Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-08-18


nation could not depict the humiliation to
which our State eould be reduced il,.iii saw
Sawyer and the renegade Ton Robertson
SLING the places once occupied by Calhoun.
McDaliie aud Hague. l did not think ttat
the eolored people Of South Carolina lhem-
selves would do this. Nor 90 now believe
that they would it they had been consulted.
Look ROW at the Bench. aud see the seat
once dignifed ty Chief Justice Dunkia, now
occupied by a man, who now turns his back
upon the State, and the men who through a
long series of years have given him more
honors than hs deserved Look at your own
fellow.citizen who would not crook the
pregnant hinges OF The kuse that thrift .dight
follow fawning" Who retired into private life
rather than obey the orders OF a military satrap
against the convictions of his conscience. His
place was flled by one Eephaniah Platt,
and this is the ons roeompeuse that the
Reconstruction acts have worked out for all
their iniquity--they have removed Zcphsniah
Platt from has iilgotteu place. But to return
TO Moses-i can make excuses for the Raids
calls who ia taking the votes Of the colored
peopjo that they may obtain tho places aud
the money, only obey the interests OF their
vile natures, which compel them like buzzards
to pounce down upon carcass that they may
satisfy their raveuous appetitiea. But when
think OF u South Caroinian, who should
have the instincts of South Carolinian, who
has drawn nourishment from the breast of
Carolina mothoT, who has received ut the
hands of tho State all that she can give
when behold suoi man turn his back upon
the State and upon the men who through
long series of years have heaped undeseryed
honors upon his head, cannot find words in
which to denouncc him.
[ now want to say a few words TO my eoiored
friends, many of whom [ see around me, aud
am glad to SEQ believe, and have told
them before, that If the white mans interests
are at stake in this contest the interests OF
the black man are even more in jeopsrdy.-
II the worst comes TO the worst the white
man can gather his household goods aud carry
his sorrow, shame and suffering to another
land But before tho blaek man can get
away he must make enough to pay his way.
And oven if he did go lie would be treated
nowhere as well NJ he is treated here. Ii he
goes to the North OF to the Northwest he viii
be treated as uu enemy, assert, aud | have
before this expressed my willingness to
grant more rights TO the colored people than
any Eortheru State has shown disposition
10 grant by the rccent elections. 1 feel that
the interests of the black man arc involved |
i
black men are SoutGerners. i know that we
were born upon the Same soil aud that we
have lived eur past lives together. l know
that as the white man prospers SO will the
black man prosper. l know that ii the whites
become poor and broken down the blacks will
SHIRE similar fate. The Radicals have made
the celorcd people many promises, but when
ever they have gained their own ends they |
have always allowed them 10 whistle down the |
wind and shift for themselves. say now TO |
you, colored men, that II you are SO unyise |
and so unfortunate as to draw the line between |
the white men of the South aud yourselves
llle time will soon come when you viii find |
yourselves with no friends at all. The white I
men viii bring other white Uen into tho |
country, who viii work cheaper than the |
colored men. Ia u few years they wli have
occupied cyery foot of ground where you now
dwell. They win be united in interest with
the owners of the land and gradually and
but surely they will spread over
the country, and the black man viii be driven
out as the red man has been driven out before
the onward march of white civilization. It
is the law of God, and il you draw the line
between yourselves and your natural prOteo-
tors, the white men OF, The South, j; viii SO
happen as sure as there is God in Heaven.
believe that tho colored mau can do great
good in this country. We know linn and he
knows us.
We recognize lis freedom fully. Its to
our interest that he should make good crops
aud receive good wages Even il we were
not actusted by old acquaiutxsce aud friend
ship, our interests would compel us to look
after his welfare And for their welfare, we
advise them TO help us TO drive away the
Radicals aud scailawags who are now in our
midst. Ny colored friends! Doas WAS done
in Mississippi. Thors the colored majority
was greater 10 proportion than it is here, but
the colored men came TO the support of their
only friends, swept over the State. and voted
down the Reconstruction Constitution by Il
majority of 10000 That is what you viii
do here-although perhaps not now. You
will fad that the Radical promises Of forty
acres Of land and mule will come TO nothing.
They viii give You piece OF laod six foot
by three-enoueh to bury you, but you will
get no more except as other people by buyiuy
and paying for it.
The Grave Of Braddook.