The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-23

will give them remunerative wages, and
live prudently, exercise the strictest
economy. so as to save MS much money
and provision rs you can, so that you
may be able to buy n lot next year. Do
not fear that you will not get land, for /
think that it is the intention of your
Legislature to assist all who will try to
assist themselves. Make your contract
carefully, and perform your part we'll,
and, if any difficulty, the law will protect
you.
Now, my friends, 1 might here closo
my remarks, did not the duty 1 owe to
truth and justice, to you, my colored
friends, to your neighbors. to the au-
thorities engaged in this enterprise, MS
also to myself, require me to briefly
notice some reports introduced and
circulated in this section, relative to the
settleaaent of these lands; which reports
think you will all join mo in proving
and stamping. to be both false and
slanderous. First, let me say, that it is
said, that these lands will be settled up
by lazy thieves and drnnkards, and that
in consequence of Which your ncighbors,
whose land joins you, and whose homes
are near by, contemplate tho abandon
ment of their homes and their lands
will you not, my colored friends, join
me in proving such to be foul and
false slander? Yes, l feel assured that
before twelve months roll round you will,
by Your honesty and industry, stamp
such to be false and an unfoundcd
SANDER. My colorcd friends, look ut all
your white ncighbors; what lands join
yours; whose houses are in sight; sec
their pleasing countenances; hear their
words expressing satisfaction and de-
light at the idea that you can now
secure for yourselves, wife and children
Il comfortable house, and that they are
ready to join you in promoting peace
and good order and neighborly friend
ship. Does that look rs if they contem-
plated abandoning their lands? No, no,
my friends; their words and their souls
prove that such reports are unfoundcd.
Again, another count, in the Indictment
against truth and justice, as well as
against myself, is this: have just been
told that it is reported that L requested
these, your white friends, to come hero
to day, In order to test your characters.
Now, my colored friends, here before I'll,
L pronounce such false and malicious,
and denounce the person, be he whom
ho may, to be n vile disturber Of the
peace, aud deserves tho scorn and con-
tempt of every good citizen. No, my
friends; my object in inviting them to
be here was to show to all that this
scheme Of purchasing lands to aid the
poor man was no secret or swindle; but
open, humane, and with the honest de-
sign of helping the poor man, without
regard to race or color, to obtain II homo
for himself and family. No, my colored
friends, it Is not for me nor your neigh
bors to test your character; it is for you
to do that. The Commissioner looks to
you to do it-your Governor expects you
to do so, and [ candidly think you will,
to the full extent, vinlicate aud estab-
lish character that will tend to elevate
your race. But, my friends, thero is
one great enemy that may come in yonr
way. 1t is Il skulkiHg, alluring and de-
strnctivc enemy. l aliude to ardent
spirits, whiskey-yes, corn whiskey
these whiskey wagons, (whiskey hells,
would be better name,) are rolling
through the country, often, I am told,
along this road. Friends, take my ad-
vice, and tnrn your faces from them.
Doutlcss, they will spot yon, and en-
deavor to tempt yon, by Offering what
they will call Il dram. Yes, they will
try to draw the last dime from You.
pity those that, in order to get your
money, or your labor, would tempt you
to disgrace yourself, beggar and starve
your wife and children while on earth,
and. worse than all, send their souls to
eternal ruin. Take my advice, aud
spnrn them forever. When I go to Co
lumbia, will endeavor, in this direction,
to set your Legislature and Governor to
throw every possible safeguard around
you: know that they wish you we'll.
My anxiety, my colured friends, for
your prosperity and future greatness,
forces me to ask you To allow me to say
something to you relative to the e,luca-
tion Of yonr children, which is, indeed,
OF transcendcnt Importance, in order to
the elevation and happiness OF your
people. Yonr Legislature is now en-
gagged III preparing and arranging sys-
tenn OF free schools, whereby the means
and opportunity Of educating your chill
dren will be placed near your homes.
DO let me urge yon to make every shift,
and resort to Ill honest mcuns 10 educate
your children see that they go to school.
Your School Commissioner, Mr. Lomax,
will doubtless make every effort to pro-