The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-18

to legislate beyond that conveyed in the Re
construction acts Of the United States Con-
gress.
T. Hurley introduced the following, and
begged leave that it be referred to the Judicia-
ry Committee:
AN ORDINANCE TO ANNUL ALL CONTRACTS AMI
LIABILITIES FOB THE PURCHASE OF SLAVES
WHERE THE MONEY BIAS NOT YET BEEN PAID.
Be il ordained by the people Of South Caro-,
lima in regular convention assembled, That oil
contracts and liabilities made for the purchase
Of slaves, whether by parole or under seal,
where the money has not been paid, shall De
null and void and all Clerks Of Courts Of Com.
mon Pleas and Masters in Equity, be required
on proper af6davits to annul the same.
On motion tho Convention adjourned.
EVENING SESSION.
The convention assembled, and was called to
order ut half-past seven O'clock DR.. A. G.
Mackey in the Chair.
The roll was called and ninety members
answered to their names. The president an
nounced that quorum was present, and the
convention was ready for business.
Mr.. F. J. Moses moved that when this con-
vention adjourns, it do adjourn to meet al 12
NJ, on Monday, which was carried.
B. F. Randolph gave notice that he would in
roduce on Monday petition to the Congress
Of the United States, praying for the contlnu-
ance of the Bureau Of Freedmen, Refugees and
Abandoned Lands, until the restoration Of the
the civil government, and that then Bureau
of Education be established by the general
government.
The president announced the following Com
mittee on Printing: Messrs. R. c. DeLarge,
Dr. J. C. Neagle, s. Corley, A. G. Richmond,
B. F. Randolph, ]. III. Ransier, L. 8: Langley.
On motion of R. G. DeLarge, the floor Of the
convention was thrown open to visitors for this
evening, and the doorkeeper 80 instructed.
At about o'clock, General Candy, acconlpa-
MED by CAPTAIN Caziarc, A. A. G., Second Mill
tary District, entered the hall, and was intro
duced to the Convention by the President
There was some applause, and when it had
subsided the President said that General Candy
was not there ready to make speech, but
that he desired to return his warm thanks to
the members.
Shortly afterwards Governor Orr, accompa-
MED by Judge Moses and several other gentle
men, entered the hall, and was presented by
the President, who said that the convention
desired to hear the Governor, because they
knew that, in his high position, he had had
many opportunities Of knowing and learning
the wants and necessities OF the people, and
he could assure him that he would receive
careful and patient hearing at the bands OF the
convention.
THE GOVERNORS SPEECH.
Mr.. PreS2dekt and Genue7nen q He COnUe1lNoH'
esteem the invitation which you have OK
tended to me to address this convention, as
compliment paid TO the existing executive au-
thorlty of the State. more than to the individual
who represents that authority, therefore In be-
half Of the State for your kind consideration
tender you my thanks.
You are here in convention to frame consti-
tuition for the people Of South Carolina, and
have been elected IN conformity to the laws or
the United States.
Unfortunately, in my judgment, for the best
interests of the people Of the late Confederate
States. serious differences have arisen between
the President of the United States and the
Congress. In 1865, Immediately after the sur
render of General Johnston, the President ap-
pointed Provisional Governors, and provided
for the. calling of conventions IN all OF the
Southern States. The programme which ne
adopted was not in unison with the views or
Congress-, and, after very considerable delay,
the Reconstruction acts of March were passed.
The Congress claimed that the power to recon
struct the Southern States which were IN re-
belion against the authority of the United
States, belonged to them and not to the Presl-
dent. Hence, they ignored his action. 1t ls
due to franl1ness that should say that, in my
judgment, the plan projected by the President,
all its details, except as to the representatives
in Congress-, was not only liberal, but wise.
With reference to the latter point, however,
Congress having taken different view Of the
subject. determined that the Southern States
shall not be admitted to representation and to
equal privileges in the Union upon any other
basis than that which has been prescribed.
The acts passed go even further. They as
sumo that the South, in relation to the gov,
ernment stands in The position OF conquered
provinces, and that, as q conqueror, 1t has o
right to prescribe the terms and conditions
upon which the South is to be admitted into
the Union.
Il is unnecessary, ON the present occasion,
that should discuss tho constitutionality or
wisdom of the acts Of Congress. Let it suffice
for me to say that they lave become the law
of the land. They are laws which have been
adopted in strict accordance with all the forms
nresoribed by the Constitution OF tho United
States. and as o law-abiding citizen, not only
now, but from the time OF the passage OF these
acts in March last, 1 am one Of those who be-
lisved that il was not only the duty, but the in
terest of the people OF the Southern States 10
go to work in earnest and carry them into
operation. ;,
Hence, Immediately after the passage of the
bill in March last, publicly advised the peo-
pie of tho State, of all complexions, who we're
entitled to register to 90 80, and then 80 10
the ballot-box and vote for the very best men
possible to frame constitution in conformity
with the provisions of the acts Of Congress.
NV advice upon the subject ought, think,
to have been received as disinterestcd, SINCE
the execution of these laws excluded me from
all the privileges of a citizen, because be-
longed to the DISTINGUISHED class.
At the extra session in July, tho legislature
made the restrictions evon moro stringent
than they were before, and this harshness on
the part of Congress has had much to 40 with
the action of the white people Of South Caro-
lima, in refusing to 20 to the polls and partlcl-
pate in any respect whatever in the election OF
delegates to the convention. In this, | think
O. great mistake has been committed by the
great majority Of whites OF South Carolina.
NV Judgment was, and is, that every white
man who registered should have gone to the
polls and voted. I even go further. L think
That the whites, who have the intelligence to
very large extent, should, in convention or
otherwise, have submitted to tho colored peo'
pie Of the State propositions as to the pr;vl-
leges and franchises which they are entirely
willing to extend to them, now that the whole
Of the race have been declared free, not only
by the constitutional amendment, but by the
action of the convention Of the State.
The fact cannot be disguised however, that
the white populatian has almost unanimously
abstained from exercising the privilege, and
your convention is therefore, strictly speaking,
the representative only of the colored popula-
ton Of South Carolina. This being the case,
it cannot be denied, that the intelligence, re-
finement and wealth of the State is not repre-
sented by your body. Hence, tho very high
duty is deyolvod upon you of disc larglng the
important trusts confded to your care In such
q manner as to commend your acton to the
confidence and support, not only OF those by
whom YOU were elected, but OF those who re-
fused to go to the polls and vote in the election.