The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-07-07

I Cause our destinieS have been cast upon the
soil of the same State for generations, and we
have ties and ahinities which bind US together
as against all the world; and separated though
We be, do not believe any reasonable white
man can hesitate to say that the day will come.
and soon, too, when around the white race will
be found, to man, the whole colored people
Of South Carolina, standing by them, and
claiming their help against all outside inter.
ference. [Applause.] Mr.. President, we are
TO have upon this soil an invasion by all the
nations of the earth-a social invasion, which
we shall most heartily welcome. We are to
have the Chinese, the Germans, the italians,
the Swiss, the Poles, The French, the English,
the Scotch, the Irish, pouring in upon our soil
to develop the resources oil the State; and
when that invasion comes. inevitably our col
ored citizens will lind themselves in the minori-
ty. Where, then, will our brethren find their
strength They will find it in a union of
which, thank God, bears lts motto yet, "Whlle
there is life there is hope;" and while we have
hope, we will endeavor to maintain what we
conscientiously believe TO be right. (Prolong-
ed applause.1
FURTHER REMARKS BY MIR. KEITT.
Mr.. Kett said that tine position which he
held in reference to the report OF the Commit
tee on Platform was this, that it embodied only
the past existing facts. He thought 1t should
be progressive. 1t was confined alone to the
state. WHILE in his view. it should 20 ont.
In support Of the report OF the committee,
General NJ. c. Butler, OF Edgeheld, said:
REMARKS OF GENERAL BUrLER.
. Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of the COnren-
tion-Having had the honor OF introducing the
platform which is the subject Of discussion, 1
feel called upon to endorse what has fallen
from my distinguished friend. II ever there
was time when the good sense OF orr people,
black and white, should be invoked in deter
Carolina, that occasion is the present. We
have assembled for no child's play, but to show
our earnestness in movement that promises
to rebound TO the common good. We are not
here for the purpose OF skIrmishing, or INTEL
changing random shote with the opposite par
ty, but to work like men, like the children Of
one mother, for her welfare and her pea?e.
(Applause.l
Now what are the issues before us? On the
one side we see long, dark line; on the other
an array Of pale faces, In hostile antagonlsm,
while all around Us are political vultures, flap
ping their wings and gorging themselves upon
the carcasses that fall beneath their blows.
That, sir, is the picture, and no manin South
Carolina can deny 1t. But, ask, is that an
tagonlsm O natural one? Has 1t been pro-
duced by natural causes? No Black and
common destiny-and there is no reason why
We should not be united in all our purposes.
slYe that between the two races an elemeut
has been interposed which has the cunning to
promote strife. And the object OF this plat
form is to heal the differences that have arisen,
and to reconcile oil MISUNDERSTANDING that
have occurred [Applause.] / am frank to
concede that the misfortune mas been partially
of our OWN creation--l refer to the white peo-
pie OF South Carolina. We have never put
ourselves in a condition in which the colored
people could vote for Us. tell the truth as 1t
stands, and desire that it shall be freely ven
tilated from one end OF the State to the other.
We have never put ourselves in such position
that the colored citlzens OF South Carolina
could heartily sustain us until the present mo-
meut. Do you ask why? l propose to an
swer the question with short resume OF the
condition OF affairs since the close OF the war.
You will remember TINT we returned home
in 1865, after having laid down our arms.
Chaos, confusion aud anarchy relgned. What
was first done2 The people assembled in pri-
mary meeting; they sent representatives TO
the Then President OF the United States, An.
drew johnson. to Set forth the circumstances
OF the country tn acknowledge their acQues
cence in the results OF the struggle, aud 10 OBJ
tain counsel. MIR. Johnson said, return to your
State. will appoint Provisional Governor.
Organize your Conventions; popnlarlze your
Secession; recognize the emancipation OF
slavery, and observe your paroles. These were
the terms, and l appeal to history to prove
that the conditions imposed were faithfully OBJ
served, and the instructions oil the President
of the United States were religiously oDeycd
What resnlted2 Congress met. But Congress
repudiated these terms OF reconstruction. Mr.
johnson insisted and appealed to our honor
our character our sef-tespect not to fall into
the trap which this Radical Congress had set.
That, too, is history, aud What was more
natural than tina. they should look to the COM
mon chief of the armies and navlos or the
United States for their protection and peace.
What followed2 Tne convention in Philadel-
phia. It vas said tar and wide the Democratic
party will triumph. and you will be successful
I've sympathized and labored but again We
we're deluded. Congress met; the antagonism
between that body ard the President conlin-
ned to increase, and between the upper aud
the neither milestone we were ground almost
to powder. Now. sir, the people Of South Car
olna propose 10 take care Of themselves, With.
out reference to the Democratic party with
out reference to any party, but looking solely
to the interests OF the State. (Grcat applause ]
We are told by some OF our Democratic friends
that this is Inconsistent, and that by adhering
to the fortunes Of that party VIC shall even
tually bring about a condition OF things that
will practically solve the problem OF our salyn-
ton. As to the charge OF Inconsistency, let
me refer those gentlemen TO their own act,
when, in 1865, thoy met and repealed the Ordi-
nance OF secession, and recognized the eman-
cipatlon or slaves. 1t was duty tben, 1t Is
duty now, and there is 10 more inconsistency
in this movement by tho people ofSouth Caro-
lima than there would be in my taking the cars
on the Pacific Railroad, instead OF travelling
across the country IN wagon. ne Deaten
track Of our torefathers is not to-day the
shortest route to SUCCESS. We must adapt
ourselves to circumstances, and the clrcum-
stances which exist lmpel you and me to q
course OF action which, in certain degree,
makes rs turn our backs upon the past. We
have to grappe with events, and recognize
thing as they are. [Applause.] No man has
a right to violate the law, unless he determines
upon revolution, and that is the fundamental
principle which underles this platform. 1t
sets forth that such and snch acts have been
passed, and are the laws OF the land, conse-
auently that it is our duty, as citizens, to re.
cognize and obey them IN good faith, truth and
sincerity. (Applause.l ,
Now. what do the colore1 people OF South
Carolina saw have heard their arguments.
I know the influences brought to bear upon
them, aud before 1 tplsh, IT may be necessary
for Inc 10 call names, for [ believe in speaking
the Epglish language buntiy whenever truth
demands it. They arc told that we are simply
the rebel Democracy in disguise, and have
come here for the purpose OF deceivlug them.
The mo It infamous devices are resorted to Tor
the purpose OF deluding these poor people.
Why, sir, we had delet alton oil eight from