The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-31
SPEECH OF EX-GOVERNOR PARSONS
OF ALABAMA. 81!


Of Alabama, on the 25th instant, pursuant to q
reported to be an outline Of the Governors re-
marks
Taking strong ground against tho ratification Of
the constitutional amendment, he said that If it
was adopted under its operation all laws passed
by State Legislatures would be subject to Tho ap-
proval of Congress The gravest consequences
would turn upon+he action Of the Southern States.
The object of the Radicals was to enfranchise tho
negroes. II suffrage was not allowed them, they
would contend it was an abridgment Of the priv
leges and inmunities Of citizens Of the United
n
the right to make laws and the right to execute
them-should be alone vested in the superior race.
The black race will adhere to each other, and the
contest for political power would be fearful oco
for rs aud oar children. The Radical majority of
Congress opposed any distinction as to race OF
color. Ktheir policy succeeds there might lie o
war of sections, aud a war of races win bo imn,i-
nent, and we would see the full measure Of danger
OF that astutely wordcd amendment. The consti-
secret session, passed through Congress- Con 's wts =
closed doors; there wGs no time afforded for de-
bate or deliberation. The motives OF the Radicals
they disclosed in the report Of the majority
The idea Of the Radicals was that the conquered
were at tho mercy of the conqucrors. The doc
trine Of dcspotism goes no further than that. He
believed they violated their oaths to support the
Constitution of the United States. There was no
authority to impose penalties on State especially
those Of an er post Jdc.o character.
The great desire Of him who rules the holm OF
State was, that he might be able to maintain the
whose policy, if successful, would save us fro a
wild anarchy AMI ruin.
Our purpose in swearing. fealty to the consti-
tuition, he said, was not that the party having
power can violate its sacred provisions at will
Such course would allow mere political party
to construe the Constitution, and make it an en-
gine OF oppression. Its name would be used but
Its reality would be gone. Tho third clause OF the
amendments would operate unjustly. 1t would
disfranchise original secessionists and tho Union
man who opposed the war. The, people OF the
Southern States would find it in their power
to control their own internal affairs. Ali men it
is true, could vote, even # they could not hold
their views and this would be additional roason
why the bitter feelings which had existed between
the two SECTIONS would be continued.
In this connection, the speaker alluded in terms
OF whitening sarcasm TO those men who cslled
themselves unconstitutional Union men, and main
tained that they were better Union men than any
Of the rest of us. sis
The intention Of the Radicals was to pass an
Enabling Act for the Southern states-not the
abling Act, under the operations OF which State
Governments are to be inaugurated in the South
and all excluded from voting who cannot take the
test oath, the oath to be prescribed in tho En-
abling Act. IF this act was passed negroes and
white men who can vote viii elect members to Con-
vsntons ;S @ and ID dnaugurate tho State Governments,
practical operation of it will lie that state of
things similar to that existing in the State of Ten
e is snail o fbs
voting population. "-g @a
He believed that the President would be able to
sustain himself, and trusted that he would receive
the support Of enough true men at the North to
be able to secure satisfactory adjustment Of our
difficulties. It was our true policy to adhere to
should maintain the relations into which We had
entered with the United States Government in
go"d faith. He knew Of no better way of roinstat-
ing the State in MI its former political relations to
the United States Government, than by obseryjnp
bad taken to support tho Constitution Of the United
control from our past history. He counsellcd an
adherence to the noble stand which has beon taken
by the Legislature in rejecting the constitutional
amendment. There was no occasion for the Leg
islatuie to furnish the dagger with which to stab
it's own people, and in This connection lie quoted
the lines OF Byron referring to the death Of the
poet, Kirle White: '"~'
80 the struck easle: stretched upon the plain,
No Ns more 1,l through rolling clouds M to soar again.
And winged the shaft that qaiyered in his heart
Keen were his pangs, but keencr far to feel
He nursed tee plnion which imL sled the steel
Willis: tie sane pumage thst had war red h!s.nest
Drank the Lust lfe-drop of his bleeding breast:
The speaker argued forcibly in favor of noting
ont ful justice for the black population, and eulo-
people during the war. There should be but one
law and one penalty for its violation, for whtc md
black. II this " was not done, we reap the bitter
be forced upon Us, and the scenes which devnstat-
ed st. Domingo re-enacted in our midst. He
urged that III Laws should be faithfully executed
There was no use to pass laws which were allowed
to remain dead letter our statute books Il
was m the duty Of every man to see the yagrant law
and said it unjust in its operations against our
black population, and furnished weapon which
was used effectively against us by our enemies
Of Alabama men with black faces 20 at dead Of
night and steal from negroes, and burn their
cabins, and leave by the light of the flames thew
aid in their Development and enlightenmsnt, are
burnt down. This, he said was foul blot on our
people, and he denounced it in the strongest terms
States Government would put it down in SUCH
manner as Will be unpleasant to US. Ho alluded
IN terms Of tbs strongest denunciation to Improper
articles which frequently appeared in the Southern
papers, and said that they worked great injury to
the Southern people. n" - "a =. -