The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-17

bers Of our own party that it is inexpedient to
recognize them at this hme-ln other words,
that We must still remain unjust,
Sir, am NO man for expediency. Ii is e1pe-
dieney which has well nigh ruined the nation.
Compromises have nearly overthroWn our gov
ernnent, and believe in them no more. For
two hundred years We have been working under
the idea OF expediency, and the doctrine mas
deluged our land in blood.
Sir, am for meeting this question here and
now, and better now than six months hence-
better because We can meet it IN South Carroll
ma in manner that will be felt to the e1tremi-
ty Of the Union. This State is peculiarly situa-
ted, and We are watched. South Carolina Is
conspicuous from the fact that she has larger
Republican majority, in proportion to her num-
bers, than any other Southern State; from the
fact that her legislation in the present 1s IN
striking contrast toher history In the past,
when she was 30 fully identified with wrong,
outrage. Injustice and crime; but history
which, by her adoption of our new constltu-
tion, by the election Of the present Legislature,
and by the induction into Office OF the present
government, has been forever redeemed from
| the curse which made her infamous.
Now sir, deny that to meet this issue right
here will influence the fall elections to our dls-
advantage. But If I hought it would do 30, l
would sttili meet the ISSUE Even though we
were to lose the election In the fall, would say
let it be sacrificed the American people go
back, fight again, conquer once more, ana
plant themselves upon ON immutable tounda-
ton, from which no mere question OF expe-
diency can dislodge us, rather than yield one
jot ortittle Of the great principle which ought
! now and henceforth to animate the heart OF
| every freeman in the land, ~. .z.-==.,..
This issue is plainly before Us, not merely as
| State, but as nation. Shall the reconstfuc-
| ton policy Of Congress be sustained? That
policy is based upon Justice and equal rights, re
and the question is will the nation fulfil the
obligations which it has made2 For two hun
| dred wears our people have made discrlmlna-
| tions on account Of race and color. -Four MIL
| lions of people have been crushed in the dust.
They have waited, and waited, and waited tor
justice, and still the gentleman from Sumter
| (Mr. Ferriter) says, "Waitl we are not readyl'
Great God have they not waited long enough
Have they not borne their burdens, shed their
| tears and worn their stripes long enough to be
| entitled to Justice at lastp What more have
We to wait for? say let us wait no longer, but
grasp the fruit which Providence has given to
us, The gentleman has said that the colored
| people of the South enjoy their privileges BY
| the sufferance of the white man, and, there
fore, they should not demand an enlargement
Of these privileges. Sir, they dc, not ask this
boon as charity-as beggar asks for bread
but as men they demand it as right which
the Republican party has pledged itself to be-
stow.l
Sir, believe that the votes Of this people,
when they roll up their msjorities for Grant
and Colfax, will testify how ready they are to
meet this issue, and for one, believe that it
will str engthen the Republican party to enun-
ciate and firmly stand upon the policy set forth
in this biIl-nameIy, that the invidioIs dis-
tinctions which existed in the past are hence
forth to be buried in oblivion. These preju-
dices must be crushed: out, because TO yield TO
them will beto yield to the vital issues involy-
ed in the approaching election; LET ns, tnere-
bill. Let us say to every man In South Caro-
lima, il you wish to enjoy the blessings OF .
truly republican government, deal fairly and
Justly with. every class OF citizens, whatever
may have been the discrimination or the preju.
dices OF the past. This is the position which
have occupied heretofore, which occupy
now, and shall always endeayor to maintain.
.Iremember the time, Mr.. Speaker, when as
boy these principles OF justice and liberty
were instilled into me by my father and
mother. Even in my childish years, I learned
the wrongs and sufferings endured by the OPP
pressed and enslayed people Of the South. 1
wss taught that no matter what was the color
Of his skin, mali was man, and that the law
of God as well as Of society require that we
should be Just to all classes and conditions Of
humanity. These principles have grown with
strength. I have heard them reiterated in
public meetings and in our churches, especial
" on our fast days, when perhaps the pastor
took for his text some selection from the Scrip.
lures like this:
"He that ruleth over man should be just
ruling in the fear of God;" or like this: lis
this the fast that have chosen, that man
should bow down his head like q bullrush-a
day for man to af1ict his soul? Is not this
the fast that have chosen to loose the bonds
of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens and
to let the oppressed be free, and that ye break
every yoke2"
I determined then that my strength, intel
lect and labor should be expended in promo
ting the cause Of Justice, lifting up the poor
and the down-trodden, and pleading with my
people to adopt the great principles which lie
at the foundation Of all true republican gov
ernments stand here to-day realizing IN
great measure the hope and ambition OF my
youth.
wish briefly to advert. I refer to the subject
of social equality. deny that this bill contem-
plates social equality. Its object is SIMPLY to
secure in every business transaction equal and
exact Justice without an invidious discrimina-
ton on account of race, color or previous con-
dition: The bill has nothing whatever to do
with social equality. Ii two men sleep in ho-
tel, or sit at the same table, or are guests un-
der the same roof, or travel in the same con-
veyance, the i6ea of social equality isnot nee.
essarily involved. It is not 30 under the pres
ent circumstances, and no law that we can
make will force it upon the people. This is
question that must regulate itself, and depends
solely upon the mental culture, character and
habits Of those who may be broughtinto social
relation. It cannot beregulated by law.
I repeat. therefore, that the provisions of the
bill are eniinently proper, and if this body, with
lis majority of colored men, do not declare that
tho discrimination now made in business trans
actions : is inyidious and contemplate, they
will be false to their race, recreant to their
duty, and unmindful of the lessons OF the hour.
For two hundred years the white has oppress-
ed the black man of the South; absorbed his
earnings, grown rich upon the sweat OF his
brow. drawn his life-blood and crushed his am
bition. And now that the colored citizen has
risen in his might, and demanded the privi-
| leges enjoyed by the former owners OF the soil,
demanded education and participation in the
enterprises Of the age, shall the white man be
permitted to crush out this desire, and per-
petuate the unjust distinctions which have ex-
isted in the past? Is it consistent with Re-
publicanism, or with the theory OF Dur govern
ment, that these things shall BET Is tree South
Carolina still willing to enforce those preju:
dices which underlie the history of q period
during which the bodies and souls of men were
held in o bondage worse than death? do not
believe it, and for one am glad that thls Dill
has been brought up, so that bJ our votes We
may record our determination to blot out the
Last yestipe of q government which refused to
recognize all men as equals before the law.
WI. Whipper, OF Beaufort (colored). One
fact which impresses me very strongly ID the
absence Of so large proportion OF our white
Republican members. II had not been here