The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-04
RECONST STRUCTION
SENATOR WILSON AT CHARLESTON.

CHARLESTON RAILROAD oARs-sRNAToR VIII
SONS SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN.
CHARLESTON, s; O., May Ex-senator Wilson
was called on to-day by quite number of citi-
zens. Their intercourse was pleasant and
In compliance with numerously signed re-
quest he delivered an address this evening in
Citadel square. An immense assemblage of
colored people was on the ground probably fve
thousa1id. A few hundred white persons were
also among the audience. Mr. Wilson spoke
nom stand which was hung with flags and
Directly facing him was the large pile Of
building known as the Citadel, nd which was
used before and during the war the State
Military Academy. From its Flagstaff hoated
the national banner, and halEa-dozen large
Held guns were trained In front of its wide
portal. 1t is used the headquarters of the
garrison. The tents of colored company are
pitched In one quarter of the treeless and
shTubless square, and sentries, white and black,
paced up and down their respective posts Sol
dterS loitered around and made part of the au-
dtence. and occasionally the beat OF a drum or a
bugle note interrupted the Senator's speech,
recalling the fact that the Government here is
essentially military. 1t was near i've O'Clock
when Mr.. Wilson came on the stand. The sun
was then Inning hercely on the scene, but be-
fore the speech was finished the sun had gone
down. .J..t.
DR.. A. G. Mackey, formerly practising ply
sicIan here, now Collector OF the Port, presided
over the meeting, and introduced Mr. Wilson
as profound Statesman and distinguished
learn something 1.-THE objects of recent legisla-
tlon. 1t was in order that they might have that
10 preside. -
Prayer was offered by Mr.. Randolph, a colored
clergy man, and then Mr.. Wilson, who was
loudly cheered, proceeded to address the large
assemblaRe of black men and women before
him. He commenced by stating that he was
here by Invitation, and that no one but him
self was responsible for what he should say. He
then proceeded TO recount the history of South
Carolina and OF her leading men in champion
ing the existence, perpeUutty, and extension of
slavery In America. The conflict, he said con-
tnued from l776 Till the opening Of the Rebel
lion.
Up to that time it was a conflict of sentiment
lon hNnFx ~
lion IL bt came a conflict of arms. After four
bloody years liberty had triumphed, and
cheers and expressions of qualifications by the
colored people) During the past two years, he
and since the old flag went up again over
sumter, we have had again conflict Of Opt
nion, and II required no foresight to see today
the rolicy Of equal rights, equal privileges and
equal lmmunities, of ali men in America, is
hereafter to be the policy of this republic. (Ju-
bilations by the negroes.) In all the conflict
South Carolina has borne leading part,
proudly defiant as the m Ark "e ef the e Covenant. %
Mr., wilson referred, in this connection, to the
efforts and declarations of Rutledge, Pinckney,
Butler, Waddy Thompson, Hammond, Calhoun,
Keitt, Boyce, and Bonham, in Congress, aud to
the forcible expulsion from Charleston of Mr.,
Hoare, who was sent by the State of Massachu-
sets to test the constltutionality of a South
Carolina law, and imprisoning colored sailors
in her ports. Continuing his remarks he said
Il do not refer TO this by way of reproach; I
state it to show the position which your State
occupied under her lead. The faith and creed
of the Revolutionary fathers was disowned. the
oI Rna and abie voIng noen
accepting the theories of Mr.. Calhoun, became
the enthusiastic champions of human bondage.
and drove the moderate men, the old jackson
Democrats and the Henry Clay Wings, out Of
the public councils. They boldly and dehantly
slavery into the Territories, and to maintain
it there by positive law: And when we. fearing
fused to accede to their demands, they raised
tEe. standard of revolt, and inaugurated the
Rebt s.son. We fought for four years the men
of the south. They exhausted their posses
sions, sent their young men 70 pattle-
fields. and made sacrtf1ceS which cannot
but win the respect of the world. Their sons
fought with heroic Valor on more than six
hundred fields; but the cause OF the country
triumphed, aud slavery sank nto a traitor 8
grave. to leave a traitors name in the history
OF the republic. Applause by colored men and
Women.) This l. brief record Of the contest
OF ideas from I776 up TO TINS hour. The fruits OF
G apprehension of the whole Christian and
civlized world. You realize that your ideas
Street, and gaze on the spot where stood
the hall in which your great proclama,
see dust ana ashes, but you cannot ever
see dust and ashes where the ideas and prlnci-
pies and policy ofthe Rebellion are to-day: They
are gone, glimmerng amid the dreams of things
that were. You are further from them to day
than you were yesterday. and you will be fur
(Cheers.) No action of yours, no power on Gods
earth, nothing but the power OF Almighty Goe
and
again the policy associated with human bondage
in America. (Applause.) These men around
me and about me are free to-day--as free as the
Governor of South Carolina or the Mayor o.
Charleston. (The colored men andwomen cheereo
and waved their hats and handkerchlefs, and 9
negress TO illustrate her view of the status ex-
claimed Free as de frogs.'D Mr.. Wilson con
tinued:-'They are not only free, but ihey are
citizens OF the great all-conquering and uncon-
Qutrable republic of united America. (Cheersl
Their rights privileges, and immunities are as
sacred as those of the Oldest families or SouLt
Carolina, and no power in South Carolina ol
out OF IL can bring back saVery-can deny
citizenship TO these black men, or place them
before the law IN a position Of inequality
(Cheers.) This is achieved. 1t is the will OF the
North American republic. 1 trust you will see
TO IL that the constitution and laws or Soutt
Carolina are made TO conform to these vital
triumphing. and loving principles OF liberty
and right trust that the State OF South Caro-
line, which led in this great contest, will turr
her back square on the past and face The
coming future. Every word spoken, every line
written, every act performed, TO preserve Tor
moment longer anything connected or asso
-clated with human slavery, and Win Inc po
licy OF South Carolina in the past is only
burden on South Carolina in the future. l. say
to you, men OF Charleston, your cause Is l3st q
fortune invested in lands ana Donunen' ma
become, in proportion 10 her NUMBERS, tn'
poorest State in the Union. No state mas lei
the effects of this Rebellion more than SouIi
Carolina, You want capital here to make you
fields blossom again. You want FARMERS nere
You want diversified industry; You want neV
acting, living policy, TO place south Oarolln'
alongside OF the advancing and prosperou
States of the Union, Then. In Gods name, b
as brave in the right as you were In VA
wrong. Send your able men TO Tn
public councils; Commission them TO speal
believe j express the wish Of The people Q
NV State and section, when / tell you to-da
that our people do not want your lands. you