Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-29
Auipn aud 9ispatfh.
FRInAY. MARcIE p. Isez.
.argost Circulation in city and State.
FnE WHIFES AND BLACKs.
Their Political Relations and Duties =
speech Of Gen. wade Hampton at
Columbia, south Carolina.

the OCCASION nat speech mas since been
published, and we subjoin the leading
points msde in it, and commend them TO
the thoughtful consideration of both
races:
My FRIENDs-You have requested me
70 give you few words of advice to-day,
and / accept the invitation in the same
kind spirit with which it was given.
There have been few incidents Of a public
character that have gratifed me more than
this mark Of confidence from the colored
people Of this district, amongst whom my
life has been passed.
There is one other point on which there
should be no Misunderstanding as TO our
posiiiOn-nO loop on which to hang pos
sible misconstruetion Of our yiews-and
that is the abolition of slavery.
The deed has BEEN DONE and for one do
honestly declare that | never wish 10 see
il revoked. Nor do believe that the peo-
pie Of the South would now remand .he
negro to slavery if they had the power to
do 30 unquestioned. Under our paternal
care, from a mere handful he grew TO
mighty host. lie came to us a heather
we made him a Christian. Idle, vicious,
savage in his own country, in ours he be-
came industrious, gentle, civilized. Let his
history as a slave be compared hereafter
with that which he will make for himself
rs a freedman, and by the result of that
comparison we are willing to be Judged. A
great responsibility is lifted from our
shoulders by his emancipation, and we will
ingly commit his destiny to his own hands,
hoping that he may prove himself wor-
thy of the new position in which he has
been placed. As a slave, he was faithful
to us; as a freeman, let us treat him as a
friend. Deal with him frankly, Justly,
kindly; and, my word for it, he will rec-
procate your kindness, clinging to his old
home, his own country and his former
masters. II you wish to see him contented,
Industrious, useful aid him in his efforts to
elevate himself in the scale of civilization.
and thus fit him, not only to enjoy fhe
blessings Of freedom, but appreciate its
duties o.
Your own orator of the day, who has
Just addressed you, has spoken wisely and
kindly on this topic, and the advice he has
given you | approve of heartily. Why
should we not be friends? Are YOU not
Southern men, as we are Is this not your
home as well as ours? Does not the glori-
GUS Southern sun above us shine alike for
both Of us? Did not this soil give birth to
all Of us2 And will we not all alike,
when our troubles and trials are over, sleep
in that same soil in which we first drew
breath? | see before me banner on which
is inscribed united we stand, divided we
fall" That motto is full of significance
and truth, for your welfare is inseparably
linked with that Of the whites Of the South.
II we are uniustly taxed, you will have to
pay your share if we are oppressed, you
will suffer- IL We are ruined, you win be
destroyed. Your prosperity depends en-
tirely on that Of your country, and what |
ever fate awaits the white people Of the |
South will be yours.
Now let us consider for a few moments
the subject which has brought you to-
gether to-day, the military bill just passed
by Congress You must bear in mind that
a great many persons, amongst whom is
the President Of the United States, think
that this bill is unconstitutional that Con-
gress had no authority TO pass it. Now the
only way by which that question can be
settled, is by a decision of the Supreme
Court Of the United States. The court will
declare the bill either constitutional or un-
constitutional. If constitutional, you will,
by it, all be allowed TO vote. How will |
you vote? Whom will you select to make |
the new laws, which are to govern the |
State? Will you choose men who are |
ignorant of all laval sections of your /
government Will you place in Office |
these strangers who have hocked here TO |
plumber what little is left TO us? Or will |
you trust the men amongst whom you have |
lived heretofore-amongst whom you must |
always live? 1t seems 10 be that this latter |
course would be the wisest, for as il is to |
the interest Of the Southern whites to make |
the blacks enlightened, prosperous and con |
tented, they would surely. do all in their |
power to secure these objects. ! do not tell |
you to trust professions of friendship |
alone, whether they come from the South |
ern man or the Northern. But what ] ask |
you TO do what have the right to ask of |
You il, that "a We profess TO be your |
friends, yon will give us the opportunity of |
showing by our actions, whether we are /
sincere or not.
II we deceive you, then turn to the |
North, and see if you can find better
friends there | have no fears Of the re- |
suit; for with us not only does humanity |
dictate kind treatment, honest dealing. just |
laws for the colored population, but self |
interest demands from us the same course. |
A stronger prejudice has always existed at |
the North against your people than here, |
and it exists still. IL this bill goes into |
operation, you will FIRST Of all have to vote |
for members Of a State convention Now |
your own speaker, 10 whose remarks on
this point listened with pleasure and in |
terest, has given you sound and practical |
advice. Select the men whom YOU know I
10 be honest and Trustworthy, aad who are
identified with the State.
You ask counsel of me. | have given |
it, fully, frankly, sincerely. No personal |
motives can possibly sway me, for | am no |
longer a citizen Of the United States or of |
South Carolina The bill which gives the |
right Of suffrage 10 You disiranchises me. |
! have not even a home here, for my home, |
and the homes of all who love my name, |
have been laid in ashes have ne politi- |
cal rights. ! have nothing to bind me to |
this ruined land, hut the memories of the |
past the affection ] cherish for its people, |
and the graves of my kindred These ties |
however, are strong enough 10 keep alive in |
nv heart a warm interest in my State, and /
thev are sufficient 10 make one strive always /
20 promote her welfare. This motive, alone, |
brought me here 10 day, for il was not until |
the chairman Of your committee urged me |
TO come, upon the ground that l oould thus
do good 70 my own people, and to his, /
that / consented to address you. | trust /
that these expectations may not be disap' |
pointed. and that the spirit which has ami |
mated this meeting may spread over the /
who'e South. j trust that hereafter there |
may be mutual kindness iorbearance and 4
cooperation between all classes Of our peo-
pie.
Let those, then, who are familiar with the |
cause, the people, and the interests Of South |
Carolina frame the new constitution, and I
IL you Gnd that your rights have been ig- |
nored; if you find that there is one law |
for the white and another for the black, /
you can Justly complain Of having been
deceived, aud you can reject the const- |
tnuon. This convention, then, will be /
the means ct testing the sincerity Of |
the professions made 20 YOU by the /
white citizens Of the State, and Of yours 10 /
them. But suppose the bill is pronounced |
unconstitutional, what then? You will be |
left in precisely the same position you he'd |
before is passage, The present State gov
ernments will continue, and the present /
laws will prevail. l, sill then be for a.
10 prove that our professions Of friendshin \