The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-05-06

President-General johnson Hagood.
Vice Presidents-Dr. 4. nj. Forster, w.
M. Lawton, Esq, Col. VIM. Wallace and
Maj. Thomas w. Woodward.
Secretdry-Col. d. Wyatt Aiken, of Abbe-
vile.
ITeasurer-Col. r. J. Gage, of Union.
Gen. Hagood, on being conducted to the
Chair, was received With warm applause
and at the conclusion of his address, Rev
Dr. T.. L. Buist offered up an appropriate
prayer.
resolution was adopted, that the Presi-
dent nominate standing committees of five
to prepare business for the action of the
Convention, VIZ: Agriculture, Manufactures
Mechanlcs, Labor and Immigration. Reso-
lutions. When the following appointments
were made:
On AgricMAure-Dr. J. w. Parker, D. W.
Aiken, A. M. Forster, T. G. Clemson, T. W.
Woodward.
Manwactmes- M. Lawton, Alexander
McBee, j. G. Gibbes, L. Williams, VIM.
Glaze.
Resoluaions-M. W. Gary, J. M. Baxter
). T. Thomas. j. A. Barksdale, VIM. Wal,
lace.
MecAanics-W. s. Henerey, r. Tozer. w.
X. Blake, N. Hayward, T. Wannamaker. "
Mr.. Wallace, of Richland, offered the
following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas, the system of labor from which
resulted the happiness and prosperity of the
South, having been undermined by the per-
sistent attacks of ignorant, fanatical philan-
thropists and designing politicians, and
finally destroyed by the fortune of war;
and the Legislature of the State, controlled
as 1t Is by unscrupulous adventurers, having
tendency to deprive us or render worth.
less the only labor that we have.
Resolced, That the agricultural wealth
and entire interests of the State requires and
lmperatively demands reliable and efficient
class OF laborers, having intelligence to
understand their true interest, and who
Will strive, by honest means, to become
useful and respectable members of society.
Reso!ued, That committee be appointed,
consisting of one from each Judicial District
IN the state, whose duty it shall be to pre-
pare and publish an address, urging upon
the people the Importance of this measure.
and pointing out the hest and speediast
method of accomplishing it. D
Mr. Gilbert deemed the adoption of the
resolutions as unwise and impolitic, and in
few able and brief remarks expressed his
unqualified objections to them.
On motion of Mr.. Woodward. the pream-
ble and resolutions were laid upon the table,
to be taken up and referred to the proper
committee when appointed.
The following resolution was introduced
m
mittee on Labor:
Resolred, That the true policy of the
South, in relation to the all-important sub
lect Of labor, consists in utilizing the labor
that we have and in supplementing it with
foreign white labor as rapidly as possible.
In reply to the preamble and resolutions
introduced by Mr.. Wallace. Mr.. A. A. Gil
bert, OF Sumter, spoke rs follows:
MIR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CONVENTION: rise with great deal of hesi-
tatlon, to make remark which comes spon-
tIaneously to my mind. touching this matter
lt occurs to me that, however true may he
the language therein, and however much we
may feel In our hearts, it is true; yet, at this
period, this particular juncture and crisis in
our affairs, 1t Is impolitic to bring that sub
Ject prominently and forcibly forward in
connection with the actngs and doings of
the Agricultural Convention When we are
gradually coming up to the work-I throw
1T out have no doubt that the intelligence
of this body will readily discover other
thoughts Our system of labor as it now
exists In this country and in this State,
however crippled, however demoralized,
however under bad influence, is yet, at least
Tor the time being, all the labor that we
have, separate and apart from that which
comes from the bone and sinew of our
arms. 1t occurs to me that anything intro
duced here tending to disturb or distract
that labor. or to excite those who control
that element, might irritate that element in
an agricultural sense, and do us IA serious
injury.
The colorod man, to some extent we
hope, is emerging from those baneful iniiu-
enccs which so domoralized and rendered
him unfit for the duties of laborer. It
seems to me that II movement of this sort
would but tend to give those who control
the colored man still greater influence. We
must use this element until we can supply
a better. We may look abroad and see thou
sands and lnillions of men who might be
brought to our region, and might effectually
occupy the places of the colored laborers;
but they are not here; they are vet to be