The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-04


are sonstantiy at work-set in motion by
o,f enemies-tas tendency Of which is
10 force us into fhis position. And IL
seems TO me shas no better use can be
made Of this dag than to warn eSch
o her against such Influences. Let Ms,
Make justiSe toward oil inen, irrespective
af color og condition, 0s the basis for
oar action; ana BY living in conformity
With that principle, we will secure not
only our own rights, but will assist in
placing upon stable foundation the
rights Of all.
Fellow-citizens. il we would be strong
men and women, exercising a healthy
influence over our own destiny and that
Of our country, we must resort to those
means wBioh alone give strength and in
fuence to all classes. We must not sim
ply get money, for instance, but we must
keep it. aud use it only for high and
worthy purposes. We must not be con-
tented TO remain In the by-ways of soci-
ETY., but must aim to walk in the high.
ways Of life. WAcannot be too ambitious,
If we are only careful to qualify ourselves
the present generation of men and wo-
men must probably be content to remain
as they are, but if We are willing to make
the necessary sacrifices, we may all con-
fidently anticipate brighter future for
our children. Education, the possession
Of land. and better style Of living, will
enable our children to take and fill posi-
tions from which we have been debarred.
The constant exercise of political rights,
il they are used with singNness and ho-
nesty of purpose, is, in itself, an edu-
GATOR OF great power. L appeal to the
experience Of every man before me. We
all know what we were ut the close of
the war; and there is not man before
me, who. having led a reasonably decent
iiee, IS not better, stronger and more in
telligent than he was then. Thin, free
dom and citizenship have done for us,
even with all the hindrances which our
previous lives and training threw in tAe
way. What may they not do for us,ysi
We only rightly use the power they con-
fer? We must constantly keep in mind
! that we are surrounded by men and wo.
men, quick and jealous to see and pro-
| claim to the world every mistake we
| make. Men and women who, having
lived and grown fat upon our unrequited
toll, without giving us the slightest op-
| portunity for mental or moral improve.
ment, now stand pointing the finger OF
| scorn at US, and assert that we are unfit
to enjoy the privilege of citizenship. Let
as, by forbearanoe, wisdom and the
wholesome control Of our natural i'm
pulses, teach them q lesson. They pro.
phesied that we would turn everything
upside down. Have we done so? !
think.not; and if they will only let us
alone, and quit "nagging" us, or, if we
can show greater wisdom and magnani
nifty than they have done, their prophe-
cies will not be fulfilled.
In the language Of Jefferson Davis,
call We ask is to be let alone" But il
seems almost impossible to please these
''our best friends" II any portion ot
our people rest contented where slavery
and the war left them, it is trumpeted
forth to the world that we are unfit fol-
freedom, and that if left to ourselves, we
will go back to heathenism. If, on the
other hand, we manifest disposition to
rise in the world, build churches and
sohool-houses; go to the Legislature OF
Congress, and take active part in the af.
fairs of men, we are immediately pro
claimed as insubordinate, faction.
and dangerous members of society
''reaping where we have not sown," and
altogether pesiilent and disagreeable.
"Our best friends" are hard to please
and am inclined to think that the bes,
| Oouk % W PUEou6 10 W ulbE6RHIu CuGu
entirely, except as they are members oi
same rights and privileges as we are
Whatever we may do in assertion of on,
own rights aud dignity, let us CAREFUL,
remember that they are best protected
when we respect the rights of all others
Above all, and beyond all, let us remem
Der that we are American citizens; al
our hopes and interests identified will
the success and welfare of our glorious
and free nation. We can do nothing il
South Carolina, of good or bad, that viii
not influence, in some degree, the destin,
OF our common country. Too long hav,
the people of our State been in the habi
OF looking upon it as something separat
and apart from that Union which give
to our land its strength and glory. LIE
US cultivate spirit of broad nationality
The more this spirit grows the NOR
all the petty differences of race, condi
ton and class will sink and fade away
and the sooner the time will come whel
the boast that the United States O
America sis the refuge for the oppresse,
of NIL lands" will be made PRACTICAL,
true. It ID great thing to have nation
to feel that You are part and parcel Of
great community, strong in its wealth
its intelligence, its power, and its jus
tice. And not one of the least of on
blessings to-day is the fact that to q
such nation is possibility.
Nash was followed by Comptroller
General Neagle, who in his harangue Q
twenty minutes duration. was partioula,
ly severe on the unreoonstructed of th
South, and intimsted that the coloret
people were the equals of the whites, il
every respect Representative 81. w
Purvis, (colored,) then delivered sensi
BILE address, which was we'll received. Il