The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-02


the two races throughout the South
are identical. They cannot be sepa-
rated and prosper. The same legis-
lation which Injuries the white man,
Injuries the black If one is depressed,
SO is the other. Whatever affects or
impairs the industry and usefulness
of one race, equally disturbs the
entire community. You will be mis-
taken, therefore, should you yield to
the seductions Of false teachers, who
will endeavor to mako you believe
that your interests are in any way
different from those of the white man;
and for this reason, L again warn you
against attaching yourselves to any
existing organization of n national
character. Look first to your State
affairs. Get your constitution right.
Secure those laws which you need
every hour in the day.
Suppose you join the Democratic
party, and send your representatives
to Washington. Why, the Republi-
cans would raise hue and cry ut
once. And if, on the other hand,
You united yourselves with the Re-
publican party, you would lose in
strength thousands upon thousands
of friends who cannot and will not
act with that organization. Now, I
believe that the great function of the
Republican party has been accom-
pllshed, and that in the next Prcsi-
dental election, you will find divi-
sion in its ranks rs we'll rs in those of
the Democratic party. The extreme
radical element will be cast to one
side, and success insured to those
moderate and conservative principles
which are represented by such men
as Fessenden, Sherman, Wilson,
Trumbull and others. Indeed, I have
heard it stated that this moderate
national Union party will unite upon
| General Grant and elect him to the
Presidency.
say, then, if you wish to exercise
power, steer clear of national politics.
Confine yourself to State affairs.
Choose good men to represent YOU,
and when they go to Washington, let
them say to the leaders there, "We
go for that party which will do most
for South Carolina; which will give
us the best legislation, relieve our
necessities, and assist in building up
the waste places of the State.' AsI
took occasion to remark on a public
occasion recently, in Charleston, let
the South go back into the Union,
holding the balance of power, and
then both parties will court us.
| (Cheers.)
There are matters connected with
both the Republican and Democratic
parties which deserve censure. For
instance, tax OF three cents per
pound was laid on cotton, and re-
duced to two and half cents after
September next. Who makes cotton?
From whose labor comes four-fifths
OF the bales in South Carolina? From
that of the black man, and it is upon
his bone and sinew, and sweat and
toll, that this great burden has been
laid. SO it is with the tobacco pro-
duced in Virginia and North Carolina;
but it is not the case with the wheat
of Illinois and Indiana. On $500
worth of cotton produced here, your
labor is taxed about $50; while, oI
the same amount of agricultural pro-
duction in the West, not n dollar is
paid. I say, therefore, the Republi-
can party have not dealt Justly by
you. They may talk about the graft
tude that is due, and appeal to your
feelings, but do you tell them you are
now free, and what you want is JUS
tice and equality before the law and
in taxation. When the recent strug-
gle commenced, it was not to sct'you
free; and until two years elapsed,
and it was found necessary to make
use of the colored man as irh element
of military strength in conquering
the South, your manumission was
scarcely thought of. You owe to the
efforts of your own race at the North,
therefore, quite rs much rs You owe
to any party.
In conclusion, beg you to reflect
upon the observations L have made;
to act with wisdom and discretion; to
regard, first, the interests of your
State and your people at home; and
finally, in the selection of your rep
resentatives, to choose those who, by
co. operation with that party which
will do most for you and for the
South, will enable us TO enjoy once
more q peace and prosperity such as
we have never known even III our
palmiest days. (Cheers.)
The remarks of his Exccllency
were well received, and from the
comments murmured through the
crowd, fully appreciated--especially