Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-03-27


to justify an honest maa in a>nJeuun
ITS action, Whatever that action bs. Wei
OF what material va. this. Conveptio
composed ! (Laugater.) l. Very accom-.
modating-very charitaJIe-yery self
sacrificing Adventures from New Enrlao,
come down here TO inculcate the manner
aud morals of New Ergland into the b.
, o'shted Georgiaus! Naugh tcr.) 2. A,
other part is composed Of men false I,
their own race and country-false TO thei
own plsdges-fslse to their own history
! and false to their own oaths-soing int,
The party for the simple purpose of gettin.
honor. %. Another portion is compose,
OF negroes from your corn fields. Gausb
ter and olieers,) negro preachers, and con
vlcts from Sing Sing and our pcni,cn,ia.s,
llmmense cheering and laushter.) Men
back and white, now charged by tho iu
r'es OF the country with every infamous
crlmeknown TO the Penal Code. These
make up the body Of tho Convention
with few gentlemen, who are iu very bad
company and seriously hazard their repu
talion. Ladgatvr)
And these, Georsians, are The men who
are TO form your fundamental law. Now
E"glan outlaws; Sing Sing convic,s
peht'tchtiary felons and corn field negroes
engaging in the work that immorta!zed
the fathers of the country; Spirit, Of
Washington, OF franklin, AMI of Madison
and OF your c"laborers Of 1887, look down
aud SEQ this mock mimicry Of your grand
wo'k!-nay, nay. look no., l Jeseech you,
lest you shock tho angels with your blush
'ng' and startle heaven with your weeping.
Enthusiastic applause
But, let us pass from the material COM
posing the Convention, to tie work there.
OF. 1t Is universal maxim, as true in
politics as i'll philosophy, that the effect is
always like the cause which produced it,
Now, will say, in passing, that this Cou.
st'ul'on leaves evident marks Of contest:
there were two clsssos Of minds in the
Convention. One class endeavorinc 10 do
everything that is infamous, and another
II small class-try ins to deceive item into
dong something otherwise. TL,ush,er.7
but they have been so afraid that, the,, de
cepions would be discovered, that in NV
opinion, they failed to accomplish wLat
they intended.
Speaking Of truth, I will ask you, can
didly and huneslly, whether under tho cir
cums'ances, the preamble to this new Cor
st'tut'on is true 2 will read you two pre
an'b'et and submit them for you. to judg.
winch IS the tue cne. The preamble. as
adopted ty the Convention, reuds as fol.
lows:
I'VE, The people Of Georgia, in order to
frame permanent government, establish
ust'ce, insure domestic tranquility, and
secure the blessings Of liberty 70. ourselves
and ourposterity; acknowledging and in
vok'ng the guidance Of Almighty G4d, tie
Author of all good. government do ordain
and establish this Constitution ,for the State
of Gsorgia.'.r -, -, "."''
Nov, :hat is what ,ley say:t;, .but wha,
is. the truth ? L read agaiuu 80
""e, the nisgers Of Georgia, in order
to destroy all permanent government, es.
Iablish Robbery, insure domestic Il scrnce
and discord, and ,secure. the curses Of an
'rcl'y and despotism to MI races and ,l.eir
pos,erity; acknowledging The guiialiies of
'he Radical party, tho author OF. alL bad
government, do o 'dain ard cs,abli.h tLiis
Constitution for the Sl4te Of Georgia"
Here the speaker was unable to proceed
Tor some .miuutes, owing 10 tho ir,eprcssi-
shout Of laughter u =
Now, shall call your attention to some
portions Of this Constitution, rs illustrating
its character. hAs'rssil notice its pro-
visions touchiagoiA roIatioss Of tho races,
and next, siias: might, ty WY of nvmen.
;lature, be eaftd its moralifeasares-soue. |
hing ne~siPia Constitutional sHth re-
gard to, ais Question oseFsees, Twill not
anhiyze the Constitution, thoroughly on !
hat sutitc,; But shall assert a nv lead !
"g prsposilions, Which no truthful an |
an deny, and which no honest mdb wiN. |
Frss,ohow does this Cons.st stio.S leave !
Tie social relation of the racesa Upon 7
hat sntjeet-shere 10 but one clause III, lie ;
Constitution. and 10 that clause TdssiIo to !
call9ths attention of tho ,auLisaeeT |, il :
ac''oh1lia Of what Is SCALED th9c:BlI Of
aightsse of l,'Declarntiok ot }Fs5dameu,al
THE llth eecliot,iSad thus !
The soe6B .tat,S of tho eftiaeia,alI never
be the sut5taosf iss islatieh.;'E Now, the /
casual obsss1sE' OIL qesdlsgs that, nigh.
not discover asIagailhs,qaM SO, indeed, a
casual observeEeaT resdgag the Cons,i,u !
ioD' would discJfsTss,y little that it does
nean.,bl':Iequirss ,ha..s man sLeplJ ,l,aye !
some khoW1stssof hw, Of map,.of socie.
>, and of this sountry@foir; which it is in, !
:eadsa4l lbefOrs.'hs oa,. understand .tlia
'oeejta.ioRok. k'The social s,s.us
'f the citizen shall yer he Tue subject of i
sglslHtloD. Ii is-sR 4