Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-02-01
F. Q T. TT TO "A T..
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR ORR,

otc CcotS CoHGuCfcU' JOF HrGH4Sc OF
-Sluues, &C., eec.
Last night, in compliance with an invita-.
ton extended by the Reconstruction Convcn,
,,tlpBSs His Excelenoy, Governor Orr, address.
Il edthc Convention At very early hour al
the available space outside of tho bar, swhich
divides the Hall, WAS occupied bya mixed au-
dioncc of whites aud blacks, tho latter, pro-
pondcrating, and on the inside werc seated
Con Canby's staf, the members of the Con
'ycntton aud II goodly numbor of citizcns.--
Onsthe sla % were the President Of the Con-
vention and Generals Candy and Scott. At
oiyht o'clock precisely the Governor ontcrcd
amidst great applause. Ho was escorted to
the stage by Shc Chairman of the Committee
appointcdto wait upon him, and by Judge
Wardlaw aud Muses..
Ons,isccnding the stage he was received by
tho President, who said:
Govcraor O,r:-T am gratifed Chat it be.
.oaDle my duty MS the organ Of the .Constitu
esssssaa,.i'..sof. Suutl, Carolina, to wei
como You to tic tHso iifoJr iifr Of the house The
members of this Convention desire only to
act fOr, the good of the Commonwealth, whose
people they represent. While they feel the most
profound respect for the exalted official posi-
ton which you occupy as the Chief Masis.
tratc of the State, they are ,weltrawarc that
that position gives you an ample opportunity
of becoming peculiarly cognizant of tho con
dition and wants Of thoir constituents. They,
therefore, desire to hear your voice on those
subjects, aud profit by your knowledge and
experience. Lpronse you in their behalf, II
patient and attentive hearing, aud careful
eonsidcration:of the topics you may present
IL Gentlemen of the South Carolina Constitu
Eaf Convention, I have the honor to introduce
q yanss II iss Exceiency, James L. Orr Cover
norofs this State. iss a.
Governor Orr then addrcssel tho Conven-
I tion Ias,follows: s s
\ l,res!aoAk and GcnNcmcn efMc Couycu-
lion:
l esteem tho invitation which yous shnvo OK
tended to me to address tllis convention, as
compliment pnidstos the existing executive au ;.
shortly Of the Statoaniorc than to the ind;,td-
uat who represents that authority shherefore
in.behaIf Of tho,State for youp&lnd.considera
ytion tenderyousniy tlvhis'
You arc 'Iorc in >Doivention to frame d con
stitution for tls people Of South Carolina, and
hayo been <fected in nformityt Che i. US Of
the UsftcdI Statcs.
Unfortunately, in my judgment for the
best interests ofitho people of tho late Confed.
crate States, serious differences have arisen be-
tween the President Of the United States and
the Congress. In 1868, Immediately after
the surrender of General Johnston, the Pres
ident appointed Provisional Governors, and
provided for the oalling Of conventions in all
ofthe Southern Statcs The programme which
he adopted was not in unison with the views
Of Congress, and, after very considerable de,
lay,Atho Reconstruction acts of March were
passed. The Congress claimcd that tho pow
crtol Reconstruct the Southern States which
We're rebellion against the authority of the
United States, bclongedto to them and MOTTO the
President. taITcucc, they ignored his action
1t is duo ~ frankncss that I should say that.
}inmy judgment, tho plan projected by tho
.asRreeident, and which has been carried into OK.
NcAtion in all its details, except as to tho rep.
esresenta tiycs in Congress, was not only liberal
hut wise. sWith reference to the latter point,
\ Iowcvor, Congress having taken different
Wow Of the subject, determined that the
Southern States shall bo admitted to repro.
lssentation and to equal privileges in the Union
upon any other basis thanthat &hichShas boon
Sprescribed. The acts passed go,eveusfurther.
sSIhe assume that the South, insrelution to tho
go fernment standsin the position;of conquered
iovnocs, and that, as . oohqucror, it has a
sgrightto prescribe the terms aud conditions up
Z, on which tho South is to be admitted into the
Union. n,.. & s3sg
& is unnecessary on she present occasion,
'fthat I should discuss tho constitutionality or
.sl wisdom Of the acts. Of Congress. let it suf.
sco forSme to say chat they have. become the
laW.of tho land, They are laws which have
been adopted in strict acc6rdanceFwith all the
(, forms prescribed BY tho Constitution Of tho
gl lifted States, and as "a law.abiding citizen,
mot only now, bnt from, the time Of tho pas
3 sage Of these actyin Nercbl last, iam ono of
q those who beloved that 1t was not only the
5Ss 81 but tho interest of Tho people Of the
81 S0wthernS States to 20 to work irS ournest and