Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-03-25

and void. say so still, and every man knows
that it is so. Everybody knows that the Con,
vcntion assembled here to frame a Constitu
ton for the people of Georgia had no more
authority to do, so than have my young friends
sitting here But even if the original authority
were absolutely valid, everybody knows that
the Convention was not called by an honest
vote. say that vote was falsely counted,
and you know it. TApplause.l l say it was
corruptly forced, and you know it. But pas
sing all that by, . Convention Illegally au-
thorizcd, is enough to justify al honest man
in condemning its action, whatever that action
be. We'll, Of what material was this Courcn-
tou composed Laughter. l. Very ac-
commodating chartablc-very selfsac.
riticing adventures from New England come
morals of New England into the benighted
Georeians! Laughter. 2. Another part Is
composed of men false to their own race and
country-false to their own pledscs-fa!se to
their own history, and false to their own 1aths
going into the party for the simple purpose
of getting honor. 3. Another portion is com.
posed of negroes from your corn fields Laugh
ter aud cheers |, negro preachers, and convicts
from Sing Sing and Our penitentaries. m-
mcnse cheering and laughterl Men, black
and white, now charged by the jaries of the
country with every infamous crime known to
the Penal Code These make up tie bcdy
of the Convention-with few gentlemen,
who are in very bad company and seriously
hazard their reputation. Laughter.
And these, iico:gians, are the men who are
to form your Fundamental law. New Eng
land outlaws; Sing Srg convicts; penitcn-
,iary lelors; and corn field negroes, engaging
ia the work that immorialized the fathers of
the country. SPIRITS of Washington, Of Frank
lin, aud Of Madison and of your co-aborers
of 1857, look down and see this mock mimic.
ry of your grand work may, nay, look not,
| besecch you, lest you shock the angels with
your blushing, and starte heaven with your
weeping. Enthusiastic applause
: ::
Now, my friends, say, and God only
knows my feelings when l say it, that the
adoption Of this Constitution, and its final es-
tabiishment, will bling ruin to your country,
aad blast the hopes of your people. 1t will
condemn the poor negro to determination.
No pen can describe, no language can express,
the horrors that sail cnsue, socially, morally,
and politically, whenever there shall be
forced collision of the races.
x **
tell you in q few words: establish this
Constitution. and you establish degradation
and robbery as the fundamental laws OF
Georgia. Great applause] Glad am r
grateful I, that when posterty reads the hor
rid doings of this time, and sees the iniquitous
thing intended for Constitution for the peo-
pie Of Georgia. they will be able to say: "It
was not framed By Georgiansr' [Cheers.
They will lie able to say, 1t was gotten up
by those who came from New England pen
tenliaries, and nigsers from the corn fields "
Now, then, ! say, fellow citizens, this Con-
sttuion must be defeated il you have any
honor left you. II must not be ratified; for
outside OF all ether questions it Sends YOU
down TO posterty with 4 character Which no
white nan should desire to bear, aud, am
sure, 10 black man either. 1t is i,r the in
terest Of tie black man. You must protect
him from these adventures. It is lof the in.
terest of the white man. Your honor. your
character is involved in this contest. Let
others co as they nay, there is no possibility
upon this earth! in any contingency whatever,
0, inducing Inc TO give my support TO that
Constitution, or my obedience except as com.
PEELED and forced. Tremendous applause
How, then, IS it 10 be prevented? |, fol
myself, see no difficulty in the way. The
people when left to themselves, are all right
as to lLeir honest purpose, have no doubt
IL - To-, l,,l 1,,,.1
signing politicians have no respect whatever.
We must forget al former diterence.-we
must forget all passion. If have used harsh
language to day it is to bring before you in
all its bearings the instrument called A
Constitution for the State Of Georgia." ap-
peal to you by the horrors OF the future
appeal to your hearts appeal to your con-
science beg Of you to stop! beg of you
not to blast, for the sake Of q little temporary
Office, the he opes OF your children. destroy the
peace of your families and the prosperity Of
your country. Do not rusL the black man
to determination and the white man TO paral
ysis and ruin.
admit that heretofore there have been
good men who have differed with me. do
not say that difference of opinion, honestly
entertained. ought not 10 be tolerated.
am willing to make this bargain now with
every man who is q true man; don't care
where he has been-whether with the Cou-
vention or Loyal League, or anywhere else,
let him but come out now, and do what is
right. The cr;Ess is short and the issue is
sharp and decisive. Are you to go under ne
gro dominion or not? mean negro domin
ion through the bad whites that control them,
and deceive them. Are you willing 10 make
IL fundamental law for your State, saying that
there is no difference between you aud ne
gro? IA voice, mol II you are, then seek
your company. Ii you are not, | care not
wha: has been your opinion, nor your course,
heretofore; come up to your country now, in
its hour Of eXtremity-come up now, and say
YOU are willing to vote with US TO defeat the
ratification Of this Constitution; and you shall
be our brother again, and all >ins shall be for
gotten forever Well, I'll not even call them
sins-lll call them errors-E1istakes-l'l take
that back, too, and call them-co, won't call
them at all Laughter.
Let US all unite, Ministers Of the gospel
highest in ommission--noblcst in work. /
do not appeal to you to make political speeches
or to enter tie arena Of political strife
nay, nay, but do appeal to you 10 do your
duty from your sacred dcsI-teaching your
people 10 abhor u lie, and to escLcw a liar
Teach your people to repudiatc scheme to
cnslave the white people Of The country that
few adycnturers may get office. What is
the church coming to, when politician can
make long speeches on . Saturday night to
convince the people that they ought to adopt
what he knows is falsehood, and 90 next