The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-11-27
Gen. Wade Hampton's Speech at
Macon.


Georgia State Fair on the 18th instant.
was decidedly one of his most splendid
efforts. Its tone Of high patriotism and
of true realization of the destiny and
duty of the Southern people commend it
to every heart. His views of labor and
the celorsd people, are practical and
wise. He thinks that the colorcd man
from his constitution and situation is the
most efficient laborer for tho South {;
that is, that lie can be made the most
valuable and effective laborcr that we
can get But in order to render him
such both the landowner and the colored
man himself have. much to do.
"We," he says "must exercise great
forbearance, constant prudence and
steady kindness. We must make him
feel that his interests are indissolubly
bound up with ours; that high prices tor
our products insure high ,eages for him
Let Us, be scrupulously just in our deal
ings with Him, let us assist him in his
aspirations for knowledge. and aid him
IN its acquisition. Try to elevate him
In tho scale of true manhood, of civiliza-
tion and humanity, so that he may be
fitted for the high duties that devolve
upon him in his new position"
On this subject the gifted speaker said
that he spoke from experience. His old
slaves are working on his plantations
and their labor has increased in its value
each year since emancipation. He is
about to put up school-house and a
church for thcm and to help pay their
teachers
His kind treatment and high sense of
duty to them in their new relation has
ben noticed and appreciated by them,
for says he. III am now on my way to
Mississippi, by request Of hundreds Of
negroes, besides my o,en laJorers, to ad-
wise them what course to pursue in the
coming election there"
This is grand. 'Tis no accepting the
situation, tbs no conservatism, It's no
third party, tits no compromise of prin-
ciples" for it is Hampton.
This is the tone of this great speech.
and we regret that space forbids our
quoting more largely from it. This is
the grand high duty Of the white people
at the South. The loud demagogue who
would fawn upon and cater to old habits
of thoughts, would riliculs or deplorc
the coming doom of the colored race
at the South, The philnnthropist, the
patriot, the representative of christian
people would utter the sentiments of
FI-.--rtoa.
We would that these sentiments could
reach every man through the broad land,
and that every heart would acknowledge
their truth.
at matters less what is said chan who
says it" is the adage based upon expe-
rience. Hampton, than whose name,
none stands higher in influence among
Southern men says these things. Will
it not be a great day for us, when the
colorcd men, convinced By his deeds and
his course that his old master is his best
friend, shall send for him and playground
him, and ask his advice as to their duty
and their ballots, and when her own sons,
elected with the aid and consent of the
colored men shall rule and represent our
country.
Such result is brightly promised by
this course and these high words of
Hampton.
The game of the present regime of the
South, is too plain, too bald, to be long
unseen by the colored people. Their
own aggrandizement is their policy.
The realization of this and its reaction
in their own minds is beginning to ex-
hibit itself in the words and actions of
our colored people, Let us perform our
high duty, as civilized and Christian
people to them, thus recently invested
with the sacred rights OF frecmen and
citizens, 50 new and strange to them, aud
they will respond to our efforts.
IT'S the only way-the only way that
our State can be restored to us, our labor
placed upon sure and mutually profita-
BILE basis, and our present political and
agricultural difficulties removed.
This is tho only way. Hampton says