The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-14


and mex xpsrienue, he is Iisbleste cbe
abused and misled, il is your place to
protect and direct him, If he Is poor
and distressed, it is your duty to help
him, IL fyon are able i And ,all this,
you know, and! feel as well as Il do.
And on the othery hand, J. would say,
to the coiored men! here at the South, Z
that entertain the kindest feelings
to them, and feel q very deep solici-
tude for their permanent welfare and
happiness. In all sincerity, I would
tell them that, I fear that their present
Importance in politics ia likely to. be
used for purposes which are danger
GUS to their ultimate well-being.
AS they are situated, condition
of permanent alienation and hostility
between them and the whites can
only issue in disastrous results to
their eventual prosperity and pro-
gress.
To both whites and blacks, I would
counsel the most forbearing and
patient consideration for each other.
Your cases are difficult enough, at
best-for Gods sake do not make
them hopeless, by needless misunder-
standing, or anger, or ill-blood. I
think that even if you were free to do
rs you liked, that wise policy would
dictate the education and gradual
enfranchisement of the negroes, as
fast as they were fit for it. No free
people can afford to perpetuate ignor-
ance among its people, for ignorance
Is Its lnternecine enemy. Nor do I
think that any statesmanlike policy
in republic, can suffer any perma-
nent exclusion Of any class of its
citizens from share in the govern
ment of the commonwealth. / know
we have had movements at the North
looking to some such, in regard to
foreigner policy, as many sincere men
now are urging upon you in reference
to the colored people. The cry of
America for Americans" has been
as loud and more popular than the
shout that "This is white mans
Government" I can adopt neither.
and beg you not to be tempted by
your present evils to make the latter
your political shibboleth. Be far
seeing and generous enough to take
loftier stand, and see this broad
land to be the refuge of the oppressed
of all nations, and of all races and
colors, where civil rights are respect
ed, and an interest in the common
Government is conceded as soon as q
due regard to the safety and good
order of oil will permit. Nothing can
be more fruitful source of discon-
tent and disturbance, than the exist
ence among you of caste hopelessly
excluded from political privileges
MY friends, 1 am trespassing upon
your kindness, but upon q subject SO
broad US the one we are considering
to-day, it is impossible to be concise.
Your relations to the political par
ties OF the North have very import
ant bearing upon your fate, at all
events, Just now, and demand care
tul meditation. Most of you, doubt
less, regard the success of the Demo
cratic party as essential to your
release from your present situation:
but it is my duty to remind You that
men IN your position have no right
to be bigoted partizans. You must,
OF course, feel deep interest in the
success of those who espouse your
cause, and you may properly exert
all Legitimate influence to promote
their success; but you ought not to
shut the door to aid from any source.
hive already deprecated unreason-
able and undistinguishing hostility
to the Republican party. L would
now warn you against an absolute
and exclusive devotion to any party.
If the Democracy succeed in elect
ing their candidates, you will be sub
Jected to temptations as trying as the
demand upon your sufferance NAV
prove, in case Gen. Grant is chosen.
Hasty, ill-copsidered, passionate, or
violent action, in the event of Demo-
cratic success, would be almost sure,
IN the end, to turn to your discomfi-
ture and render your Inst estate worse
than the first; and yet it will require
a good deal Of self-command to con-
troll the reaction from this depres-
slon. But the country, even in that
event, will be so evenly divided and
so greatly excited, that small thing
may induce a terrible catastrophe
On the other hand, in case of Gen.
Grants election. you will be called
on to exercise, a while longer your
patience and forbearance. am apro