The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1870-11-03

and lnscrlbe upon that banner our de.
termination not to interfere with State
politics, until VIC can make ourselves
heard. rs balance of power party,
we can sometimes take such action as
may rebound to our interest, but ex-
cept at such times, we will touch not
politics. Let US be what has been
forced upon US, ga white mans party"
Again, let no man deceive himself
The lines have been Enthusiastically
drawn. Let US accept tho challenge
thus thrown down, and if We do not use
our intelligence and capital to better
purpose than heretofore, we are unwor-
thy the name of men or Carolinians.-
We owe it to our honored dead, to our
grey haired sires, to our aged mothers,
to our wives and children, to ourselves,
to fight out the battle:of South Carroll
mas redemption, upon higher, nobler
and more lasting grounds than we have
heretofore occupied. Let us go about
it at once.
II was our duty to endeavor to effect
the reconciliation of the races, as has
been done by the Union Reform Party.
1t was our duty to recognize as accom-
plished facts, what is embodied in the
Constitution of tho United States, in
the XVIII Amendment. This we have
fulfilled. Our efforts have been met
by stern, implacable resistance. We
have fought the fight, and we have lost
it. We sacrificed no principle in that
fight, nor will We sacrifice any by un-
dcrtaking to effect our redemption by
the means herein advocated. We do
not propose to go back of the sentiments
embodied in the platform of the Union
Reform Party, in reference to the status
of the colored people. We leave that
question where we found it. It was
done without our assistance, but none
the less thoroughly done on that &C.
count. The sentiment of the entire
Democracy at the North, is in favorof
a complete recognition of the rights of
the colored man embodied in the Con-
stitution. Some of the Democratic
States have openly made it part of
the law within themselves, and the con-
ven.ions of other States have adopted
it in their platforms. We would be
going backward, not forward, in deny
ing what we have openly Advocated
We would be stu!tifyins ourselves and
prove that We are base deeeivers, were
we now TO recede from the position we
occupied in the late campaign. Since
then, we have faithfully done our duty
in this respect, and have failed to effect
the desired result, We repeat, that we
sacrifice no principle in occupying the
ground that has been forced upon us,
VIZ: that of a white mans party. We
would, indeed, sacrifice the principle Of
seIErepect, were we to continue, after
such q result as VIC have seen, to en-
deavor to bring about union, peace and
harmony between white and colored.-
1t is the result Of their action, not ours.
THEY have drawn the line, not We
They have rejected our overtures, not
we, theirs. THEY have withdrawn them
selves within the pale of race, not we.
They have forced this upon us, not ,oe
upon them. So let it be then. We
now, for the first time understand each
other. You, colored men, have declared
your determined purpose not to go acith
as. We accept your decision, calmly
awaiting the time when the Govern
ment of the State of South Carolina,
shall be carried en- by Representatives
of the entire people. When the intel
ligeuce and capital of the State shall
be represented, as we'll as the ignorance
and labor, in the General Assembly
We have gone far enough. We have
sacrificed pride AMI prejudice, every
thing but our sacred honor. To that
VIC will hold fast, though our hearts
blood be the penalty. But there is a
God of justice, "who rules in Heaven
and among the Inhabitants of earth"
He has his immutable and mysterious
purposes to fulfil, and upon our knowl-
edge of His justice we rely. We ac>
cept this condition of things, as one of
the DEGREES of his wisdom, and await
the current of His sovereign will.
This Journal had its representative
in the Press Conference held in Colum-
bia in March last. We were in favor