The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-17

that YOU were au TRAITORS anu reuelS, uuUle W
be hung whenever and wherever you might be
caught. This was always the theory Of the
North. Tho theory Of the South was that the
war was like war between France and Eng
land. and that il you we're caught you were
prisoners of war, and could not be hung.
Mark now how distinct these theories are, and
how widely they diverge. Now, up to the Tune
YOU refused 10 adopt the fourteenth amend
Ineut The North held on to their old theory,
which was that the Southerners were subdued
insurgents, not conquered people. But the
moment you refused to adopt the fourteenth
amendment, they changed their whole theory,
and then came what are called the Reconstruc-
tion acts. You were now to be reconstructed,
not to be restored. And how did they proceed
with this reconstruction They swept away
your constitutions, they swept away YOUR laws,
they swept away everything appcrtaining to
the old system. You were ITO longer States
Of the Union, but merely conquered territories;
the people wcro alien cnemles-not traitors,
but prisoners OF war.
This is not my theory, but it is the theory
OF Congress. This is precisely and logically
the position which you occupy before the peo-
pie of the North-before the people Of the
United States. You are prisoners OF war. You
have no rights. What business have you to
talk about the constitution? You fought
against the constitution-you attempted to get
up n separate government. You are mere prls-
construction acts. They reduced the States OF
the South to the condition Of alien territories,
and The people of the South to the condition OF
nrisoners of war; Therefore, when l came
here in answer to General Hampton's mvi-
tation, I did not como to mako political
speeches. don't think that you, that is: mon
who, like General Hampton, are cut on from
meddle in politics. You are not reconstructed
rebels you arc alien enemies, just as II we
hal conquered England or Ftance. How dare
YOU then, meddlc in politics. This theory OF
Congress reminds me OF an anecdote which
Gencl al Hampton related to me few days
ago. The General was invited to attend q. po-
h.ical meeting not MANY miles from Columbia
and, III his letter OF acceptance, he spoke OF his
being Democrat. A little girl, daughter OF
a friend of his IN tho neighborhood where the
meeting was to take place, IN writing to
him for her father to invite him to st y
at their house, said: Dear General, o IL very
glad to hear that you are coming down here w
sneak, because We all want to see you again
and to hear You speak; but am sorry you say
crat; YOU are not Democrat; you are rebe!;
you have always been dear old rebel: and you
must be rebel still" (Laughter.) It is very
we'll to laugh, my friends, but that little girl
saw Just what Congress don't see. Now II
General Hampton IS rebel, and nave peen
with him great deal in the last few days, and
have had many long conversations with him,
what are his intentions about the future OF the
country, and I say if he is a rebel he is just
such O rebel as I am, and no more.
Now. nv friends, came down here moro
narticulary to talk to the people of the South
about the present issue before the people OF
the United States. There are two great par
ties, and we have General Grant the leader on
hn lnaha
other. Now, let US look at it squarely and
fairly, and sec what is the best and what ID the
worst of it as far as tho South Is concerned; as
far as regards the unreconstructed, unrcstorcd,
unvoting, rebellious States. What Is Dest un-
der the circumstances for you to dor NOW,
here is MIR. Seymour. Ii Mr. seymour Is
elected, don't think that MI our troubles
will end right here / am Democrat,
and I will vote the Democratic ticket,
because I think that is the besr way to stop
these mroads upon our constitutional Iorm Oh
government. But il you allow yourselves to
be carried away with tho idea that the election
of Seymour alono will bring prosperity to the
country, you will mako a great mistake; and .!
tell YOU 80 IN ali the honesty aud irankneSs OF
INV heart. Even if Seym III is elected. the Re
pubicans OF the country, North and south, will
be i'm so slight o minority. ii III the minority at
all, that the safety OF the country will hang
upon q thread. 1t will depend upon the way
each of US will behave On tho cor
trary. suppose Grant is elected. Now, l
have recently boon in part Of the country
where it is the general belief that the election
Of Grant will be the utter destruction OF all sue
cess and prosperity ut the South. l said did
not intend to make political speech. and L am
not going to do so; but l must tell you some
things which some Of you at least probably
don't know. want to tell the white people
here what believe some of them don't know.
/ want 10 tell them that the feeling aud spirit
which animates large portion of the Repubi-
can partv of the North is q spirit OF kindness
and GOOD feeling to the people uf the South,
and that devotion to the constitution
is as deep In their hearts as in those
of any OF the people OF the land; l
believe, and I know, that this Is so-and the
eloctl,n of Grant should not, and is not, going
to deprive the South OF hope. You o. VIII s. sun !
have the same opportunities and rights that
YOU have now. am al opponent OF General
Grant. and have no wish to speak too Kindly OF
him. but [ believe tEat he is nh upright and
honorable man, and that il elected he VII 40
his best not for any party, but tor the whole
people O.. the country. [Applause.] Follow
citizens, as l tol you, am not making q
nolitIcal spec b, ard do not desire any ap-
plause. 1 wish to talk to you plainly, Us
one man should to another i'll tlme OF
danger. I wish to tell you what l
think YOUR chances are. l tell you candldiy
that YOU will ue unwise and wicked II you
nledoe yourselves to follow tho fortunes OF any
political party. You are prisoners OF war, and
have no right to say we must do this OF we
mnst do that, and that il such thing IS not
done you will do so and 30. Because, my
friends, whatever is done you can 10 noihInG;
Just look at it. Suppose Grant is elected anu
Won don't like it? When was Invited here
the gentlemen who invited me said that the
D3licy of the South was peace, and General
Hampton said that the policy OF the South Is
pcacc, and tho policy OF the South IS peace.
But what Is peace? Now ask AGAIN, what are
Won gong to do if Grant is e!c;ted? VIII you
rise again? Will you begin the old wal again
At the beginning OF he last war you STOOD
some chance. You h.d obtained large
norton of the munitions Of war OF
the Federal government. Now, where would
Won get q battery? What do you suppose
would happen tomorrow, if this city was to
revolt Is It did five y, ars ago? few United
States ships OF war would steam up your mar,
Dor. and there would be the end OF it. Put
aside the notion if it ever entered the heads OF
INV of YOU. Put it aside ut once. There ~
the whole of it.
What. then, is the best and the worst OF 1t
This will depend very much on the disposition
of the moderate portion OF the Repu6llcan
marty. For, marx you, there is wide dlller-
ence between the wings OF the Republican
narty--as wide o difference as there was
between nv present friend General HamJ-
ton and mysolf during the war. I come,
as Won know, from Massachusetts, the most
Radical State in tho North, and say AMI be-
lieve that there are many Republicans there
who feel kindly towards the South, but they are
deceived. They honestly believe many things
which you may think ridiculous. For instance,
Ia1;a thnt