The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-29

candid men answer. My suggestions are we'll
founded and true. The order OF political af-
fairs in the State and in the South generally
is abnormal, illogical, unphiosophical. unnatu-
raj and unreasonable. When Dean Swift, the
great satirist, sought to show the great de-
| formity which human nature might attain, he
sent Gulliver in his travels to the island OF the
Yahoos, where the horse ruled and men were
the subjects. 1t has been reserved to Radical
ism to improve even upon the imagination of
Swift; for, looking at the majority OF those
whom Radicalism has borne into ofico here IN
the South we find that the donkey relSns, and
asses occupy high places of power.
4. These acts al e unwise. Looking at these
acts in the light of craftsmanship, we pro,
nounce them foolish and unwisc. II intended
to benefit the black man, if intended to beneht
the white man, if designed to promote the IN
terests OF the whole country, they are in either
case equally wrong IN principle and rulnous III
policy There is no wisdom in the spirit they
| breathe, none i'll the measures they nave set
on foot, none in the order OF things that they
have sought to establish. But we would enter
into no argument upon this point, TOR 1T Is evi.
dent to every candid mind that the object OF
these demonstrations acts was chiefly to build
up party, and not to promote the well-belng
Of the country.
Could my voice reach the ears of the Radical
politicians Of the North, would point them,
/
men of tho Union, has already done, to an incl
dent in Roman history, peculiarly applicable to
| the times. Latium was conquered by Rome,
and the question arose in the Roman Senate
what ought to be done with Latium and the
people of Latium. Some said, "Conhscate their
propcrity;" others sud, "Ds franchise thcm."
None said. ''put them under the domination OF
their former slaves" But one man there was,
heathen statesman though hc was, who rose
| to the height OF tho occasion. Old Clmlus
rose in his scat and said Senators, make
these people Your feliow-citizens, and thus add
to the power and dignity OF Rome" In the
same spirit would address myself to those
who have it in their power to control, for the
prcsont, the desinies OF the South. woula
say to them Come up to the lofty standard OF
Camillus. Treat the people of the South as
your peers, for your peers they are; do them
justice, respect their sympathies, givc them
| their blood-bouGht rights under the constllu-
ton OF the land, and thus add to tue power and
dignity Of the republic.
5. The Reconstruction acis have within them
the seeds of their own death and must ful. In
my opinion, fellow-citizens, even without any
| effort on our part, these measures would, SOON
OF or later, utterly break down. Como Grant
OF come Seymour, they cannot long prevail
The order OF affirs they have brought about
must bo changed. So long as the inverted
conc is propped up il will stand, but remove
W. N--~
So long as these reconstruction measures are
sustained by cxtrancous force they may stand.
but let that force be removed, let ordinary po-
litical influences prevail, a2d they will ole q
natural death. For one, however, ! am not
willing to wait for this natural death, but in
every legal, constitutional, peaceful method,
with the aid OF our Democratic allies at tho
North, would assail the tyrant measures at
every vulnerable point. On the same princI-
pic that the jalor takes from his cell the con-
dcmned felon and executes upon him the SEN
tence of the law, althou, b disease would have
carried the man off in weeks time, so shoul
we, fellow-citizcns, make tho effort to bring
the reconstruction measures 10 an immediate
| end and thus vindicate the majesty OF the
law and the rights Of an injured people.
have thus indicated, fellow-citizcns, the
DO itical reform that we seek, with the assist
ance OF tho Democratic party OF the country.
have had nothing to say about tho nominees
OF the Democracy standard bearers IN the
fight l have dealt rather with the great prin,
cipes of individual liberty and constitutional
freedom that the canvass involves. Men die On
and are forgotten. Principles arc essentially
| immortal, and exert their influence through
the ages. This, however, may add, mat as
TO Grant would not take one leaf from that
wreath which the North has put around his
brow. AS to Seymour and Blair, deem them
worthy leaders in our great cause. Iho CIVIC
virtues Of tho one and the military prestige or
| The other ought to secure for them national
apprcclation and common conservative en-
dorscment to result in their election,
But, tcllow-citizcns, would rocard my duly
as but half discharged did l not suggest 10
Won that our political relief is but preliminary
| step i'll tho great Work oil Soutnern rouo uP-
| ton.
/. The great need of tic South is industrial
regeneration. Reunited as we have been TO
first principles by the events Of the laIc war;
We want matorial development. And IN enter,
ing upon this branch OF my subject, am glad
| to find before me SO many representatives OF
the working cllss-"Iho hardy sons OF toll,
the heroes of the workshop and monarchs OF
the soil" Let Us understand thai the true
wealth of country is in her working men.
Yes, fellow-ctizens, repeat it, what We now
want is wealth. Wealth has been called tho
sincws OF war. 1 deem it no less tho muscle
and snews OF peace. We wan. wcll-cllitlyateu
farms and wcl-hllcd granarics: we want llic
mechanic arts to flourish, and factories OF cot
ton, wool and wood TO dot our land. We want
that productive surplus which, III the aSgrc-
ee.c, makes up national wealth. We want
our people to surround themselves once
again with tho comforts and conyen:cnccs
of life, to acquire the means to educate their
children, to bu Id up and sustain temples to
the living God. More than the wealth OF ilte-
lecy do wc require the material resources nee
cssary 10 repair our shattered fortunes. Let
us bear IL mind that material agencies are
essential 10 enable US to retain What states
manship OF party triumph has won. Let us
recollcct that it was the wealth OF
tho Barona of England that enabled them to
wiring ld1uG Charter from reluctant mon,
arch, and after winning it their wealth It
was that gavo them tho means TO retain that
immortal instrument. And were l, fe!low-cltl.
| ZenS, disposed to venture upon criticism oi
our policy in tue past, Iwou!d say that we
have relied too much upon nero logic and
rhetoric to establish Our political ycws. 80
far as argument is concerned, no doubt our
position was ma &c impreSnable. But to es.as-
iish and sustain State creeds and policies,
something moro than argument is
required. As some writer has somewhere
suggested to my mind, We must
surround these crccds and policies with the
solid monuments OF wealth and numbers Ind
popular intelligence and activity. II, in this
respect. VIC hare Jailed in the past, let us learn
n lesson for the future and move out in the in
dustrial arena and OH the line of material ac:
quisitions. But to attain this condition OF
wealth. VIC must lab +. TO labor Is to pray,
suggested the aucicn: maxim. I'VE must
.bor," said the dying Emperor SeYerus, ana
Seyerus became immortal. No man must
dlsdain to work. Our youIg men must Work,
and no palm leaves must deck the elders
brow. Labor must DO digniied. No proud
youth must disdain to grasp the plough-han-
dies. OF to sclzc The reins of the draft horse,
or to take up the tools OF the mechanic. Let
me not be misunderstood. The amenities
| and grnces OF literature, the pursuits OF