The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-04-10

to Americans. Ibclieve that the civil and
political mistortunes, the disasters in trade
and agriculture, the privations, hopes and
discouragements you have suffered, and
which would have caused almost any Deo-
pie who had not extraordinary energies.
perseverance and faith in the future, will
all be conquered by the elasticity, yigor
and fortitudc characteristic of the Ameri-
can people. There is nothing in the his
tory of South Carolina that suggests that
you are an exception to these. traits of orr
countrymen. 1t may not be.;unbecolning
in me to say, although you u'would perhaps
refrain- from saying So yourselves, that, in
the wanssWhich has just closed, the people
of the South have shown such resources,
and hGSaBility TO c1lplo.y thern, ,-and such
energy, and resolution, and courage. as
will, if wisely directed, surmount greater
difficulties than any now before them.
| will 60 further, and venture sngges-
tion in reference to your line OF action
Of course / shall not trespass upon the po-
litical arena for as to that [ an as much
disqualified as his Excellency the Govern
OF, though not by constitutional amend
ment Laughter.) l shall abstain, as l
am required to do by the duties Of M
position, from any ailusion to the political
bearing of any matter which you have to
| consider With this reservation, let me
say to you, gentlemen, i'll all candor, that
one of the first duties you have to dis
charge to yourselves and to your fellow
citizens, is to remove all distrust rs to your
purposes, feelings, and intentions in the
future towards the colored race; this dis
trust is, in my judgment, the main obsta
Gle to the cordial cooperation and good
understanding Of the two races. The
causes for the existing alienation should,
perhaps, be looked for in the early history
of your State and her former institutions.
But these are considerations Of the past. |
do not see from my point of view any
reason why the undoubtcd identity of in
terest that does exist, and must ever exist
between the white and colorcd races in
South Carolina, shall not result i'll their
pursuing in common all the ends of society
and government as heartily and success
fully as if the old relation Of master and
slave had never existed. (Applause.)-
| One method of reconciliation is so nearly
allied with the discharge of NY own du-
tics, that l will add to this suggestion an
illustration. / think it behoovcs every
white man of consideration and influence
in South Carolina, to exert that influence,
be it little or much, for the fair, honest,
and impartial execution of the laws which
secure protection to person, character and
property. Whosoever is conccrned-be
lie white or colored-be he rich or POOR
you must carry this resolution with YOU to
the jury box, to the ballot box, upon the
seat OF justice, in your municipal govern
ment, in your halls of legislation, and to
your reconstruction convention when it
Shall meet Equal justice should be a
cardinal maxim i'll the polity of your State,
not only because it is yodrinterest to have
contentcd, prosperous and happy labor
inc population, but for higher reasons, be.
cause it is just and right. (Chcers.) If
the colored people are ignorant anu poor
and prone to error, the evident iesson
must command itself to the heart and con-
science of every good citizen, that the poor
and ignorant should enjoy the protection
of the rich, Intelligent, and influential citi-
zen. 1t is my belief, that when you have
convinced the colorcd people by your laws
and your administration Of them, that you
mean to do them justice, you will have
solved the most difficult problem you have
to consider in your affairs. You will, at
the same time, obviate nineteen cut OF
twenty of the instances in which the ex-
ercisc of military authority in your f.ilairs
becomes necessary. (Chcers.)
Mr.. President and gentlemen, allow me
to make Il remark for the purpose of disa-
busing your minds Of any erroneous I'M
pressions in regard to the sentiments OF
the people OF the North toward the people
of the South affirm as my real conyc-
ton, that the measures of Congress now
to be executed here, under my direction,
have not been adopted with any purpose
of retaliation or hostility, nor to impede or
impair the prosperity and welfare O.: the
south. The people of the North dc not
desire to maintain Military Government
anywhere in this country. They regard
that sort of Government as repugnant to
our institutions, and deprecatc its prolon-
CATION anywhere rs q misfortune. they
do not desire on the other hand that tie
people. enfranchised by their action, shall
be left altogether and wholly subject to
the control Of those by whom they have
been heretofore held in scrvitude. Nor
do they desire that this numerous race, by
reason of any oppression or obstacles
placed in the way of their well-being here,
where they belong, shall be constrained
to cut loose from their moorings here and
cmigratc to other and less ccngcnial parts
of tie country, where they could find no
suitable or adequate demand for their la
Dor. OTHER similar considerations have
contributed their influence to the adoption
of the measures now to be executed. 1t
was apparcnttllatt reorganization ol the
political institutions of the South would
most speedily terminate the necessity for
military occupation and military control.