The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-18

sir, that the SeQtlmelLS WHICH ne HAS utteEtu
would do honor as the utterances of any man
Of any race, In any country. and at any time.
[Applause.l
Sir, this Reform movement In Its Inception
did not meet with the approval of my judg-
ment, and 1t was because had become, so far
as our colored citizens were concerned, a doubt
Ing Thomas. [Laughter.] had made appeal
after appeal to them, it is true, upon less high
grounds than those upon which | now stand,
few exceptions, as the idle wind which is re-
garded not. And feeling, sir, that sentiment
which is Unborn in the breast Of every man,
1t seemed consistent with my principles, my
sentiments and my dignity to close the argu-
ment, so far as the colored man was concern
ed. But, sir, am free this day, and In all
candor, to declare that I recede from that
proposition. [Applause.] I believe, before
High Heaven, that in this canvass we can use
the element of truth and go forth conquering
and to conquer; that the colored man and
white man, seizing with muscular hands the
banner of Reform, have IL within their power
to plant it on the very citadel of our conquer
ors. [Applause.] Sir, can very well con-
ceive that the blessings Of Heaven Itself may
have rested upon the inception OF this move
ment. 1ndulging somewhat in the imagina-
tlon, may suggest that the genius Of Charity,
the genius of Harmony, and the genius Of Pa
triotism, met together for high converse and
noble counsels, and that under the influence
of that Heaven-born spirit, 1t occurred to them,
in behalf Of Carolina, and Of truth, to inaugu-
rate just such movement as we have this day
inaugurated-[a applause land. as l honestly
suppose, inaugurated 1t upon the basis Of
truth, which In the end will give it the am
plest success.
Sir, as 1 interpret this movement, 1t Is
movement In behalf of South Carolina, and for
her prosperity. Throwing aside, the prejudice
of color and Of race-throwing aside the stand
ards of party-it becomes us, on this occasion,
to lift ourselves to the lights of generous pa
triotsm, and, with one mind and with one
soul, and with ranks closed and banners flying,
to move on to the rescue and redemption Of
the Palmetto State. [Applause.l
Mr.. President, will say to you that with the
amendment proposed by the honorable MEM
ber of the committee General Kershaw]
cordially endorse the proposition contained in
the platform they have reported; and In maxi
ing that endorsement contend that sink no
principle, that I violate no sentiment which
shall maintain in the future as / have In the
past, as being essential, in my judgment, to the
permanent interests of good government. That
platform has my hearty concurrence, and upon
my personal honor, and with my responsioili,
ty, before Heaven, declare my purpose and
firm resolve, In good faith to stand by 1t through
evil report and good report, and under all
circumstances to make good the noble eulogy
of the colored delegate from Charleston who
last spoke. Loud applause.] Sir, In the past
the honor Of a South Carolina gentleman has
been like the honor of Bayard, whether he
were rich or poor. When the true men OF
South Carolina, from whatever walks Of life
they come-whether native or foreign born,
when they meet and send forth pledges in be-
half of South Carolina, give my word, sir,
that those pledges Will be redeemed Zap
plause1 Sir, the great movement In which
we are engaged rises above the level Of party
to the dignity OF great patriotic work, and in
that spirit we have undertaken 1t. In that
spirit let us press it and carry 1t on to its glori
with this question fairly, honestly and con-
scientousy; and / do arraign the, present
regime. We do not demand that the
government of South Carolina should be
white mans governments; we do not
desire that it shall be black mans gov
ernment, but we want 1t as the government
OF the whele people, to promote the prosperity
of our common country. Applause. ~ !
would not have partial Executive, even II its
partiality were extended TO me. would have
our Executive plant himself in the Executive
chair in the same spirit that Judge takes his
seat In that august tribunal, and. with his eyes
blinded, discharge the duties OF bis high office.
[Applause.1 That is all we want. arraign
the members of the present administration In
another respect: ] arraign the manner in
which other executive officers have discharged
their duties shall forbear using names. I
do not mean 10 say that every man of them Is
corrupt, but do mean to say that there are
many men who form q part of the present
regime, who have utterly failed to discharge
their duty with impartalty and common de-
cency and honor. Sir, let us turn to the
Legislature. We don't complain, and don't
complain that our Legislature contains colored
members. believe that accordance with the
present state of affairs in this State, they are
there by right, by equity, by policy and by
principle. [Appause.l They are entitled to
representation, and as part and parcel OF
the body polite concede to the colored peo-
ple the right to an ample, just and equitable
fairs of the State. But, sir, / contend that 1t
Is neither to the interest of the colored man
nor of the white man that the Legislature
should be exclusively one or the other. do
contend that 1t is neither to the interest OF the
black man nor to the interest of the white
man that, in any country. the labor OF the
State should exclusively undertake to control
its capital. Sir, the legislative department Of
the State should not have one interest repre-
sented at the expense of the other. would
prefer to Initiate the admirable custom which
Is followed in the constitution Of the Bavarian
and Prussian councils, in which all the great
interests, religion, the military, labor and
capital, have their representatives. That is
what we need. We stand upon the platform OF
a good. honest and just government.
fhearty concur with the proposition which
has fallen from my esteemed and respected
friend from kerShaw, General kershaW, and
from my not less appreciated friend from
Edye6eld, General Butler.) And will say to
them and to others who have already shown
their honor in war, that they are now prepar-
inr themselves for still more enduring honors,
and when success shall have crowned this
movement 1t may b, said, as it has been on
other occasions, tha; ''peace hath Its victories
no less than war;" [Applause.1 | hope, sir,
on. And, sir, allow me to say In conclll-
sion. that 60 with them further in
the proposition that to give point to this
moyemnt, you must give personality to 1t by
making your nominations. Applause The
proposition of the gentleman from kershaW
tGeneral Kcrshaw] is correct. You cannot
give force, efficiency and victory to a move
ment like this, unless you place your standard
bearers in the field. [Applause.] And. gen
tlemen, implore by all those considerations
which address themselves to honest men, the
citizens of the State, regardless OF color ana
of party, to unite In one earnest and vigorous
effort for the redemption and regeneration Oh
the political and industrial affairs OF South
Carolina. Loud applause.]
REMARKS BY MR.. FENwGCK.
Cyrus Fenwick, Esq. one OF the coloreu
delegates from Charleston, said that he was
not prepared to make speech, and he would
only say that he was happy to see day dawn
inc upon South Carolina, and hope brighten
lnr as they looked into the future. The senti-
.o,,. ,hov had heard testified that hence