The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-18
CHA RI ES TON.
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL is, 1867;
HON, IIERsC1EL v. JOHNSON.

| Tue freedmen had great mass meeting n
Augusta Ga, on Saturday last, at which many
speeches were delivered; among them one by
ex-Gov HEnscHEL V. JOHNSON. He said thai
he could address the colored people as his
| friends: he wished them well, desired their
prosperity and advancement in the social SCALE.
and success in all virtuous and worthy aims.
He said he had reason to be their friend. ::
u When this war began, in the Providence Of God,
under the laws of the land, they then existed;
| I owned large number Of slaves. During all our
Intercourse; while they stood in that relatl on to
me, I can say that never perpetrated, intention
tonally toward them an act of injustice or OPP
preston. Nearly oil Of them are in my service to-
;! day. They are my friends. They nre contented-
WITH VIII me me the fruits 4 their labor. T Save e@
\ agriculture. The written contract between us is
that they are TO receive one-h half Of all that is
made upon tb plantation, and if Shey are faithfu
realize q handsome remuneration for Their toii oi;
and shall see to it that they receive every dollar
to which they may be entitled. The relations be-
| tween me and them, before theyw emancipated,
was that OF mutual confidence, kindness and
friendship. Since their emancipation, that rela-
ton has undergone very little change.
He then proceeded to tell them that it was
/ great mistake to suppose that those who were
recently Shareholders cherish feelings of un-
kindness toward the negro race.
/ It is not so. The tone ard temper OF all the
better and moro sensible people, so far as have
been enabled to ascertain, are kind, magnanimous
| and just. nm aware, my friends, that in various
forms efforts have been made to induce you to be-
lieve that the white !. race are your enemies M
My friends, you and !, and all Of u.s. are Georgi-
ans; we were born upon her soil; our Kindred who
have gone before us sleep in the dust of our be-
! loved State; we have been raised together; our
children have played together; together we have
passed through many scenes Of sorrow and af41ic-
tion, as well as enjoyed many scenes Of happiness
and Of hope. Are all these memories Of the past
to so for naught, and viii you in the hurry OF the
moment, ut the suggestion Of those who, perhaps,
do not understand us, take it for granted that we
must be enemies to each other, and array ourselves
in hostile attitude at the ballot box and in Ill that
concerns our political welfare2 viii you take it
for granted that we. are anGas,onistc, and cannot
y live in peace and harmony? My friends let nc
such feelings as these find permanent lodgment
in your, hearts. at all events, give to the race
against whom it is sought to array You fair trial
Put them to the test, and il they refuse you your
rights Of freedom-f they persistently pursue q
course Of injustice, then withdraw yonr confidence
but, as sensible men, do not till then.
i We regret that want of space, forbids our
giving his remarks in full. They were in ex-
ccllent spirit; full of wholesome advice, and
cannot but be productive Of good results: i. I