Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-03-29
Meeting of the Colored People of Cclunfbia
-Addresses hy GEN. Wade Hn snptOn, Hon.

the African Methodist Episcopal Church,
Yesterday morning at O'Clock, and after
forming procession of their various socie-
tics. marched through the principal streets.
headed by band of music, to the vacant
, square on Flnin street. just beyond Nicker-
sons Hotel. where addresses were deliver
ed by Gen Wade Hampton. the Hon. W.
L. DeSauesure Colonel William Ell. Talley,
Hon +. j. Arthur and James G. Gibbes,
ESQ, fwho had been specially invited by
the committee to address the colcred peo-
ple}, aud Beverly Nasll aud the Rev. ID.
Pickett, (freedmen.1
General Hampton spoke of the vast i'm
T portance Of the present moyement-not on
, iy to the colored, but the white mau. He
advised tho freedmen to give their frie,ids
at the South fair trial, and il they were
) found wanting, it was then time enough to
, go abroad for sympathy 1t was to their
> interest to build up the South; for as the
country prospered, SO would they prosper.
Tie present state Of affairs was not brought
about by the action Of the Southern poo
ple-white or black; therefore, ueitbcr was
, responsible for it.
Hon. =. J. Arthur said he was unable to
deliver a lengthy address, as he was not
prepared for such an undertaking. He was
surprised at being called on for speech,
and could only give few words Of counsel.
The occasion of this celebration is one in
which you have had no agency. 1t is not
the act of the white men of your country.
It has been conferred upon you by the
Northern Congress; and he hoped that it
would be the means of enlightening and
improving their mental and moral condi-
ton. He, in con- junction with the white
citizens of the South, would endeavor to
assist them, by all the means in their pow
er, to accomplish that end. They had the
IL Is Io n
exercise it with good Judgment TO learn
to fully appreciate these great privileges
which are being conferred upon them, they
should educate themselves and their chill
dren. 1t is the duty and the interest of
the white men to help the colored men in
their educational and moral training. If
we were actuated by interest alone, we
should rather contribute to than attempt to
retard their advancement. They are polit-
ically the equals of the whites, and ed
ucation will go far to make them morally
and mentally so. Let there be no war of
races among us-let us look to each others
welfare 1t is true that many of the whites
are deprived of the political rights which
the colored men will enjoy, but that should
not, and will not, create envlOus and I'M
kind feelings. He concluded by advising
them to regard the white men who have
been born and reared among them, rs
friends; let no harsh feelings exist between
u.s. look to each others welfare and happi-
ness; and last, though not least, look to
your educational and moral improvement.
VIM. FL. Talley, Esq, said he fully APP
preciated tho confidence and respect mani
tested i'll the invitation 10 address his
colorcd friends in relation to the condition
, circumstances, have attempted n full dis
cussion Of the subject But the subject
itself YVES ono SO vast III 1mmportance. and
the notice Of such n meeting So brief that
he did not purpose doing more than to i'll
, dictate his hearts concurrence i'll some of
the views already presented. intending
thereby to add his testimony to their cor
rectness. He said that they had heard
that the interests of the white man and the
, colored man of tbs South were one and the
: same They are parts Of the same society,
inhablting the same land, under the same
sun, breathing the same atmosphere and
if the lessons Of history and reason taught
anything, they taught that, under such cir
cumstances, the two races must prosper or
perish together. Differences of soil, climate
and government are the principal causes of
difference, and consequent conflict of i'll
terest. In a vast country, with a wide
range of climate and almost infinite variety
of soil, there must naturally. perhaps he
cesgarily, arise such conflict. Legislation
which may he productive IF good results to
, one portion of such country, may be ut
!, terly disastrous to another. But with the
same soil and climate, AMI surrounded by
, circumstances the same Ill all essential par
ticulars, the white man aud the coloretl
man of the South have the same interest.
the same destiny. 1t was impossible, at
this time, to mark out aud recommend any
particular line Of policy. Everything was
in doubt and confusion. Trade, the me
J chapic arts, every department. of industry,
were palsied by the uncertain, unsettled
condition of affairs. The country can
know no prosperity without peace, and that
} end can be attained only by discarling all
elements of strife, and promoting harmony
and concert of action. The advice which
common sense gives to the colored popula-
tior of the South in the present emergency
! is, to try those of the community whom
you have known-those who have hitherto
proved themselves worthy OF confidence
those who lave the same interest Unite
with those. If these deceive you, it will
then be time enough to experiment Oh the
sympathies of strangers. He said he knew
he expressed the feeling of the intelligent
white men Of the South, when he said that
they cherished no semblance of hostility
toward the colored man on account of his
South will endeavor to fomeut dissensions
and jealousies, for the purpose of still
farther tearing, weakening and plundering
our already desolated land but if the
Southern people, white and colored, stand
united, there is ground to hope that our
: children, if not ourselves, may enjoy long
) period of tranquility and peace. OF pros
, perity and happiness.
Beverly Nash replied to the generally ex-
pressed statement of the white speakers,
that they were DISTINGUISHED, by stating
t that the colored people would present such
a strong ard unanimous petition to Con-
gress, that attention would be paid to it
in fact, the colored men would not rest un-
til the whites had been enfranchised. He
t had respect for man who upheld his prin-
ciples at the point of the bayonet whereas
, skulkers and so-caIled Union men at the
South he could designate as nothing better
than traitors. He advocated universal suf-
, fraGe believing that the driver of IL one
horse cart was AS much entitled to that
right as the owner of a block Of buildings.
He quoted freely from history 70 show the
Importance of the right of suffrage and adj