The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-06

ton Of the institution OF African slavery, the
people of the Southern States occupied most
delicate position in the eyes of the. civilized
world. We found ourselves opposed at home
and abroad.
While I was Shareholder certainly consi-
dered it no violation Of any moral law to hold
slaves; but when, in the providence OF God, the
institution passed away, and convention ol
our own State, solemnly assembled, gave it's
assent to the act Of emancipation, it occurs to
me that, being in our ,p;idst, the participation
of the freedmen to some extent in the govern
quence, and advocate that measure as q
peaceable solution of the great question now
agitating both the North and the South. Men
may talk fippantly o, an approaching wal
OF races. When that event occurs, it will be
the result Of the Vaccinations of Radicals and
their white enssaries in our midst, and If
know myself I shall not be one to shrink from
the issue. Let us; however, seek to solve this
grave problem. believe it is possible and
compatible with the rights, dig .ity and inter
eat Of the white race. What is the condition
of affairs? We have in our midst four millions
Of people Of race which we believe to be in
ferior. Their roots extend deeply into the
soil, and the question which comes home to
every man is, what shall we do with these peo-
pie ,? We cannot let them suffer; we cannot
allow them to be ruined; we cannot transport
them to Liberia, for they have attachments to
the land as tender as our own. What then
It is our duty to deal with them as members Of
the body polite. To deprive them Of all par
ticipatlon in the government is contrary to the
genius and spirit of tho age, contrary to prin-
ciple and contrary to policy:
It may be suggested that such course
would be inconsistent with the interest OF the
white race Sir, it is especially for the inter-
ests of the white race That this measure is ad-
vocated. I have faith in the prestige Of my
race; in the Anglo-Ss1on energy which has
conquered wherever it mas marched; and under
the influence Of this m oral and equitable prin.
ciple, l expect that these freedmen Will ultl-
mately find the level which God intended them
to occupy.
At the same time, while hold out the olive
branch to The black man, would let him see
beneath the leaves, written indelibly in letters
of light, that he never can gain the South !!
[Applause.] We will give to him that just and
proper participation in the government to
which his qualifca tions may entitle him; but
we will never consent chat he shall rule the
free white men Of the South [Great applause:
We read our duty in the child's eye, the wife's
eve, and the silent dust OF those who went be-
fore us (Great applGuse.l
| The question was hen taken and the resolu-
| tion was adopted.
The following resolutions were adopted
without debate:
Rssolred That committee Of five be ap-
pointed by the chairman to nominate state
Central Executive Committee, consisting OF
seven members; mtjority OF whom Shall be
residents at Columbia.
ResolUed, That the chairman appoint COM
,mittee Of FIVE to nominate to this convention
suitable persops-twc' delegates az large and
one from each Congre ssonal District-to rep
resent the Democratic party OF this State IN
the National Democratic Convention, to be
4. ~, Wv thn M
July next; and that The State Central Execu-
live Committee be authorized to fill such IA
cancies as may occur.
Resolced Jxriter, That the State Central
Executive Committee issue, through the press,
such documents as may be deemed conducive
to the purposes prop posed by this Convention.
Before considering this report, it was sug-
geeted that thoSS various papers submitted to
| the committee be read to the convention.
Whereupon Governor Perry, Colonel Blanding
and Colonel Thomas read these papers; and,
on motion, they were referred to the Executive
| Committee to be revised and published at the
earliest day practicable.
Some discussion took place between Hon. B.
F. Perry and Hon. W. s. Mullins as to the pro-
priety Of publishing lhese papers Immediately,
but by vote OF the convention they were refer
| Subsequently the committee revised and au-
thorized the publicat on Of the following, which
was announced by Mr.. Perry as the production
of General E. P. Ale1 ander, late Chief Of Art1l-
lery of Longstreets Corps.
ADDRESS TO TIE co.oRED PEOPLE OF SOUTH
cARoLINA.
The convention OF the Democratic party oil
South Carolina feels'it high and bounden duty
to speak to you cardidly and earnestly, and
with no further apology than that our interests
are to certain extent indentlcal.
| 1,oy hoo
| exercise certain powers, the abuse OF which
may result dlsastrously to you and to us. II Is
impossible that your presen! poacer can endure,
aohetLer you use itttr good or I'll. The while
race already out-nunbers you in the South.
Disease has made 5he mortality among you
twice what tits amols the whites, and the rate
| is daily increasing. Emigration hos carried on
thousands OF your color to distant States, while
it already begins to ill their places with whites
from Europe. Let not your pride, nor yet
YOUR pretended friends. fatter you into the
| belief that YOU ever can or ever WILL for any
length OF time, govern the white men Of the
South. The world las never seen such spec
tacle, and its whole history, and especially the
history Of your race, glves no ground for the
anticipation. Perhaps, however. you expect
to attain power by the aid of the Radical party
at the North. The Almighty. in His wisdom,
(perhaps to prevent the amalgamation OF the
separate races which he created aud marked),
has implanted in every human breast sentl-
menl called the prjudice OF race; and when
this feeling is Oncs aroused, it is one OF the
strongest and mos universal passions oil our
natures When your race was among us as
slaves, this seutimsnt slumbered, aid only Q
compassion Tor YOU influenced every honest
heart-those among your masters-to treat
Won kindly; those who believed you wronged
desired to set you free. When you were SET
free compassion ceased to exist. When undue
power was given you by the Radical party
from motives which oil men deprecated and
desplscd), prejudice OF race s)rang up. The
whites Of this Stale endsayored to alay 1t
here. at least-by Inviting you to course anc
o compromise which would have given 1t moth
ing 10 reed upon. But their efforts resulted IL
such an utter failure, that it would be mortHy
inr had it not been christian duty to make
the effort. Every step of your political career
SO far. has cultivated this prejudice, until Il
,l now speaks aloud in England and is already
.!A44r1rdly changing the politics OF the entire
North. lhs is tile odilIn Which must soor
prove the death of the Rad. cal purity. 1t is toe
strong to &c Ieslst.d being tie operation OF
law OF nature. Do you not see it even IN YOU
white Radical friends, in spite OF their indus
trous efforts to conceal il, so long as they have
use ior YOU? Is it not APPARENT, also, IN tue ON
GERS and men, tue very private soldiers OF tho
army whose bayopets still prop up your power
only because thev are bid to do it? DO yor
fiattar yourselves hat your Loyal Leagues
can prevail against il BLOOD Is thicker thar
water" and the league which the Almighty has
organized is one to which there Will be n(
traitors. when once an issue is fairly made.
To repeat, then as we began: Your presen
power must surely and soon pass from you
Nothing that it builds will stand, and nothing
will remain Of it but the prejudices it may
create. Ii is, the e:efore, most dangerous too