The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-07-21
A CoIored Mans speech.


The following is the sensible speech
made in the late South Carolina reform
convention by Rev. Jonas Byrd, colored,
of Charleston
Mr.. President, came untrammelled to
this convention, but if | ever was in earnest
am now. (Applause). l believe every
word which has fallen from the lips of Gen.
Butler and Gen. Kershaw. Sir, l have full i.
unlimited confidence in South Carolina and
her sons. (Applause). l see here Col. Sim
mons and Mr.. Mikell. Their fathers were
my associates, and these, their sons, have
been born and raised since lived in Charles
ton. came to that city in June, 1915,
fifty-fve years ago. Certainly, I should
know my people from A to q, and that
do and what South Carolinian tells YOU
he is going to do. that he will do. Gap
plause.) They don't say one thing and
mean another. They regard their honor too
much for that. (Applause.) 1 know the
people of whom l am speaking, and had
not faith in them / never would have put
my foot in this convention. (Applause.) }
Some folks told me l WAS going back on my
race. Said I, ''pooh-poon nonsense !"-
(Applause.) If take brick out of your
house, I must take it out of mine also for
do you not see that if | am running my race
into any risk, L should run myself into the
same risk ? l see my way clear. l know
what l am doing. If thought there was
the least intention on the part of the Reform
party to do otherwise than what they have
laid down in their platform, l would suffer
my right arm to be severed from my body
before I would become delegate to its con-
vention." (Applause.)
And now, MIR. President, in reference to
the other party in this canvass, we have no
animosity against them. They came to our
State in swarms from the north, when the
smoke was scarcely cleared from the battle
! field. What was their purpose in coming
here They had next door to nothing when
they made their appearance among us and
as for their morals, they had none. Haugh-
ter.) Now they are gentlemen OF leisure !
(Renewed laughter.) They had full hand
of trumps, and are getting high, low, Jack
! and the game at every deal. prolonged
laughter.) They adopted as motto, LANDS
for the landless." Well, money was voted
by the Legislature to purchase lands for
those who had no land. and commissioners
| appointed to make the purchases, and the
money put in their hands. They purchased
| land, paying the owners therefor $50, 900,
and pocketing 100000, themselves in the
same transaction. (Applause and laughter J
Only keeping three times as much for them
selves as they expended for the poor-goud
SamaritaDs that they were. daughter. J
And yet we must say nothing of these things
at all, because they are the acts of your
-'friends," the Republicans Well, l am a
Republican, but | want to know if any gen.
tleman who calls himself Republican will
condescend to shake hands with man who,
with the other hand is picking his pocket :?
daughter and applause.)
Mr.. President, God being my Judge, I say
! without the least hypocricy, there is more
prejudice felt against the negroes. as you call
us. in the North than there is in the South.
(Applause.) The South has played with an
even hand, and has shown you her cards
But when Northern people come among US
Il do lot say all, for there are good and
bad among all classes )-they say one thing
to US when they mean another. In Radi-
cal paper of yesterday it is stated that the
| colored delegates are paid to come here, and
that while the white delegates are stopping
at the hotels, the CO lored delegates are eat
ing in the kitchens. Sir, / am we'll situated
| IN nice boarding house. 1t is true we are
not at the Columbia Hotel but as for my
self L prefer to stay where | am and have
| always had the desire to let every man enjoy
himself according to his own mind and feel.
ing, SO long as he does not tresspass on 9TH
ers. L know of many northern men who
have come south and married southern la
dies, and they have been more rigid and eK-
acting of their slaves than southern masters
as class. (Applause). | know them and
could call names, but l forbear.