The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-14
COLUMBIA. / J i liI.]5 :
Tuesday Morning. april IA, 1858.
letter for the CoIorede People TO
Read or Hear Read Before They

lowing letter from our, fellow Citizen,
Col. Thomas, to the Newberry Demo
cratic Club. As this gentleman is
known to adyocate o liberal line of
policy towards the colored people,
and as these sentiments now ex-
pressed are known to have been held
by him ever since the net of emanci-
patton, it would be well for the CO.
lored people to attach some signifi-
canoe to his moderate but firm sug
gestions: 3 ,..a'3i !.
COLUMBIA, S. c., April 12, 1868.
j. r. j. CdldpeA, Esq, Chairman
Ereoutiue Committee, Nelo6er7.y De-
mocratic Club.
DEAR SIR: The invitation extended
to me by the Newberry Democratic
Club, to address them at q mass
meeting to be held in your town, on
the 18th instant, was received last
evening. AS I find it inconsistent
with my duties to leave Columbia at
this time, I must beg you to excuse
my absence, and to accept, in place
of an address, this brief expression
of the views pertinent to the occa-
sion-views which are entertained by
me with strong and abiding convic-
tion.
Allow me to come at once to the
gist of the great matter before our
people. In the providence of God,
the institution of African slavery was
established in this country. 1t grew,
extended and planted its roots deep
in our soil. A struggle ensued be-:
tween the North and South on the
question of secession. This struggle
brought about the abolition of Afri-
can slavery. Scarcely had the smoke
of battle cleared away, when this
institution, of nearly 250 } ears stand
ing, was suddenly, violently, rudely
abolished. In the providence Of God
it came, and in that same providence
it passed away. The South accepted,
the situation-yielded to the decree
of Heaven; and her people, in con-
ventions assembled, gave their assent
to the emancipation of their slaves.
Thus African slavery ceased for all
time to exist in these Southern States.
What, now, let me inquire, became
the status of these freed people in our
midst and numbering 4, 900, 900 souls?
The answer is, that they, from that
time, became members of the body
polite, and, as such, entitled to the
rights claimed for men in condition
of free citizenship. Losing the pro-
foot;on xybioI tho oxy,,a ar ~rova tho
freedman became entitled to all civil
rights--that is, such rights as "be-
long alike and equally to all citizens,
to all classes. to all colors, to oil
sexes, to all ages, and to all grades of
intellect, society and worth" Such,
as I conceive it, was the logical re-
suit of the act of emancipation. But
it may be asked. does the fright Of
suffrage" also follow? 1 submit, not.
"Life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness" are claimed to be the inalien-
able rights of man. The Declaration
of American independence, Magma
Charta, the English Bill of Rights,
make this claim. But in no one of
these great papers, which are cited as
embracing all that even the highest
type Of humanity claims for itself in
the way of inalienable rights, ia the
assertion of suffrage put forth. And
why? Because suffra age is not one of
these rights, but is t,ast-a sacred
trust-a delicate trust, and one to be
conferred by the State upon the peo-
pie thereof according to considera-
tions of expediency, according to
their fitness, and agreeably to the
sound Democratic doctrine of the
greatest good to the greatest number.
It,follows, therefore, that it is. the
right of these Southern States to de-
eide for themselves to what extent
the trust of suffrage shall be conferred
upon the freed people. Take, now.
South Carolina, for instance, and let
us inquire what seems to bo her duty
in the premises. AS Mr.. Hill said Of
Georgia, the ne9rnes II So.:L Caro-
linn are citizena Of South GarO1ino