Litchfield enquirer., 1868-07-23
AN EXTRACT FROM THE VALEDIC- TORY MESSAGE OF GOV. ORR TO
 THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLA- TURF, .re-

We extract the following excellent report of the Fourth of July Convention from the New Haven Courier:
 l In January, 1867, at the instance of sev- eral ot the leading citizens of the State, I
 visited Washington, and after full con
 ference with leading Senators and Repre-
 sentatives of the Republican Party. became
 satisfied that under 70 circumstances would
 they recognize the Presidents plan of res
 toratlon; and hot i'a the plan aokich Congress
 intended to adopt, the ohe7natiUe presented
 aOds either qualified or uni0ersol suffrage to the
 cotored race. In view of this fact, the text
 of Constitutional amendment was pre-
 pared by several leading southern states men then in Washington, approced by -naa-
 ny Republicans, and submitted to the Legis- lature of North Carolina in the hope that
 that body would accept the same, and re- quest Congress to adopt it in lieu of the
 fourteenth article, or Howard amendment.
 A, hoecerer. ffatled in he North Curolina Leq- istatme. On my return to the City of Charleston, early in February, in an ad- dress delivered to the colored people of the city, stated that was in favor of admit ting the co!ored man to the right of suf- frage who was able to read and write, or who possessed property to the value of $25O. | Early in March, the first reconstruction act | of Congress was passed, and on the 22d of same month it was followed by supple mental act, giving to the colored race uni ] uorsol suffrage and dividing the ten South ern States into five military districts. These Governments, which had been brought in- to existence by the plan of the President, were declared to be only provisional The District Commanders were vested with such absolute power as made the civil authority subservient to and dependent upon the military. In April following, in an ad- dress made before the Charleston Board of Trade, among other things, said: 'sThe vital question now presented to the people of South Carolina, as we'll as to the people of the Southern States is whether we shall accept the terms of these bills and endea- vor earnestly and in good faith to carry out their provisions, or fold our arms in silence, apathy, indifference and contempt, and de- termine to take no step." Again: ''While Ethe Constitutional amendment was propos- ed to South Carolina, as State, and our own violation in that capacity could be ex- ercised, 1 opposed it's adoption; but the act of Congress, recently passed, has as- sumed that this country is conquered ter ritory and we a conquered people, and, consequently, that that body has right to dictate terms. The power undoubtedly exists in that body to dictate those terms; 1t IS secure for the next two years; and when they place themselves squarely and broadly upon that platform, I for one do not propose to go to the Supreme Court or anywhere else for the purpose of disputing that power; but in good faith will accept the terms, humiliating as they may be, and openly fairly and honestly urge their adop- tion before our people," Again Iremark- ed: 'I would, therefore, say to every man in South Carolina who has not been dis franchised, that as soon as the proper or der has been issued, he should proceed to register his name, and go to the polls to vote for the best man who can be selected to form Constitution under which we and our posterity can live"
 Congress has taken the position that the right belonged to that body, rather than I the President, to fix the conditions upon which the Southern States should be read mitted to the Union. Hence the pertina- city with which they adhered to the con- stitutional plan, and hence the passage of the act of July, imposing still more strin- gent conditions than existed in the prece- ding law. Hence, also, the long, angry and unfortunate controversy between the Pres dent and Congress-a quarrel i'll which we l have been the sufferers. For three long years readmission into the Union and the l right of representation has been denied us, and Congress having the power to en- force their views, and the President being impotent to execute his own plan, was it not wise for the South to accept that which promised the speediest restoration to 8 re- presentation in Congress-? Although ma ny of our citizens were disfranchised, a sufficient number still were entitled to go to the ballot box. and, being eligible to of ticial position, they could have controlled the conventions by intelligence and virtue, and moulded constitutions in all of the Southern States under which both races might have lived Tn harmony. / acds satis
 ied Atdt OUT material prosperity, hbe deveJope naefH of our resources and hhe restoration 0 conttdence and credit, could mot De secured un- til the political issues in0oiUed in Me question of reconstruction aDere settled, and the repre- sentatives of the South on the floor of Congress, could make known her wants and protest against her wrongs Our cap ital had been swept away by hundreds of millions; large number of our young men the flower of the population-had been killed in the war; all industrial employ ments were either crippled or broken up, and the widespread ruin could only be re- paired by inducing capitalists from the North and from Europe to locate in our midst, and bring with them their artisans, merchants, mechanics, ship-builders and others, whose labor is wealth itself. The struggle which impoverished us made the North rich; and, since the formation of the Government, capital has never been so abundant or so ready to embark in safe in- vestment. Yet for three long years both capital and emigrants have been deterred from seeking a resting-place in the South. Partisans, using partisan press for parti- san purposes, have represented the South as being still in condition of quasi re- bellion. Life has been declared to be in- secure and property uncertain. It was said that Northern men who had the temerity to seek homes in the South were set upon by ruthless mobs and murdered. Every species of enornity was attributed to the Southern people to subserve political and partisan ends. The effect of such misrep- resentations upon us has been most disas- trous. A few tourists have come to Gne G!t State-a few adyenturers looking to ponS
 ical promotion have rested here; ,,a put =
 comparatively small number nave prouSdS SaS
 their capital and located with the 0oaa11ae 1 tha
 purpose of identifying themselves Witn .io
 State and aiding her people to rebuild thel s1 broIo,, fortnnes The appreciation an Me