The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-04-11


colored people must continue, for
veal or woe, to dwell. Far from it,
on the contrary, they believe that
this addition to the representative
population of the country, in addition
to its military powe: and its means
of production, must result, not only
in great and substantial good to the
nation at large, but that great and
substantial blessings must follow to
the people of the South. 1t is not SO
much mypurposc to convince you that
chese measures will accomplish the
beneficial results contemplated by
Congress, as it is to commend them
to your judgment and appreciation in
their tru purpose and object, accor-
ding to my belief: and also, gentlemen,
to assure you that it is in this sense,
and with these hopes, that so far as
my duties are concerned, these acts
of Congress will be executed. That
the results to yourselves, to your pos
terity, and to our common country,
may strengthen and render the ties
that must hcnceforth make our desti-
ny inseparablc, is my prayer and
will be my earnest cndeavor.
Gentlemen, L commend to you the
brighter aspect of the future: There
has never been an important expert
mcnt in public affairs, that has not
suggested the gravcst doubts and
difficulties, and especially is this true
in the matter of suffrage. Every
large addition to the voting population
of a country has excited he'alarm Of
many who fancicd themselves among
the wiscst Of their generation. When
universal suffrage was granted to the
white race, it was predicted that it
would involve the downfall of the
Republic. The naturalization laws,
and the consequent encouragement
given to emigration, have brought TO
our shores millions of Europeans Of
every racc and cline. At the outset
it was prcrlicatcd that this foreign
clement would rcvolutionize cur insti-
tutions and break down our expert
mcnt of free government. Great Bri-
tain, in 1882, by the Reform bill,
added i very large number to the
voting population Of that empire.
Many British statesmen maintained
then, that, as necessary consc-
qucEce, the decline and downfall of
was imminent, ifnot inevita-
bic. Now we sec the leaders OF the
Tory party originating and advoca-
ting measure of cnfranchisement,
compared with which the Reform bill
of 1882 was insignificant.
Gentlemen, I commend you that
in choosing your course you should
not assume that every possible dam
Ger is inevitable. Take the risk. Do
all YOU can to avert unhappy conse-
qucnces; but cling and cleave to the
brighter hope. Let us have faith in
our good fortune. Let US believe that
the bcncfccnt result is practicable,
and if it be true, as many of US have
been atmonishcd to believe by the
events so unforeseen and inscrutable OF
the past few years-if it be true that
in this epoch of emancipation and en-
franchiscmcnt, We arc in the hands of
a higher providence, leading us to the
fulfImcnt Of destiny we perhaps but
dimly sec, let us lave faith that the
same providence which has conducted
us thus far through many hazards and
difficulties Of republican freedom, will
yet lead us through the dangers and
difficulties that now seem to lie in our
way. Let us have faith in the future,
as in the past, liberty and freemen
may yindicate themselves against the
doubts and sneers of their enemies.
The history of great commemorative
proves that in proportion to their tree
dom they gained in prosperity and
power, as in culture and military re-
nown. Power thus developed is con-
scrvativc to nations and civilization.
1t may be for a brief period while the
new order Of things is in process OF
adjustment, the productive capacity
of the South will be impaired. This
cannot last long. The Cotton crops
raised by free labor last year under
greater disadvantages than arc likely
ever to occur again, sold for as much
as the largest crop ever raised in the
South. Before many years the most
prosperous, opulent and contented
agricultural population in the world
will cultivate the territory lying be-
tween the Potomac and the Rio
Grandc.
In conclusion, let me borrow an il
lustration from the most brilliant OF
all, n