The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-24

Uenleu TO. tnem, Werc not content to
build up and establish liberal and re-
publican government, but were hurried
from excess to excess, condemning So
ciety to the fiercest of despotisms, md.
in the name of ''liberty. equality and
fraternity" computing Grimes which
made humanity blush. Such was the
"Reigp of Terror" in France, and such
the consummation Of that great revolu-
tion which was intended to promote the
peace and welfare of the people. whom it.
involved in ruin. But such have not
been the features of the great social and
political revolution which has been
here wrought out Startling as it was
in its very onception--startling in the
magnitude of its proportions-and still
more startling in its apparent antagonism
TO long-sustained and deeply cherished
ideas-it has developed itself wholly on
the line of law, and of order, and of
peace: and, asking on the one hand
nothing but practical and living re-
cognltion of the great idea of fraternity
and equality, it has on the other hand
indulged in no eXcesses and has rather
yielded much to that prejudice which it
aimed to overthrow.
To you, gentlemen of the House, who
formerly belonged to that enslaved race
to you, who SO largely control the
action of this General Assembly. and to
your race which 30 largely controls the
destinies of the entire Stato-to you and
to your race, must history award the
honor of having been able, in the hour
of your unlocked for elevation to power,
to forget the wrongs of the past, and to
ignore tho teachings of malignant feel
ings. In the time when your political
subordination was ordained of Heaven,
you were faithful to the duties of your
position, even as were the children of
Israel faithful, when it WAS ordained
that they should serve the Egyptian
10 that decree they bowed in quietness
and submission. patiently enduring their
burden, and yielding to the heavy exac-
tons of their powerful task masters
But their hour of deliverhnce came. 1t
came in the good time of Him who was
their ever faithful God. 1t came to
them, as it came to you, in an une1pect-
ed hour; and it came to them, as it came
to you. from Gods own hand. aud with
out their procurement. But here the
analogy ends. Their deliverance was in
being led out from under the power of
those who had exercised dominion over
them, and in being made to wander to
and fro in the wilderness, houseless and
homeless, and without country, until
oil OF those who journeyed were entomb-
ed In the earth, and none save one was
permitted to enter the promised land.
This has not been your destiny. You
have not been led out to seek country,
but have found an inheritance here in
the land of your birth. To yon it has
been given of God to dwell even among
those who form erly held you in subjec-
ton, and to welcome to your own coun-
try those who have aided in your deliver
ance from seryitude, and who have come
to join with you in the salvation of your
beloved State; and not this alone, but to
be elevated yourselves. and to elevate
them to positions of honor and authori-
ty. And to you has it also been given to
show upon the page of history the
bright example of race who have been
willing, in their time OF power. to forget
the past with its wrongs and its cruel
ties, and to be forward to mete out even
handed justice to those who, in the
time Of their power, wonld perhaps not
act thus towards you. / trust that the
same spirit which has thus far guided
you will continue still to guide you in
the discharge of your responsible duties,
and that, through your agency, our State
may come TO know happy and pros
porous future. On this day of our re-
assembling, We are gratified with q con-
sciousness OF the fact that our State
presents n more prosperous condition
than at any time since the close of the
late war. Not alone have We to congra-
tulate ourselves that the auspicious sea
sons hava rewarded the labors of the
husbandman, and that our crops have
yielded suficiency for the maintenance
of our people, but in every department
of labor and industry the like prosperity
has attended us.
In political Affairs, the work of recon
struction has gone steadily forward, and
daily do we see Indications that promise
more and more hopefully for the future.
However distasteful TO large portion OF
our people is the present political condi.
tion of the State, however much at va,
it is, in their estimation, with forme,
prejudices of caste and color, the whole
State begins practically to recognize the
new fact of equality, and to yield obedi
once to its necessary results. Our courts
of justice have been everywhere opened,
and the judges of your selection have,
in most instances, administered faithful
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