The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-05

The Philadelphia Sunday Mercury
gives graphic account of the celebra-
ton of the ratification OF the fifteenth
commandment, from which VIC extract
the following:
Programme of the grand African inbi.
lee, to be performed on the 28th of
April A. D., 1870, by 1000, 900 talented
artists, all citizens of the bayonited
States: Great, grand and glorious cele-
bration in honor of the tremendous tri-
umph of Congressional power in reduc.
ing the naughty pretensions, puffed-up
pride, and national dignity of free-born
Americans, by asking them to associate
with those they formerly despised, and
compelling them to acknowledge the
colorged people as good us themselves.
The following is the preliminary address
by Major Muggins:
ELLow-CITIZENS: Like our noble and
illustrious President, General Grant. l
am unaccnstomed to public speaking;
but on such glorious occnsion as the
present, who is there amongst YOU that
could remain silent? Who're is the
colored man. fellow -citizcus, that ever
dreamed of day like this? Twenty years
ago, William D. Kelley, john w. For.
ney, Benjamin f. Butler, and hundreds
of Others, looked upon us with contempt
and branded us as dir,y niggers. But
what are these very men doing now?
fellow-citizrns, it thrills my heart
With the feelings Of manhood to stnte
that they are bowing humbly and reve-
rently before us, aud almost qnurrtling
amongst themselves rs to which shall
have the honor of first kissing the hem
of our garments. This is grand tri.
umph, fellow-citizens; but don't trust
sucl, men too fur. Politicians are never
to be relied on. But here would ask,
fellow citizens, to whom nre we indebted
Tor oil this wonderful change of public
opinion! Gould it have heeu from the
friendly precedent of William Penn?
No; for he lived and died slave owner
Was 1t to the influence Of the man who
wrote, the men who signed, nr those that
endorsed the principles of the Dpclnrn.
tion of Independence, declaring MI men
equal, having the right to life and
liberty? No; for men who preached
freedom abroad, aud continued TO pruc
tice slnvery ut home, were neither more
nor less than imposters. Was it to the
noble example of George Washington ?
No; for ho kept his slaves until he died,
aud left them by will to his wife; but
this, OF course, must he considered quite
excusable. as it would be pity to mar
sc fine an imaginary model with black
spot. Is it to tho sleek faced Yankee
that we are indebted for this wonderful
alteration? No; for he sold our futhers
and mothers into Southern bondage
Neither is there any respect due to
Abraham Lincoln; for he did not issn
his emancipation proclamation either rs
an net of justice to the slave or MS IL
benefit to the human family, but merely
as nn act of military necessity, for which
he deserves as much credit as burglar,
who, having forcbly entered house,
finds he caunot rob it unless he libcrates
the yard dog. and sets him on to worry
his master. No, fellow citizens, not tu
any of those are we under any obliga.
ton; for had not jeff. Davis rebelled
against Yankee assum ption, we should
have remained in slavery until this day.
But, as [ said before, am unnccustomed
to public speaking, and prefer short
speeches to long ones; for men that talk
so much, must Of necessity tell lies, for
there is not truth enough in any politi.
cal party to furnish material for ten
minutes lecture. Thanking you, fellow.
citizens, for your kind attention, 1 now
sit down.