The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-05-22
The Address OF nishop Campbell.

address at the Capitol yesterday morning,
drew very large crowd to the Hall of the
House of Representatives at the appointed
hour The novelty ofthe occasion, and the
fame of the speaker, even caused the Courts
to adjourn, and whether from curiosity or
other motives, the large hall has seldom
been more densely filed, and but few au-
diences have ever been more greatly edited
| therein.
Bishop Campbell is identified, ecclesiasti-
cally with the African NJ E. Church South,
and his spiritual Jurisdiction extends to
some twenty States and territories 1t was
our good fortune to hear HIM in West Jack
son on Sabbath evening last, and more oil
oquent and thoroughly gospel sermon we
had seldom heard He had but little to say
on other matters, but the few remarks he
made by way of advice to his colored breth.
rem in their new relations, impressed us
with the belief that he was not only a
wise and learned, but q safe and prudent
counsellor.
Others who heard him, concurring in
these views, united in a written request that
he should discuss publicly the great ques-
tions of the day; and although he had in
the meantime, gone elsewhere to fill an APP
pointment, he returned by yesterdays train
from Vicksburg, and delivered an address.
which for eloquence, logic, and appropriate
ness could not well be excelled by any ora
tor. white or black. Bishop Campbell is GER
tainly an extraordinary man. He has great
talents, and seems disposed to use them for
the good Of all. ~ hst
We cannot attempt this morning any
thing like full report of his address of yes
terday. brief reference to the leading
points must suffice.
Having been introduced to the audience
by Rev. Mr.. Stringer, (colored pastor of the
Vicksburg M. E. Church,, he asked that the
audience unite with his Vicksburg brother
in prayer after which Bishop Campbell
commenced his address, He disclaimed
being political orator, and in times gone
by, and during the twenty years that he had
been free, he never stepped aside from his
holy calling to discuss political questions
He never declined, however, when called
upon to give his views in reference to public
matters, from moral standpoint. He had
been placed in circumstances where it was
his privilege and right, and sometimes his
duty SO to do. He had been for twenty
years voter, and had exercised
the elective franchise in Rhode Island and
New York. But he let the politicians attend
to politics; but just prior to elections he
had endeayored to stir up the minds of his
brethren as to their moral obligations in the
use of the ballot and to cast their votes only
for good men and just measures--that those
who rule among men should be Just and up
right-not drunkards and men without
morality or integrity.
In regard to the present state of things, he
felt that he had great moral duty to pei
0rm. His special field of religious labors
was mostly in the South, and he had ample
abor to occupy his best energies. His breth-
'en now, more than ever, needed advice and
for much, for veal or for woe, de-
,ended upon the course they would now pur-
ue. blunder now,on the part of the MAORI
y, would be calamity not easilyrepair-
ID. He therefore felt called upon to advise.
But it was not the position he desired,
md he would rejoice when he could retire |
o his appropriate sphere The pulpit was |
lis home-his business to lead men through |
nature up to natures God. That was his |
vork-in that he delighted.
The speaker said that he had never learned |
o hate white men because they were white, |
lor to love black men because they were
black; and from the time that he began to |
'eason-from the time that he commenced |
10 compare one thing with another, he never |
earned to hate this country; and the farther |
le followed up his enquiries, and especially /
ince the fall of actual chattel slavery upon
is soil, he learned to love it above all other
countries. He had long ago, in his discourses
md lectures, and in his articles (for he had
'een an editor in his day. taught the doc
rine that the heart of the American people
vas on the side of Liberty. He had evidence
ant ~ ~. l.
PROCLAMATION, military bills, and bureaus,
ut he traced it back to the Mayfower-to
he document framed by that noble son of
he South, Thomas Jefferson, which declared
he self-evident truths of Liberty and free
ON to all.
He spoke at length and in historical and
lost interesting detail as to the introduction
t slavery on this Continent-how it existed
q all the States except little Vermont
ven in old Massachusetts-and was not for
etful of the fact, and he would impress it
pom hearers that the institution of slavery
'as entailed upon the several States, but
9 still claimed that the popular heart
the nation was for liberty.
The Southern people could not be held re-
)onsible for the existence of the institution
slavery; and if its management had been
)nfided to the blacklist men upon the face
L. |
hey would have endeavored to perpetuate
lie system. Human nature was the same in
lack and white
He referred to the original organization of
hat was known as the anti-savery party
lat it was not simply for the liberation of
70 and half millions of slaves, but for the
Dod of twenty millions of white men as
ell. And he drew a graphic picture of
hat the.SOuthern States may and must be,
lder the new order of things-how the (
inks of her great river>would be thickly !
'tted with flourishing cities, as was the
her woodlands would be clear
away, and her waste places would bios {
m as the rose. He wanted to hear the {
eaver's shuttle and manufactures of all .
nds spring up in every town. The land,
g water courses, and every thing that can {
institute peoples wealth, were here. En- j
gy, application, peace and harmony would | ,
complish great thipgs. l
Now, he said, that passion had spent itself,
} should reason together. 1t was feared q
some that because the colored man had +
come free, and because he had been given q
e right to vote, that there must necessari- =
be war of races. He secuted the idea
few evily disposed white men were indus
ously disseminating such notions, but he u
We many reasons why there should exist q
apprehension on that score-alluding to 6
Q negroes faithfulness in the past-his
tural aversion to strife, and the numerical P
eponderance of the whites. Those who Fl
ought that because the negro is free he is @
epared for a war of races, were greatly :,
staken. t.H.
He called the attention of his colored 7
ends to the fact, that here in Mississippi, Il
~ were enjoying political privileges not "
corded in any of the Northern States, but a
e. In only five of the Northern States can q
~ stand up and boast that they have the P
Int to choose their own rulers. In all the a.