The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-12
THE CITY DEMOCRACY.
BRILLIANT SPEECH OF GENERAL JOHN B
GORDON, OF GEORGIA.
AM MENsE ATHERIN

Last night, in pursuance Of the notice pre-
viously given, about three thousand persons
assembled in front OF the Charleston Hotel to
hear an address by General John B. Gordon,
Of Georgia. stage had been erected in the
same place as at the great meeting when Gen.
Hampton spoke, and the second story piazza
was devoted to tho ladies as on that occasion.
Gen. Gordon was introduced to the audience
by Gen. James Conner, who said that it had
been their intention to give Gen. Gordon the
compliment of serenade, but that there were
SO many grand Democratic meetings being
held in different parts of the State which re-
quire the services of the Charleston bands that
there was not band left in the city. He allud-
ed to the similarity Of the careers of Gen.
Hampton and Gen. Gordon, both OF whom had
only been known in the social circle before the
war. and both Of whom hal returned from the
war crowned with laurels, and having proud
record of duty nobly done. Both had come
home to do their duty in the cause of peace,
and had both been sent as delegates to the
New York Convention. he then spoke of the
high position occupied by Gen. Gordon in his
own State, alluded to the fact Of his having
been the Democratic candidate tor Governor of
Georgia in the late election, and concluded
by Introducing him.
General Gordon is tall and slender, wears
his black hair rather long and pushed back
from his forehead behind his ears, has sharply
defined features, his face is marked with
deep scar, and he carries himself erect. He
spoke with great deliberation and calmness, in
substance as follows
Ladies, and Gentknen Of the Club and my
| Felloto-cittzens of South Carolina: In appear
ing before you tonight to take counsel con-
cerning the preservation OF the public liberty,
and in returning my Acknowledgements for the
compliment you have seeu 6t to pay me, l
greet you With great gladness-witll gladness
which have not words to e1press-!or bring
you glad tidings from your sister State of Geor-
gia.
In our State, my countrymen, there is no
longer any division. Our public gatherings
have ceased to be interesting, except as the
grand and imposing pageants Of united peo-
pie. Why, g. Radical is curiosity in Georgia
You are told in one section Of the State that he
is not in that neighborhood, but in the next.
Go there, and he is still further, and, in fact,
you can scarcely find him at all. 1 tell you,
sirs, that the white people of Georgia are
unit, and all tho good-looking colored people
have left the Radical party and joined the De-
mocracy. And why should it not be 30 with
you, too, in South Carolina? You have grand
history, and your record Of the past is honor
able Why should the descendants Of RutIedge
and Marion be less true to the principles of
the constitution and to the public liberty for
which they fought, than the descendants Of
the old patriots Of Georgia?
Why arc wu 30 united 0s the South2 Let me
review the causes Of the war-l will not detain
you long. The war, in my opinion, was war
Of theorems, of constructions, Of constructions
of the constitution, the fundamental law Of the
land In oil sections Of the country; In all ages
since the foundation OF the government, from
the time Of John Quincy Adams to that OF John
@. Calhoun, in Massachusetts and in South
Carolina, there has always been a difference Of
opinion as to the right OF secession. The South
declared her right, and attempted to execute
it. The North denied the right, and made var
to prevent its exercise. The debate was re-
moved from the halls of Congress, the husLings
and the press to the battlefield. Tho argu-
ments no longer consisted Of words, but Of bull
let's and bayonets. 1t was an undecided and
disputed right, and it remained 30 until
the surrender Of our armies at Appomatto1
oil yI,ok
was decided by that surrender? Was it that
the exercise OF the right Of secession was trea-
son2 No, sirs. have never admitted, and
never intend to admit, before my people or any
where else, that the South was guilty Of trea-
son. I will never trace with my own finger
dishonor upon the ashes OF the men who fell
in defence OF the South, unless some power
mightier than my own nerves shall control my
hand I utter no disloyal sentiment in saying
this. Until the surrender the right of seces-
sion was undecided. What was then declded2
This and only this: That henceforth from the
date of the surrender we would not attempt g.
cession as q peaceful remedy. Hence say I
defy any court, judge Or Jury to convict Of
treason any Southern man who voted or fought
for secession.
We have accepted the Union and the Consti
tution-the same Union and Constitution
which the Northern soldier fought for, and
thought he had secured by his triumph. The
cry of the Union and the Constitution rallied
their armies around their flag. That cry went
out over all the North. No other cry would
ever have filled their ranks. They turned
their mills into looms to weave Union calicos
for their women to wear; they caught the
hares OF the forest and manufactured their wool
into Union hats. They even in some places
spread the communion table with the stars
and stripes, the emblem of the Constitution
and the Union. Their people fought for the
Constitution and the Union. II had now
to make an appeal to the Northern soldiers,
I would say to them: "Sirs the Constitution
and the Union which you enlisted to fight for
we now ask your help to save" II had now to
plead my cause or the cause of my countrymen
before a jury, would select that jury from
among the men who fought against US in the
field. You need not fear brave man, no mat
ter where you meet him. I am willing to
trust the man who will peril life and limb,
and sacrifice his personal comfort for the sake