Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-08

the atlie, luciQ aud SearcnlilS aUuatJSio VI
that instrument promulgated by the Conyen.
ton. in Charleston, and that he be requested
to furnish a;copy to the-Executive Commit
Tee for orpublication.
Mr.. Jeter, seconded by Mr.. Cannon, submit
ted resolution. that the District associations
nominate suitable persons as candidates for
State officers; and also appoint speakers to
address the citizens, irrespective of"eolor;
besides supervising the ballot-boxes, SO as, if
possible, to prevent fraud. Which was agreed
to.
After the adoption off resolution of thanks
to the Chairman, for the faithfal discharge Of
his duties-to which an eloquent response
was made; the Convention adjourned sine de
). Amongst the papers submitted to the Con-
Yeution was the following address to the col
ored people of South Carolina. 1t was at.
terwards referred to the STATE Central Execu.
tive Committee, with discretion to publish.
The Committee has kindly furnished US with
q copy: r,. -A-
ADDRESS TO THE ceLoRED PEOPLE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA.
j The Convention of the Democratic party of
South Carolina feels it high and bounden
duty to speak to you caudidly and earnestly,
and with no further apology than that our in.
terests are to certain extent identical.
You have been suddenly put in position to
exercise certain powers, the abuse of which
may result disastrohsly TO you and to US. II
is Impossible that your present poper can en-
tlure, aeaether yon ase ii for good or i'll. The
white race already out-rumbers you in the
South. Disease has made the mortality
among you twice what it is among the whites,
and the ratio is daily increasing. Emigration
has carried off thousands of your color to
distant States, while it already begins to FIJI
their places with whitcs'l from Europe. Let
net your pride, nor yet jour pretended friends,
Hatter you into the belief that you ever
can or ever will, for any length of time,
govern the white men OF the South. The
world has never seen such a spectacle,
aud its whole history, and especially thaahis-
tory of your race, gives no ground for the
Perhaps, however, you expect
to attain power by the aid Of the radical party
at the North. The Almighty, in His wisdom,
(perhaps to prevent the amalgamation of the
separate races which He created and marked,
bas Implanted in every human breast sent-
ment called the prejudice Of race; and when
this feelingis once aroused, it is one of the
strongest and most universal passions Of our
natures. When your race was among US as
slaves, this sentiment slumbered, and only
for you Influenced every honest
hcart-those among your masters-to treat
you kindly; those who believed you wronged,
10 desire to set you free. When you'were
set free, compassion ceased to exist When
undue power was given you by the radical
party, (from motives which all men appreciated
Ind despised,) prejudice of race sprang up.
The whites of this State endeavored to allay
there, at least-by inviting you to course
sud compromise which would have given
t nothing to feed upon. But their efforts
resulted in.such an utter failure, that it would
,e mortifying had it not been Christian du-
y to make the effort. Every step of your
political career, so far, has cultivated this
prejudice, until it now speaks aloud 10 Eng
and and is already rapidly changing the
politics of the entire North. This is the
,dium which must soon prove the death of
he radical party. 1t IS too strong to be re-
sisted, being the operation Of law of nature.
Do you rot see it even in your white radical
friends, in spite of their Industrious efforts to
conceal it, so long as they have use for you !?
Is it not apparent, also, in the officers, and
even the very private soldiers, Of the army
whose bayonets still prop up your power,
,nly because they are paid to do it. Do you
latter yourselves that your" Loyal Leagues;
IAN prevail against it? "Blood is thicker
han water" and the league which the Al
Mighty has organized is one to which there
will be no traitors, when once an issue is
'arly made.
To repeat, then, as We began: Your pres
mt power must surely and soon pass from
you. Nothing that it builds will stand, and
nothing will remain of it but the prejudices
i may create. 1t is, therefore, most dan
,srous tool that you are handling. Your
eaders, both white and black, are using your
votes for nathing bat their individual gain.
ManT- of them you have only known, hereto
ore. TO despise and mistrust, until command
ID by your leagues to v.ta for them. Offices
ind salaries for themselves are the heights of
heir ambitions and so that they make hay
while the sun shines, they care not who is
caught in the storm that follows. Already,
hey have driven away all capital and credit
rom the South and while they draw eleven
dollars day, thousands among you are thrown
put of employment, and starve simply for
ack of work. What few enterprises are on
v the work of. Southern men, who have faith
hat the present state of affairs is but tempo
ILL., ~-o.1l Iao, MT M hott
unies for the employment of capital than are
o be found in the South, but will your radi.
,an friends send their money here to invest 2
Not one dollar. They would just as soon
venture on investments in Hayt or Liberia,
IS commit their money to the influence of
7our legislation. Capital has learned to
hun it as deadly plague.
We, therefore, urge and warn you, by all
be ties of our former relations, still strong
md biuding in thousands Of cases, by com.
non christianity and By the mutual welfare
II our two races, whom Providence has thrown
ogether, to beware of the course on which
our leaders are urging you, in blind folly
which, will surely ruin both you and them.
Wedo not pretend to be better friends to
our race than we are to ourselves, aud we
nly speak where we are not invited because
our welfare concerns ours. If you destroy
ourselves you iujure US, and though but lit
lie, compared with the harm you will do
ourselves, we would if we could avert the
Thole danger.
We re not in any condition to make you
ny promises or 10 propose to you any COM
Promises. We can do nothing but await the
curse of events-but this we do without the
ligLtest misgiving or apprehension for our
elves. We shall not give up our country,
nd time will soon restore our control Of it.
sut we earnestly caution you, and beg you
n the meanwhile, to beware of the use you
make of your temporary power. Remember
hat your race has nothing to gain and every.
hing to lose, if you invoke that prejudice
f race which, since the world was made, has
yer driven the weaker tribe to the wall.
,