The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-30
THE Reform CONVENTION.
A 1etter from Mr.. Ellison 8. Keitt.
ENoREE PLANTATION, s. c., June u.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

Va ~N~- -
As my remarks in the late convention, held
in the City of Columbia, have been miscen-
strued, truth lmpels me to ask you to give
publication to this, their true version.
After the organization Of the convention,
two drafts for platform were offered to that
body, and were referred to the committee on
platform-one by General j. B. Kershaw and the
other by myself The one presented by Gene
raj Kershaw was entirely retrospective, as 1t
embodied only past existing facts. The one
presented by myself was present aud pro-
spective. Being member Of the committee
on platform, 1 resisted the draft by General
Kershaw in the committee room, but 10 no
avail. When the platform came before the
convention for its action renewed some OF
my objections to it, which I felt in duty bound
to do. It embodied only past existing facts,
and In that embodiment was embraced right
and wrong, truth and falsehood, good and evil.
1t consolidated and cemented, aud required us
to sauctlfy and embalm as verities all the vast
changes that have been incorporated into our
system of government, both State and FEEDER
al, since the cessation Of hostilities. This
would not do. Ipreferred to make the plat
form present and progressive, and leave it to
time and a returning sense of right and JUS
tice to eliminate whatever was wrong In the
past. If we were to embody the Ferities OF
the past. then let US stand upon truth alone.
This forced me to touch upon the slavery ques-
ton, as regard the Thirteenth Constitutional
amendment as the only prominent truth, In a
crystalized form, in all the legislation bearing
upon us since the war, upon which we can
stand as all truth. That was mutually agreed
to, adopted, and ratified, as we fought not to
perpetuate slavery, but for self-goVernment.
In the discussion my aim was to show
that we of the South were not responsible
for that institutions; that it existed In
all of the original thirteen States, and that our
forefathers, North and South, made them
selves alike responsible for 1t, when they laid
the foundations of the General Government
They had eyes and they saw not, and In the
second and third generations their children,
North and South alike, have had to atone for
their errors, while the black people, the infni-
tessjmal of the human race, have been passed
over unharmed. The solemnity alone Of the
occasion moved me to speak. The mission OF
Moses was freedom. The mission Of the Re-
publican party, under Lincoln, was freedom.
Ours Is the greater mission of Truth and Free
dom. Moses aud Lincoln faltered and perish
ed. Shall we falter or shall we prove faithful
unto the end and succeed? My words were,
1.-THE finger of God has pointed to each one
here. II you would be faithful unto the end,
you must Danish all selflshness, for that be-
longs to Moses in his .t1tten, hence un-
natural, state. Away with all maternal
prejudice. Let US know no North, no South,
no East and no West. Let us know only truth.
Let us today enlist under that banner which
has waved over the battlefield since the morn
ing OF Time It Is the banner of right against
wrong, of truth against falsehood, of good
against evil" &c. How the word prejudice
came to be connected with class or race, /
can't imagine, for the words class or race were
not used by me anywhere in my remarks. 1t
was used principally in a geographical point
OF view. Because South Carolina is our moth
er tand claim that none of her children can
be more fondly attached to her than l am,) we
should not be prejudiced against others COM
ing from everywhere to aid US in building up
and beautifyilg her. This was manifested In
the draft offered as a platform, wherein an
invitation was extended to the capitalist with
his money, and the laboring man with bis
hands from everywhere, to come and dwell
amongst us, and we would give them neigh
borly welcome. The whole substance of my
remarks were that we should stand upon
truth, strike for right and elimenate wrong.
Trusting, sir, that you will do me Justice to
give this letter place in your columns at as
early day as possible,
remain yours,
Very respectfully,
ELLISON & KEITT