our degradation and then
acquiescc in it? Is it requisite that declaration
of our wrongs shall be followed by our acQuies-
ccnce in them? Why then the use OF such facts:
Ii it would subservc any end, or If there was even
q probability that good would result, | would not
object to the course proposed; but am still uii,
convinced that this address is not lll-timed and
inexpedicnt. We had better do nothing express
no opinion take no action in any form. Let the
torrent sweep on. Let lis stand aloof. The North
ern mind will spurn, as it has ever spurned al
your efforts II | were to propose resolution II
would be Of this character" Resolved, That this
Convention, having considered all the matters
which have been placed before It, deem 1t mex.
pedient to take any action" Such is tho course
which / recommend, and hope will prevail. To
appeal to these people is to be humiated. To ask
is to be rejected with scorn.
Mr.. G. 7. TowNEs of Greenville then addressed
the Convention at grelt length, in support of the
motion to adopt the address. He reviewed the
arguments OF previous speakers, and strongly
urged the Importance OF doing something, ano
doing it promptly and well.
SPEECH OF JUD3E ALDRIcu.
Hon. A. p. ALDRIcH-Mr. President Thus fal
people of the North concerning the condition o.
this Southland. What they know OF us has loer
communicated to them by the agents of the Freed
mems Bureau, Military Commanders, and the
army Of teachers in colored schools-all OF whom
are strangers to our soil. Here and there citi
this is the first assembly Of weightthe first repre-
sentative body that has convened in this State tc
dwell upon, and if necessary, 10 set forth the ter
rible condition Of affairs to which We have beer
obliged to succumb. What harm then can there
be in the publication of this address The North
is Just recovering from the frenzy OF war. Time
was when the people Of that section refused tC
listen to the counses Of wisdom and OF truth; but
recently wa have received intelligence which bids
us hope; have heard that the great heart of the
people is moving and reason re-asserting its sway
1t NAV be that this is tho very time We should &c
forth and, with subdutd manhood, tell the story
OF our wrongs. II may be that such a calm, dig
nfied and respectful statement as IS contained IN
that paper will find listening cars and sympathi-
zing hearts.
MIR. President What We now need is faith and
confidence. have never lost my faith in thi;
American people They have been led astray from
the Constitution; in the frenzy OF war, they have
forgotten all the securities embraced in that sacred
instrument; but have ever believed tho time
would come when they would return within its
shelter, and submit again to its control. believe
sir, that people constituted as are these Uni
ted States-a nation who are descendants OF the
men of the revolution, and composed of those who
have fled from the monarchies of the old world tc
seek an asylum and refuge in the new-will never
surrender all they have brought and protected tc
the despotism OF mere party. And the question
presented to the American people to-day, is wheth'
er they Will live undor party despotsm, or return
t. the Constitution. One of the great obstacles
which prevents such return however, is raising
up it's hideous head here In this bleeding South, in
the shame OF proposition to neGrolZe-lf may
use the expression-these ten States so as to pre-
vent their sister States cs the North from enjoying
the privilege that would otherwise be secured by
the white mans vote Can it be- lmpolitic in @
calm and deliberate manner, and with dignifec
humility, to admonish the Northern people OF q
fact so startling, and inform them OF our true con.
Il ,vI,t
the public mind of that section; the only way IL
which we can destroy the influence Of papers sent
out from the various irresponsible sources Of oul
country and, If we continue to demean ourselves
in the future as We have done in the past, the day
will quickly dawn when the intelligence, virtue
and courage of the people will be aroused IN oul
behalf.
REMARKS OF COLONEL NcMAsrER.
Colonel f. W, McsIaster, of Columbia opposed
the adoption of the address, on the ground that il
was not expedient at this time to take any action
He argued that, being conquered people, how
ever carefully language might be guarded and eX
pressed it would be construct as covering feel
ing of revenge-an impression which would
strengthen the party now holding the rcins of gov
ernment. He synpathized with every word thai
had been written in the address. The facts were
all true as stated. 1t was unquestionaby temper
ate and dispassionate, put under the present cir
cumstances he fel. that nothing in the shape of {
wise, having assembled hele, to depart without
adopting resolution in some form, and he offered
as Il substitute tine following, rs one which, accord
ing to his judgment, would accomplish all the goot
that could be hoped from the longer and more care
fully prepared address that had been read to the
Convention,
z. cc.Jed, That it is the opinion os this Conven
ton that the white population Of this Stato vii
best express thoir opposition TO the scheme o
negro domination and supremacy involved IN thu
Reconstruction Acts of Congress, and their ad
ministration by military authority, by abstaininf
entirely from voting in those Districts where th'
election of Conservative men IL hopeless, and b.
not voting at ali on the question Of Convention
in ans District.
RcSylred, That wc congratulate the white peo
pie Of this State, and the friends of good govern
ment and civilization in every State OF the United
States, upon the great unanimlty now prevailing
amongst us in opposition to the call Of a Conven
ton to establish universal negro suffrage ant
negro government in South Carolina.
d. w RAY, Esq, OF Fairfield District, briefly ex
pressed his unqualified approval OF the address
4 moro magnificent document, in his opinion
could not clnahatc from sub;ugated people. l
was State paper worthy of the race and he hopet
that it would be unanimously adopted II he hat
imagined that nothing was to he done he woult
NOT hayo left Fairfield TO attend this Convention