The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1868-04-16
that by. a Convention illegally author.

aCtlOn De, wen, OI WhaI WdtcTtdG WAS
this Convention composed? Laugh
ter. 1. Very accommodating-very
charitable--vcry self-sacriicing adven-
turers from New England come down
here to innoculale the manners and
morals of New England into the be-
nighted Gcorgians! Laughter.] 2.
Another part is composed OF men false
to their own race and countrywide to
their own pledges--false TO their own
history, and false to thir own oaths-
going into the party for the simple pur
pose of getting honor. 3. Another
portion is composed of negroes from
your cornfelds Laughter and chcers
negro preachers, and convicts from
Sing Sing and our penitentiaries. I'm
mense cheering and laughter. Men,
black and white, now charged by the
juries Of the country with every inla-
nous crime known to the Penal Code.
These make up the body of the Con
yention-with few gentlemen, who
are in very bad company and seriously
hazarding their reputation. Laugh
ter.
And these, Georgians, arc the men
who are to form your fundamental Law
New England outlaws Sing-Sing con
victs; penitentiary telons; and corn
field negroes, engaging in the work
that immortalized the fathers of the
country! Spirits of Washington, OF
Franklin. and Of Madison, and Of your
colab 'rers of 1857, look down and see
this mock mimicry ofyour grand work !!
may, nay. look not, / beseech you,
lest you shock the angels with your
blushing, and startle heaven with your
weeping. Enthusiastic applause
But, let us pass from the material
composing the Convention, to the work
thereof 1t s q universal maxim, as
true in politics as in philosophy, that
the effect is always like the cause which
produced it. Now, will say, in pass
ing, that this Constitution leaves evi,
dent marks ola contest; there were
two classes of minds in the Convention.
One class endeavoring to do everything
that Is infamous, and auother-a small
classifying to deceive them into do
ing some things otherwise. Laugh
ter. But they have been so afraid tina,
their deception would be discovered,
that, in my opinion, they failed to ac-
o,,,l;Sh what thnv intnnln1
Speaking Of truth, will ask you,
candidly and honestly, whether, under
the circumstances, the preamble to this
new Constitution is true? | will read
you two preamblcs, and l will submit
them for you to Judge which is the true
one. The preamble, as adopted by the
Convention, reads as follows:
1--WE, the people Of Georgia, in or,
der to frame permanent government.
establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, and secure the bic ssings of lib.
erty for ourselves and our posterity
ackno wledging and invoking the gui.
dance Of Almighty God, the author of
all good government do ordain and es
tablish this Constitution for the State
of Georgia"
Now. that is what they say; but
what is the truth? | will read again :
"We. the niggers Of Georgia, in or
der to destroy all permanent govern
ment, establish robbery, insure domcs.
tic disgrace and discord, and secure
cure the curses of anarchy and despot-
ism to all races and their postcrity; ac-
knowledging the guidance Of the Radi
cal party, the author of all bad govern
ment, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the State Of Georgia. y
Here the speaker was unable to pro.
ceed for some minutes, owing to the
irrepressible shouts and laughter.
Now, shall call your attention to
some portions of this Constitution, as
illustrating its character. First, l viii
notice its provisions touching the rela
tions ofthe races, and next, what NIGH
by way of nomenclature, be called its
moral features something in new
Constitution. With regard to the ques
ton of races, will not analize the Con
stitution, thoroughly on that subject
but shall assert few leading propo'
sitions, which no truthful man can dc
Inv, and which no honest man wiN.
First, how does this Constitution
leave the social relation Of the races
Upon that subject there is but ont
clause In the Constitution, and to tina
clause desire to call the attention o
the audience. 1t is section IL, of wha
is called the "Bill of Rights" or 'Dec
larati0n of Fundamental Principles.
The l1th section reads thus: "The SO
cial status of the citizen shall never b
the subject of legislation" Now, til
casual observer, on reading that, nigh
not discover its meaning, and SO, in
deed, casual observer, on reading tn
whole Constitution, would discover We
! ~ little that it does mean. 1t require
that man should have some know
edge Of law, of man. of society, and q
this country-for which it is intende
. before he can understand this Con
stitution. 1t says, 1.-THE social statu
of the citizen shall never bs the subjet
Of legislation" ya 11l
Nov, under that provision, what
the resulti The marriage relation
. q social relation-sminently so-th
leading social relation is the marriag
D relation. This Constitution does nc
E say that "intermsrrying between N
r whites and blacks is hereby made "
= i'd" or "hereby suthori3ed;" but
, says ''the social status OF the citize
, shall be the suHieet Of kg;s!a6sa," B
9 which Of course. is meant the Legisl'
). turs shall never have poWss - psohil
tAs inssrmarriage Of the ,aeas. .as.
J. vagrancy, alsO, 10 . social question
. Whether the vsgaboad Who loung'
o through your streets shall be taken .