The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-06
SPEECH OF GEN: p: e. s1cKLEs.


My FRIENDS {: I am happy to receive your demon, demon
your hearty appreciation Of this anniversary For
you the Declaration of Independence had Pc
culiar significance. To the nation 1t brought
| liberty; but 10 you it restored MANHOOD; ls 9ue
| enough, your race has waited almost hundred
| years for the .fulalment OF the pledge made TO
civilization by the immortal authors OF the Decla-
ration OF Independence. Jefferson and ms col
leagues had more faith in humanity than their i'm
4 mediate successors. The statesmen OF the epoch
| of the Revolution desired Ito form permanent
| union of States TO establish jnstice, to insure
domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings OF
liberty to all the children Of the Bepubbc. To-day
| the musical bells Of st. MichaePs celebrate in
centnfys ago. ysthe fathefs 6the Rembhcs TO
dsy thef3sg which hoats unch91enged Throughout
the Carolinas; is the symbol Of justice and liberty
Your old masters and You begin to know each
other better. II is with youand them as with the
North and South-better Nacquain ntance promotes
good understanding. Every day more kindly feel
la6orers, and as citizens. Errors and illusions are
passing Array. In 1866, was admomshed not
to permit you to celebrate your holidays in multi
| tudes, with professions and banners and music,
and marshals and bonfres, and firearms and fire.
works. Why? Because it was said you would rise
| in insurrection. Agsipgt Whom2 for whatf de-
nanded. Not against the authority of the United
States;q for that authority has made them FREQ.
NOT against tnelr FORMER -maSteIS; iof as 5ihFes
they did not not rebel Not against me; for I am
here to- protect them from injustice. No. was
told the colored people would have land, and they
would seize 1t and drive away the lawful owners OF
the soil Times have changed; insurrection is
only remembered as nightmare, Whenever n q =
from any one willing to sell; or hires land, he can
find any one willing to let it to him. (Cheers.) -
Here will offer suggestion; There are many
or only haR cultivated. II the owners, who can
neither plant nor afford to keep their lands idle,
would divide their useless lands into small farms
Of twenty acres each, and soil them at fair prices
to honest, industrious, and thrifty laborers, tho
Of busy labor-the noise Of landless agitators
would be hushed in the repose Of contented,
happy peasantry. tCheors.}
When was sent to the oarolnas, in the autumn
never work for wages that they could not be
made to understand what It was to work for
| wages. Now hear . different complaint, that
the freed people will not work without wages.
loud cheers and laughter.)
Twas told, also, that il would never do to admit
colored people to the courts Of justice to assert
their rights by suits atlaw, or to give testimony
in controversies between man and man; for 1t was
obligation Of an OATH or the forms of judicial pro-
ceedings.; Now, Ihear that unless O. colored man
has lawyer and law suit. he does not consider
himself . respectable citizen. Gaughter.)
was told, also, that it would be useless to es-
tahlish schools for the instruction of the blacks;
it was insisted they were not capable Of learning
their heads were too thick and their brain too
small. loud laughter.) Now, ] hear that so
many free schools for colored children are filed
with eSGred pupils taught 5y oolSred seaeher
Of pr oviding for the education Of the poor whites
Nay! more, in some places the schoolhouses for
the colored race need the protection OF my bayo.
nets; and am sure IT, -colored people could not
toor mt hofa fhairf "a
fear their schools, and mobs would not attack aad
destroy their schoolhouses. (Sensatio1,)
Twas told also, thstit would be absurd to make
citizens Of the freed people, because they would
never know nythiag about politics; that they
ture, without caring whether they were voting for
friends OF foes. Now hear that the colored peo-
pie divide their spare time about equally between
religion and politics; and that they are almost as
are about the preacher they choose to pray for
them. Applause and laughter
Here, my friends, is the lesson wish to i'm.
press upon your mind. You have to prove, as you
are trying to prove, that your race is capable Of
have the right to share in all that belongs to civil,
izstion. And to those Who look with distrust and
fear upon your, advancement, let me say to them
that education to you, as to them and to all, is
more than power-it il security; it is wealth; 1t is
refinement; it is virtue; it is peace. (Cheers.)
It is useless to tell me that Jamaica, and Hayti,
and st. Domingo and Martinique prove anything
else than that the French, the Hpaniards and the
English fail in their colonial administration.
and the Indies are ampIihed illustrations Of the
same historical example. As well it might be said
tie pale races Of Mexico, and Paraguay, and New
Grenada are unfit for civilization because their
political systems are in constant ferment and tur-
cans. (Enthusiasm.)
It may be the destiny of your race to carry back
to the unknown tributaries of tho Milo the amenl-
ties OF civilization better than that which tole-
rated the barharism of the bandits who tore your
fathers from kindred and country, and bartercd
men for gold. It seems that neither servitude nor
freedom neither cruelty nor wrong,-war or
want,-time or separation,- have anymo changed
the elements of your oriental character, than the
climate Of the temperate zone has altered the ma
tive hue OF your African complexion. To-day, the
colored race Of tho South are the same contiding,
faithful aud contented people that would rather
bear than resist that would rather trust and wait
than to hasten and compel Your patience and
faith have been rewarded, Still have patience;
never waver in the faith that tho same gracious
Providence that has borne you harmless and In
triumph out of bondage will in good time lead you
to the promised land of regeneration. cloud
cheers.)
Political events arc near at hand in which for the
first time you will exercise the high privilege OF
American citizens. You must try to discriminate
we'll and choose wisely between the good and bad
examples you see. Remember that in politics as
In oil things, an oven temper and respectful de-
meanor toward our adversaries detract nothing
from the ardor Of our convictions, nor from the
tenacity with which wepress our purposes; equs-
nimity and courtesy always contribute to the sue
cess Of our undertakings.
Do you remember Abraham Lincolnp (Crcs of
ssYes" 'syes," ''yes.") Will you ever forget him
loud shouts OF "No =" "no, p" mo, never, nover.")
You must not cease to cherish and heed the teach
ings of that genial nature, those simple methods
the noble heart and the guileless example Of your
gifted and lamented champion. Lot US all remem-
ber and believe the last words of his last address
to the people he loved and served so well, and for
whem his almost sacred life was sacrifice. He
said: srThe time Will come when the mystic chords
Of memory, stretching from every battlefield and
patriot grave to every living heart and hearth
stone. touched again as they surely will be by the
better angels of our nature shall swell the chorus
of the Union throughout the land" (Great ap-
plause.)
SPEECH OF JUDGE MOSES.
After reneated calls for Judge Moses that