Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-12-02
Speech of Hon. J. P. Reed.

Congress, Hon. j. L. REED, maze pup
lie speech in Anderson. We regret that
a press of matter, not to be postponed,
precludes the possibility of our publish
ing this valuable speech entire. Below,
will be found very interesting portion
of it:
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influence were removed, and we were
left to ourselves, the intolerable griev
ance we had apprehended- That in this
State, as elsewhere, intelligence and
wealth is competent to mould the poll
tics of the country, and that at an early
day, South Carolina may and will be
remanded to the government Of South
Carolinians. That to secure this result
the sooner, it is essential that we should
Weld to some extent our preconcelved
oninions on the subject of suffrage, and
unite on the platform laid down recent
ly by the Central Executive Committee
d of the Democratic party, which assures
the colored man that when restored to
power, We cwifilpro romptly and ungrudgg,, g,
ingly secure to him a liberal qualified
suffrage, based on education Tand prop
erty. This will not only be just but is
satisfactory to the intelligent portion Of
them, as have had ample assurances,
They we'll know that the present condl-
tion Of things is unnatural and unjust.
They know that the Constitution ex-
pressly provides that the States shall
regulate the elective franchise, each for
itself. That Congress has no power to
interfere in the matter, and that one
rule for the South and another for the
North cannot continue to exist in a un-
ion of co-equal States under the same
fundamental law. They know that in
taking this position, we put them, as to
the ballot, on the same footing the most
favored of their race have ever hereto
fore occupied in any State of the Union,
and more favorable than any other
State, North or South, has since their
emancipation agreed to put them on.
They know and admit, that the great
majority Of their race are totally unfit
to use the ballot, or appreciate its value;
that whilst the youths of the country
white men,-lrom sixteen to twenty one
years OF age. although compe1led to bear
their part in their service Of the State,
are not permitted, however intelligent
they may be, to cast vote until past
twenty-one years, and that the white
man Of foreign birth who comes into the
State to remain, however learned and
wealthy, has to undergo probation of
five years before he is allowed to ap-
.proach the ballot-box. They know, if
they regard the privilege Of voting as
worth anything to them, (Which a very
large majority of them, from the expe-
rience they have had, do not,) that the
right to qualified suffrage based on
property and education, would be a
powerful incentive to them to acquire
property and educate themselves and
children. Knowing these things, and
that the definite settlement Of the ques-
ton will remove the only stumbling
block in the way of our harmony and
prosperity, am quite sure that there
are but few of them who would have
the temerity to expect more, and Swho
would not be entirely satisfied with such
settlement of the question: take
it, therefore, that it is-the Imperative
, duty of-ths9wDemocracy, to take a for
3 'EmaIiberal and irrevocable stand on
this subject as early as practicable.
Aside from this question, our duty
and interests alike domand, that we
should treat the colored race with kind
ness, humanity and libcrality, aiding
them in their efforts to improve them
selves in education, and al: the arts and
requirements of civilization. They are
amongst US, and will remain here so
long as we can remain, unless their
Northern friends should determine to
destroy them, as they have done the
North American Indian. They are
constitutionally adapted to our climate,
= and their labor, if properly utilized and
, directed, is not only necessary to our
united prosperity, but is the best that
can possibly be had on any terms. Our
: interests, therefore, demand-Christian-
. ity and civilization demands, that we
shall properly appreciate and accept the
changed relations of society, and pursue
+, towards the colored race such a course,
!: as by aiding them in the pursuit of con-
tentment and prosperity, we shall the
, more assuredly and certainly secure our
: own.
But, -citizens, we must at once
realize, as I have before remarked, that
; the State Government organized over
I us can be changed in no other way than
) through the ballot box; that it is de
5 facto, if not dc jure, and being the only
government we have, our interests and
J duty alike require that we shall con-
7 form to its mandates whilst it exists
$ peaceably and in good faith, although
' " we cannot do so cheerfully. In other
! words, we must accept the situation.
! More particularly should we yield, not
: only ready obedience, but an energet-
ic support to the laws designed to pre-,