New-York tribune., 1868-01-21

the Convention and gOOdly number OF cluzens On o
stage the President Of the Convention and Gems
Candy and Scott At eight O'Clock precisely the GOV
entered amid great applause He was escorted 10
the stage by the Chairman of the Committee appointed
20 wait upon him, and by Judges Wardaw ana Aoses'
On ascending the stage he was received by the Pres-
dent, who said:
Gov ORR am grathed that 1T became my duty % as the
organ Of the Constitutional Convention OF S0uth
to welcome you 10 the floor Of this house The mehefs
OF this Convention desire only TO act for the go0a o
feel the most profound respect for the exalted official po
sitiOn which you occupy as the Chief Magistrate ol '
state they are well aware that that position gives ou
ample opportunity OF becoming peculiarly c0gh1l. l "a
the condition and wants Of their constituents ln&TS liza
therefore, desire TO hear your on those suecs
profit by your knowledge and experience prosc SO' a.
In their behalf. patient and attentive hearing, anu
careful consideration OF the topics You may pesen r
Gentlemen Of the South Carolina constitutional con
vention, nave the honor TO introduce 10 you iii'
lency, James L. Orr Governor Of this state
Gov Orr. then addressed the Convention as foIoWs'
Mr. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNyENIloN'
esteem the invitation which you have EXTENDED M 10
dress this Convention as compliment pau ~ the indiyid
ual who represents that authority AZ Dy @ , W
the State, for your kind conslderatVnf on frap,n C9ns
tiOn for the people OF South CaIOnna' anu .t Hao D
elected in conformity TO the 1I % % hest inteTe ~ me
peope of the late Confederate states serious uHeehceS
e orisen between the President OF the United States
I'D t Congress In 1865 Immediately after the surren
dor of GEM johnson, the President appointed pro.
canTentio8s cdyet in all of the Southern states. The
nTocraInme which he adopted was not in unison with
i 9 the Reconstruction acts OF March were passed.
The Congress claimed that the power TO reconstruct
the Southern States, which in rebellion against
the authority of the United States, belonged 10 them,
and the President Hence they ignored his action
IL is due 70 frankness that should say, that IN my 1udg
ment the plan projected by the President and which has
been carried INTO execution in all its details except as TO
the representation in Congress not only liberal but
wise With reference to the latter point, however Con-
gress having taken different view Of the subject delef-
mined that Southern States shall not be admitted 10
and
any other basis than that which has been prescribed Ie
acts passed 20 further They assume that the South
in relation the Government stands In the position OF
conquered provinces, and that cOnqueror II has
right to prescribe the terms and conditions upon Wmch
the South is 10 be admitted INTO the Union II
sary the present occasion that should discuss the con
stutOnaty the wisdom Of the acts OF Congress Let
il suffice for me 10 say that they have become the law OF
the land. They laws which have been adopted IN
Constitution OF the United states and. lawabidng
citizen, not only now, but from the time OF the
Of those who believed it was not only the duty,
but the interest Of the people of the southern states 70
go to work III earnest and carry them into operation
Hence, immediately after the passage OF the D IN Marc
last pqbey advised tae people p Ci e 70 sd M GO OF oad m
then 20 10 the baotbOx and vote for the very best men
provisions OF the acts of Congress Ny advice upon the
subject ought think 10 have been considered d-hler
ested since the execution OF these laws excluded me
from all the privileges OF cltlze because Dei1Dseu 20
the disfanChsed class At the extra session IN july h
Legislature made the restrictions even more stringent
than they were before ana th Oh w par VI
Congress has had much 70 do with the action OF the Whe
participate I'D any respect Whatever III ts Ilecton y.
delegates TO the Convention. In this, thnk great
whites OF south CaIOhhd y "ds, anu - 'at
white who registered should have gone 10 the
polls and voted / even 90 further. thnk that the
whites who have the intelligence to very large extent
should in convention or otherwise, have submitted 10
tbe be priyeces and franchises Which they are
entirely willing to extend to them, now that the
whole Of the have been declared free, not
only by the Constitutional Amendment, but by
action Of the Convention OF TINS state Inc act cannot
almost unanimously abstaned from exercising the priv
ege, and your Convention Is therefore, stIlct{ speak
ing the representative only OF the coored population OF
South carolina LUIS Delhs tle cso; @ IL @ y, M
that the intelligence, refinement and wealth OF the STATE
duty is deyOved upon you Of dschargng the important
trusts cOnded TO your IN such manner as 10 com
Of those by whom you were elected but of those who
fused go the polls and vote IN the election say to
the sovereign power the state, and that the Consu
ton which you may adopt for the people Of south Caro-
lima is one which Will not only be ratified and accepted by
Congress but under which all classes IN south Caro-
lima will live for years TO come. The party which has
passed the laws has undputed control Of
% Ta e m Il ef of ac c St YIN me
Presidential election VIII occur. Inc lIoDaDiny
servative and Democratic element IN the North
and West will be elected President IT may
be that Conservative element VIII largely peponderaie
in the next election for members OF the House o Kepe
sentatives but, assuming that the President ana House
Of Representatives, on the 4th 9ay OF aicn los are
Conservative or Democratic ana opposed 10 tlc irTsa
tiOn that may have been adopted II Will be impossible TO
OF those acts, obnoxious 10
party prior TO the 4th OF March ISL Solnrned as
am therefore In the opinion that the legislation OF The
the 4th Of March 1871 and that any CONSTITUTION ADOPTED
by this Convention will continue 10 be OF force un that
time at least have felt II to be my duty as the EXccu
tive of the state and as an Individual 10 De present IN
Charleston during the session OF your Convention IN he
hope that through official II not personal Influence may
accomplish something III securing ro lhe Ion en'ion
LIBERAL Just, and wise Constitution III such COnsutu
adopted harmony good feeling and prosperity VIII
prevail II, however extreme views ana measures are
engraed upon that instrument, IT VIII increase the DIS
trust which now exists between the Two races ana
force the whites OF the STATE, VINO nave the
means 20 do So TO leave its borders and seek
homes in other communities IL VIII produce rh aIs
content and dsquiet everywhere and confidence trade
and enterprise viii all be paralyzed AS responsible du
ties are theIeoIf 1sNosT o oo Wy men yo in anw STATE The
interest and prosperity OF South Carolina depend not
Gnd relations which TO he established between the
two races idle 20 disguise the fact that the white
and cOOed races where they have been thrown together
with e0ual privileges have rarely, " ever been able 10
harmonze The experiment OF giving to the colored
eejt5ens - "A novel one and time only determine
whether 1t is TO be success or failure EXTREMISTS on
ure On the hand II 10 said that the negro Is utterly
incapable OF exercising me Tgbts ana & pryege% M % o s
tbe man who participated III the war, should not De
allowed TO participate IN the Government. Ih8se ,
fact that very few white III South Carolina
abstaimed from some participation IN The late war
and virtue Of South Carolina entered eaIgeily III
to that war and that when 1t IS attempted TO
QgfranChlst
unbiic trst II Is TO exclude the real intelligence and
rence OF the State from her councils This Is one OF
The why so little experience Is 10 he iouu IN your
bndv no sppy this deficiency IL is the duty Of the Con-
ycptop 10 give every question that may be submitted
te gravest and most patient consideration Mhen you
arnieciafe the fact that the intelligence OF the white
antagonized 10 you, that all OF your acts
viii be looked upon with dstrust when you remember
that whatever you do will he subjected 20 the severest
scrutiny at and abroad when you know that what
ever errors committed here will be reviewed by no
friendly eye the duty ia douby incumbent upon you OF
framing Constitution which will challenge the criticism
and condemnation OF the most intelligent portion OF te
assembled here with proper motives, that the Consu
ton framed by you will be the one under when tne peo
occnnvng the position Of Chief Executive OF the state