Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-11-25

to one of his friends in this city hispur.
pose to give Gen. Lee q portfolio. Fiji
were known that Lee would become {
member of Grants Cabinet. it wouldalst
be known that Grants wol Is were rot
idle when he said Let us have peace.
Lees accession to the Cabinet would be
the perfection Of moral, physical and pc
Elitical reconstruction Acts.--St. Louis
Times. " Z - ~
A CoIored Man to The Colored People
Rev. R. H. Cain, of Charleston, col
ored minister, and prominent Repub
lican, publishes in his paper the Mis
siona,y Record, the following article
which we would wish could be read by
every man, both white and colored
Within the past week we have beer
the subject of abuse by our own race
more bitterly than we ever could have
conceived. When, three years ago, VIC
came to this city to occupy the position
of an humble missionary, we entered into
the work of instructing our race in what
we regarded of the most vital interest
to their well-bcing. We entered upon
the work of preparing their mind to en-
Joy freedom as we underestimate. Free,
dom to enjoy all the rights and immu:
mites of citizens. We were aware that
the people had just. emerged FROM bon,
dage and ignorance. We know that nc
white man, North or South, could fee
for them as we who are bone of theii
bone, and flesh of their flesh, and there
fore bound to them by ties which could
be severed only by death. We were
aware that, flushed with the new borr
idea of liberty, they might go into ex-
cesses, which would do them more harm
than good. We addressed ourselves tc
the task Of guiding them in the path o.
peace, and at the same time maintain
their honor and dignity.
We knew that two races were here
who had been educated differently, and
of course were unprcpared for this new
change. The whites who.had been the
masters could not brook the liberation
of their slaves with calmness, would
have their peculiar views, and would
exhibit their feelings on all occasions
We knew also that the colored people
could not. possibly understand all the
momentous questions which would arise
in the course of reconstruction, and the
political changes which were taking
place in our country Hence we de-
parted from our strictly ministerial work
and became interested7in their political
education and elevation. We have sought
to respect the preiudices Of the whites
while We allayed the mdrmurings of the
colored people; we have been earnest
in defending their manhood against all
attempts to wrong them by any class Of
men from the Northeor from the South
We have stood in the breach and amid
the hottest of the fight we have lived
to see the establishment of the law Of
Justice to all men by the election of .
S. Grant, and the sanction of the whole
nation to the policy Demonstration
Having seen this, we feel that our mis-
sion is ended in the political arena 50
far as parties are concerned. We now
stand as citizen, identified with South
Carolina as such, and bowling to the SUI
premacy of the United States We be-
lieve now that the colored people in
this State ought to turn their attention
to business, to the agricultural and in
dustrial pursuits. of life. We believe
that the colored men in the South should
now seek the friendship of the whites
We are all free and equal before the
Law, and that is as much as any reason.
able man can wish; we know that the
whites have the superior advantages
over us in this country we know that
in the contest between the two races the
whites will be the victors; we know
that our race cannot compete with them
now, if ever. The whites have govern
ment, country, law commerce, and all
the superior means of civilization they
are superiorin numbers and intelligence
We are but coming out of Egypt, and
are poor, ignorant, helpless, and VIC
need the helping hand of the white
race to assist us to rise up to honor and
distinction. 1t is mere folly for TIE col.
orcd people in the South to say that the
whites cannot live without them; capi
tai and labor must go together, or Meth.
er can flourish. We cannot succeed
while we disregard the mutual obliga
tions which exist between both races
The poor man must depend on the ricl
for employment the rich, by their SUI
perior education and position, create
business for themselves and give en-
ployment to the laborer.
Colored men of the South, it is tim!
we were turning our attention tc othol
duties than following the lead Of IRE
sponsible politicians. Your wives an(
children's interest demands your Aten
ton. You should secure land, become
/ taxpayers and industrious citizens. Tht
whole country have their eyes OH yor
to see how you conduct yourselves witt
the freedom bestowed, and if you make
bad use of it you will be the sufferers
Be warned in time, and secure youl
! own peace.