Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-04-13
What Gen. Sickles Says.

eston, in response to complimentary toast,
expressed his views in an admirable speech,
wherein he declared his intention, as FAR ns
his official position would allow, in relation
to the administration of the laws Which he
has been appointed to soc properly executed
i'll the two Carolinas. We make the follow.
ing extracts from the speech referred to:
Mr. President aud gentleman thank you
for your kind expressions Of confidence and
commeudation. The relation bear to the
people of the Carolinas, while temporarily
charged with the supervision of their Gov.
crnment imparts additional interest and graf
iiication to the honor conferred upon me OH
tho present occasion, by so many persons of
consideration. presume some Of you may
expect fro II me ntimations of my line of
conduct. shall not, fear, CRAFTY even
reasonable dcgrceof curiosity on that subject
But at all events, mny, without departing
from the reserve imposed on me by my official
position, and its responsibilities and duties,
tell you what shall not do
First, shall not, for moment, think Of
dcpriving myself of the able and efficient co.
operation of our old friend, Governor Orr
[Great cheering. Nor shall fail to avail
myself of the aid and assistance of any 9th
or civil officer in South Carolina, who per,
forms his duty as zealously and faithfully MS
| know Governor Orr has cndeayorcd to dis
charge his duty. [Chccrs
Gentlemen, am sure can add, not only
for myself but for every officer of the army
of the United States serving under my com.
mand, that under no circumstance will, we
sanction any act of iniusticr. spolation or
wrong committed upon any citizen of North
or South Carolina.
Gentlemen, wll offer to you another us
surancc; you have my authority for the state.
meut to capitalists traders, to manufacturers
to all who desire to embark in your ugri-
cultural field or labor, and to all who wish to
invest moneys in your securities and in your
lands-that the military authorities will do
nothing tending to impair the value of your
possessions, or to increase the risks Of those
who have heretofore embarked in enterprise
on your soil Whatever we can do to strength
cn confidence in your resources, and to pro
mote the material prosperity Of the common.
wealth, shall be done
| concur heartily in the confident cxpecta
tions which have been expressed as to your
future. am one OF those who believe that
there are few things impossible to Americans
| believe that the civil and political misfor
tunes; the disasters in trade aud agriculture,
the privations, hopes and acknowledgements you
have suffered, and which would have crushed
almost any people who had not extraordinary
energies, perseverance and faith in the future,
will all be conquered by the elasticity, vigor
and fortitudc characteristic Of tho Amerieaa
eope ThGre ,t is tHo,hn j. h. h @"
exception to these traits Of our countrylnen
1t may not be unbeconiing in ME to say, al
though you would, perhaps, refrain from say
ing SO yourselves, that in the war which has
Just closed, the people of the South have
shown such resources, and the ability to en- .
p'oy them, and such energy. aud resolution
and courage, as will, if wisely directed, sur
mount greater difficulties than are now be
fore them
| will 60 further, and venture suggestion
III reference to your line of action. OF course.
shall not trcspass upon the political arena
for MS TO that am as much disqualified as h,s
EXccllency the Governor. though not by u
constitutional amendment. 1Laughter.1 |
shall abstain, as | am required to do by the
duties of my position, from any allnsion. t.,
the political bearing of any matter which Won
have to consider. With this reservation, let
me say to you. gentlemen, in all cau,lor. tina,
one of the first duties you have to discharge
to yourselves and to your fellow. citizcns, is
to remove all distrust as to your purpo,cs,
feelings and intentions in the future towards
the colorcd race; this distrust is. IN my iuae.
ment, the main Obstacles to the cordial coon
crotion and good understanding of the twora.
ces The causes for the existing alienation
should perhaps, be looked for in the early his.
tory of your State and hcr former institutions,
But these arc considerations of the past
DO not see, from my point of view, any reason
why the undonbtcd identity of interest that
does exists, and must ever exist, between the
white and colorcd races in South Carolina,
shall not result in their pursuing in common
all the ends of society and government as
heartily aud successfully as if the old relation IN
OF master and slave had never existed. rhp.
pausc.J One method of reconciliation .is So
nearly allied with the discharge of nv own
duties, that will add to this suggestion an
illustration. think it bchoovcs eyery white
man, and most especially every white man of
consideration and influence in South Carolina
to exert that influence, be it little or muob
for the fair, honest aud impartial execution of
tho laws, which Sccur,. rrotoct;on 20 ,,o