Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-02-01
VOL, ,.s,.-,,No. 49,
lima at least there Is no reasopswby any mat,
white or oo,ored, !, should be excluded from che
,ruiinoLo. of uoA;,e. ~, El,a :. .,ayass


aware that tho Acknowledgement III the Re.
construction acts Of Congress excludes the in
teligenco andsWealth of the State. In ono Of
the distrietsSof the Statcl know chat tho col
ored people waited upon certain gentlemen
and drequcssed themt to become lcandi dates for
the convention, but they were constrained to
decline because they were disfranchised y
This is an illustration of Bio Uuuditlo ii of NJ.
fairs which exists in all the districts ofSuuu.h
Carolina-the most intelligent men being ex.
ciuded. En- start'"" a new government ali of
this intelligence and experience should not bo
ignored. The State cannot afford 70 t,iyolis
up. She is entitled to the ecounsol Of s,,ohi
men and to their services.
The doctrine OF State rights as taught in
South Carolina has been exploded by the war
Iho allegiance OF the citizen, according to the
results OF that controversy, is due to tho Gov.
81 ernhcnt OF the United States, and not to tho
oeate. Irccognizo this doctrine to helinllcst
extent, ana IN my inaugural message as Gov.
ernor ofthe State, Iannounced nv iudpmcnt
that hereafter the supremacy Of tic iin;S"d
states Government over the State was ',indis.
putca and iudisputable. am aware that nnanv
OF my cotcuporarics deny the proposition
put II l can properly Comprehend the lc~;ti'
mate p; fences of war, no other result prosont,
itself 20 my mind.
Gentlemen ofthe convention, have merely
outlined some Of the subjects which, in nv
Judgment, should command your earnest ats
ttention. AS have indicated, your bodv il
here, not the representatives. of the intelligence
Of the State. Your ACTION therefore must be-
your passport to public favor, and while the
great majority OF tho white population have
talled TO cast,their votes ia electing delegates.
~ Will be your duty to adopt such constitu.
tion as VIII commend itself not only to tho
black y: but to the whitc people of South Caro-.
olina. - GS
AS the Executive of the State during tho
trying times through which we have passed,
nave earnestly endeavorcd to do equal and ex.
act justice to all of our citizens. Tn'the per-
lormance OF my duties, havorknownH no dis
junction = between race or color, When L have
been called upon to exercise the high prcror-
alive of executive clcmcncy in favor Of those
who have violated tho laws, the records of nv
Office will show that have made reasonable
allowance for tho frailty and ignorance of tho
colorcd population, and that combinations
and pardons extended to them exceed those
extended to the white race, whose opportuni.
ties for obtaining intelligence did not CON-
n'cnd them with tho same force to my iude.
ment and sympathies.
AS a citizen of South Carolina, ,sborn ;sanas
raised on her soil, and designing to layS nv
' bones IN this homeGof my fathers, I do net.
wish tosce constitution adopted obnoxious TO
our$ people. If the instrument which Oh,
frame be justsand wise, as L trust it willbo.I
shall feel 1t to be duty to recommend its
adoption to my people. But if, on the other
hand 1t bears uponts face evidences of hos.
tiiity TO the true interests of the State. twill
DC calculated to create antagonisms there.
suits d OF which will be most deplorable, andlT
tor one will pull up my stakcs, and with.rv
household remove to some other section gof the
country. ~ w Easy
.n1,s Ssa ya. that sspp9ss}sss There win
be onnosi,..- % you and opposition, to me,
~ have been too long in political life to be .
afraid of the small thunder which n,ay$bo Sii-
rected against me by newspapers, II hayo
reached q period of indifference upon that
question. IF I know my own conscience, ana
If what say Is not true, trust that that oysr-
ruling providence which guides and scor,trolss
US will smite me for the falsehood- II tnvath;a
day no other or higher motive, =, care; nj,
whetherit be public orprvato. no other nolit.
icnl aspiration thanto promote tho intercsts
of the people of South Carolina. believe
SAID to some of my colorcd friends somo
months ago that ! wes tired Of politics and
desired to embark in somc business that would
enable me 70 support those who are dependeiit
on me. now go further and say to YOU / an
dlssusted with politics. I know Of no poss
tion, State OF Federal, that i would seek Il
cost cost N me the passage Of q single step. Let,mo
tel you that,a man who. embarks III political
life, II hois honest, ,swill bo poor as long al Io
soulains In 1t, and tho sooner he gots out 81 it
tho better it will be for his wife, children and
self intend to do it. wish to 90 iftota.
tlrement, and there is no office that your fo-
commentator or votes could confer upon mo
TINT would accept. 4 ask you,- then to have
cofdence in the statements that have made.,
In conclusion, u desire you to adopta lib.
erai aud wise constitution, under which tho,
white andlthe black men CAP live together;
q consultation which will protecttho great IA.
forests OF the State, aud restore to:it a degree
OF prosperity not heretofore enjoyed; a oonsti.a
tuition tliat will dispeil that distrust wlich
unfortunately now prevails. You have sfeat
problem. to solve, ,such an one as has rarely
been given tosman ;you areSto undertake. an
experiment. which has not thus far Id the OK.
pcrienceof mankind been successful. Thatex.
perlcnco shows that, when placed upon terms
OF equality, the races have not lafmoiized.
ltls for yOu To- demonstrate to tho cotitrary,
being hopeful myself | believe That, with
proper. discretion and wisdom, you may form,