The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-03-28

forward and meet us as gentlemen have
done to-day, we have no rightto doubt
the future. Hook upon. to-day as our.
fourth Of July. ss-And il we do our duty,
We shall proxe ourselves worthy of the
great privilege NTH which we have been
invested, II Is true, the majority Of
colored men may not be able to vote
intelligently. but you will be educated.
In ihe four weeks preceding the first
election in this District, you will be,
taught more about voting than thep
pie of Ireland OF England ever did
know. There never was aspeople who
have gained 60 much as'swe; have done.
Buta little while ago; we were slaves.
Now we are freedmen II has been de.
clared that we shall have a voice in pub,
lie affairs. In these public affairs we
must unite with our while fellow ,ci,i
zens. They tell us that they have
been disfrancbised, yet we tell the North
tlrat we will never let the balls Of Con-
.gress be selent until we remove that
disability. Can we afford TO loose from
the councils of the State our first men
Can We spare judges from the bench ?
Can we put fools or strangers in their
positions ? No, fellow citizens, no =
Gloomy would be that day, indeed. We
want in charge of our interest only our
best and ahle>t men. And then, with
a strong pull, a long pull and pull,al
together. up goes South Carolina
lCheers. =
Hon. James c. Gibbes, being called
upon. said
Fellow. citizens: You have heard
today the kind and friendly expressions
Of gentlemen in whom You have long
had confidence, and for whom you en-
tertain no little respect. If you have
received these remarks ia the same spirit
with which they have been uttered, YOU
must be satisfied that the feelings which
the white man eniertains for your race,
under these new circumstances, is only
one Of friendship and regsrd. Wo,look
on YOU as fellow citizens.
= When Congress comes to know the
people Of the South better than they do,
they will acknowledge that the very men
who are now excluded from the right
of suffrage, are those upon whom an
honest reliance may be placed. You,
n" iea>tkrow who.are your friends, and
|. | have no doubt will put your conf
dence where, j, belongs and, as Bever.
ly Nash has well said, you will not Sc,
lee, the skulkers from duty in time of
danger.
A few weeks ago was in Washing.
ton and Philadelphia, and Lam asham
ed to acknowledge tke ignorance which
there prevailed with reference to The
feeling between the whites and the
blacks. The question was repeatedly
asked /: care yon safe I" Great God |!
safe among such faces as surround this,
stand ! Could any man feel danger
among people with whom he has
been blough: up and is still attached
by the tcnderest associations But ]
need not pursue this Sutjec, further, nor
will ! repeat the advice so eloquenliy
given by other gentlemen. My chief
hope is that you will live in a manner
worthy Of the new privilege which you
enjoy and demonstrate by your conduct
that the safety Of your Stat. and sec
tion has been entrusted 10 honest hearts
and hands. [Cheers.]
The Chairman then announced that
the ass semblage would he dismissed
with bencdiclion, after which the crowd
quietly dispersed. Thus ended ono of
the most extraordinary meetings ever
held in South Carolina.
In the evening the procession was re.
formed and accompanied by band of
music, marched with torch lights
through the city, calling at the houses
of many Of our prominent citizens, by
whom they were briefly addressed.
REArrIvt.t TucpND Tlo1. IoI1