The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-06-01
From the Sumter Watchmnn.
Mass Meeting of Freedmen.

Sumter, and near Mcchanicsvillc, on Saturday,
I 1th inst.
The exercises were begun with singing and
prayer By Rev. William Timlnons. (colorcd)
j. w. Wcsbcrry, (colorctl) was then called
upon and addressed the meeting as follows:
FrHom Citizens Remember that the strength
Of the Nation lies in the virtue. industry.
loyalty and courage of its citizens. We must
try to vndicatc the hopes of our friends, and
prove ourselves worthy of the privileges to
which We have been admitted We gained just
praise for our admirable conduct during tllr
war. Let the history which shines so brightly
upon us as slaves. shine still brighter on US as
trccdmcn.-Wc all now have the right of
voting and this right finds a great many Of US
not prepared for tho execution. But have no
objection to this right. 1t belongs to freedmen
We will be called on next month to register Our
names as voters. Next will be to vote for can
,lilatcs to Il State Convention, to adopt Il Con
:titution for State. The question is now,
who are We going to elect? ? Now | am going to
express my views frankly. To this Convention
We must send good men. and the men that We
have been raised with-bcca,.sc our interest is
theirs If VIC go down they 70 down. and if
they 90 down, We will 90 TO the devil. It will
never do in the world to Scnd strangers to at
tend to home business. Legislation that
would be productive in Que country, would be
serious: to another. Mine and your fortune is
yet in the earth, and has to come ont by its.
cultivation and it We dput keep peace and
harmony it will never come ont. The white
race and the cclorcd race arc depending each
o,hcr. The white race impoverished rs we'll
H. :ha blacks. They cant do anything 70 affect
| u il the Lest.
Give our ":ca trial NV + will slow
you where We cant be hurt. Aitrr the Con-
:,sitution has bcc. adopted, it will have to Lc
! laid before Ill voters for ratification or re-
irc,:on j hen if you; iiiid We have net got equal
! rights end Justice. will say myself that eur
Zen Will not ,lo rs Il law .nakim. PARTY for
Inc Sonc &C our co!orcd preachers ;rc going
,,,u. w. =, ;ng ms OH: ofoui. white preachers
did during Tic war-l1rca.- '''''S '~''u' P'''-
tics t!aa about Christ, and you arc Nv acths
wise to take such mems advice. We are COM
PEELED to live i'll the Southern Statcs-wc cant
live North, and if the South pruspcrs we will
prosper. And to dn this, tho black and white
must st!ci together. Deal fair with each
othcr.-3o away with Ill old things and take
up new relations. And lc. lis build up this
brukcn down country. We must work with
honest men and deal with thcln-Thcrc arc
bad mcn in all races
These white people tell lis they are our
friends WE'LL now is the time to try them
in the beginning. And if their friend
ship should fail it would not hurt any
body. Let me advise you as friend to pre-
serve at all times the utmost moderation of
language, temper and conduct every
thing like violence, and educate yourselves
The prosperity Of the South is associated with
th~ harmony and good feeling which should
exist between both races. The white race of
the South is obliged to be Interested in the cd
ucation, industry, thrift and progress of their
colored population. In this mutual dcpcn-
dcncc lies the security of all.
Some talk of strangers to lcsislatc for u.s.
When you think Of that. think nf the tax on
cotton And who has that tax to pay? Why
you field hands, that comprise the greater por-
ton of the colored population of the South.
We arc very poor, and We must adopt the best
mode Tor our elevation. Industry can overcome
all the evils in our way. We must quit this
plan of moving about every year Get with
some honest gentleman, and stay, until you GET
means of buying you little homes. But We will
have to work night and day let alone whiskcy
and be honest
Some say that politics is our greatest danger
But | dispute that. The greatest evil that
could bciall us, is the failure in IL crop this
year. That is our great trouble
We must keep on the look out for sharpcrs,
whether from tho North or South Several
things have come under my observation, which
| do not like | will mention one was at
meeting not long since and white preached,
and said he was the black mans friend After
the Sermon he told the crowd if any wanted to
get married, hc could marry them, but they
must pay him two dollars. With mo, that
| friendship is over tho loft n on,, cLoor, \