The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-21

he reminded of the noble conduct OF that peo-
Dle under the most trying circumstances IN
the history of the late war, when they were
beyond the protection OF tne feoeral iGrces Ire
While the Confederate army pressed INTO lts
ranks every white male capable OF bearing
arms, the mothers, wives, daughters ana sisters
of the Southern soldiers were left defcnceless
and in the power Of the blacks, upon Wnon
the chains of slavery were still riVeted; ana 70
bind those chains the closer was the real issue
for which so much life and properly were sac-
rifced. And now, sir, ask, how did that race
act, Did they, in those days OF Confederate
weakness and impotence, evlnce the malISnity
of which we hear so much? Granting, Tor the
sake of argument, that they were lgaorant
and besot1ed, which do not believe, yet with
all their supposed ignorance and Supposed
credulitr, they, in their way, understood as
fully as you or the awful import Of the con-
test.
They knew that if the gallant corps Of native
soldiers were beaten back. and their flag trail
ed in the dust, that it was the presaSe OF still
heavier bondage. They longed, too, as their
fathers did before them, for the advent OF that
epoch over which was shed the ,halloWed llght
Of inspiration itself. They desired too, with
their fathers, to welcome the feet Oh tne stran, @
gers shod with the peaceful preParationof good
news. Weary years of bondage had told their
tale of sorrow to the Court of Heaven. In the
councils OF tne Great Father Of All they knew
the adjudication of their case, albeit delayed
foT years, in which patient suffering had nearly
exhausted itself, would, in the end, bring them
the boon for which they sighed-God's most
blessed gilt to his creatnres-the inestlmaole
boon O. liberty. They waited, and they waited
patiently. In the absence Of their masters they
protected the virtue and chastity of defenceless
women.
Think. sir, for a moment what the condition
of this land would be to-dagif the slave popu-
lation had risen in servie Snsurrection against
those VINO, month by month, were fighting TO
perpetuate that institution which brought them
all the evils of which they complained. Where
would have been the security for property,
female chastity and childhoOGs Innocence
The bloody counterpart of such story OF cruel
ty and wrong would have been paralleied only
in these chapters OF Jewish history as recorded
by Josephus, or in the still later atrocities or
that reign of terror which sent the unfortunate
Louis XVI and Marie Antonette to the seal
fold. Nay, the deeds In that drama OF cold
blooded butchery would have out-hereded the
most diabOlical acts of Her0d himself.
Mr.. President, maintain that the past record
of INV race is true index OF the feelings
which to-day animate them. They bear TO-
ward their fermer masters no rcvengeful
Thoughts, no hatred, no animosities. They
aim not to elevate themselves by sacrihcihg
one single interest of their white tellow-ciu-
zens; they ask. but the rights which are theirs
by Gods universal law, and which are the
natural outgrowth, the logical sequence OF the
condition in which the legislative enactments
of this nation have placed them. They appeal
to you and to me.to see that they receive that
protection which alone will enable them to
pursue their daily vocatons with success,
and enjoy the liberties Of citizenship on the
same footing.with their white neighbors and
friends.
And here let me say further that the people
of the north owe to the colored race adeep OBJ
Ilgation which 1t Is no easy matter to fulhl.
When the Federal armies were thinned by
death and disaster, and sombre clouds over
hung the length and breadth ofthe republic,
and the very air was pregnant with the runners
of foreign interference-in those dark days OF
defeat, whose memories yet haunt US as an
ugly dream-from what source did our nation
in its seeming death throes gain additional
and new-found power? 1t was the sable sons
of the South that valiantly rushed to the rescue.
and but for their inuepidity and ardent dar-
inr MANY Northern f1reSide would miss to-
day paternal counsel or brothers love. Sir.
repeat the fact, that the colored race saved
to the noble women of New England and the
Middle States the men on whom they lean to-
day for security and safety. Many of my race;
the representatives OF these men on the held
OF battle, sleep In the countless graves OF the
South If those quiet reSting-piaces OF our
houored dead could speak to-day, what
mighty voice, like to- ''the rushing of mighty
wind" would come up from these sepulchral
homes! Could we resist the eloquent pleading
of :heir appeal All, sir, l think that this ques-
ton OF Immediate and ample protection tor the
loyal people Of Georgia would lose its legal
technicalities, and we would cease to hesitate
in our provisions for their instant relief.