The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-07
Judge r1uck.y on tho Stand.

9Th instant. He was introduced to the az
semblsge ~ We, are informed,
about 600 white aud colorcd persons--by Il.
II. Stokes, Esq:
FELLow-C CITIZENS: Having been invited by
the citizens OF Union, without distinction or
party, to- address them, appear here to re-
spond. shall not mistake tue purpose Of
the invitation, or assume or an instant that
1t was designed as personal tribute OF honor
or osteem.
The majority OF those who compose this
intelligent audience have but little concern
Tor mJ opinions aB an individual, and arc not
to ACCORD to me, as an individual,
tho privilege OF entertaining still less for
theirs: But, rs tho Judge elect of the Sixth
Circuit, and about to enter upon my duties
at the Yravest c0njunoture in your affairs, MY
views are desired IN order that they may fur
nish. perohance, some index to my officiAl
trust, within the bounds Of becoming cour-
tesy, which, il over-stepped by me on this
occasion, 1t will be because l would rather
wound your eenaibiities than misiead your
Judgments. AM aware that am obnoxious
To these who. in great part, represent the
educated intelligence and social culture uf
the communities embraced within this my
new field OF duty. 1 own that this aver On
is natural, but deny that it ia Just al
native South Carolinian, who received the
medal OF the State for adding somewhat to
her martial renOwn on the fields Of Mexico,
aud for that service was educated nv her
served for noar four years at the front as
Confederate officer, aud aided to IN lint lin, in
many battles, the accepted theories OF Ills
State, cannot expect q very kindly Welcome
where appear before my whitc fellow cti-
zens az II Republican, and an ardent advocate
uf a state and Federal Administration to
which they arc Iy vast mxj jorlty sincerely
opposed, a. least in their party afliila.iups
My vndication, IN this respect, AMI content
To leave to thu not far distant future, when
auiunE Carolinians OF my race, 10y atty 10 the
natl III VIII IL" longer he regarded treason
Ia THE state. In the mcantIme shall az an
OK cx-Confedvrate officer hold firmly to the Opt
MON that the oUurse which Longstreet toll
lowed, aud which Sterling Price approved,
ctnuoi be very far from tho path OF houOr
This, however, 1 PROMISE you, that tho spirit
OF the partisan shall he quelled III the breast
OF tho Judge. Tho duties devolved upon me
III TINS emergency, r.quiro for their faithful
performance a mind fortified by frequent
communion With it's Maker In the tiisclinrve
OF the judicial office, shall endeavor to act
as impartially AZ il had no friends and as
fearlcnsly as il had no enemy. In tho inte.
rest OF law and order, invske the aid OF all
good citizens. 1 especially and with much
confidence appeal 10 the small farmers and
the working -men Of my own racs to aid me
with their counsel, and, il need be, with their
strong arms, to preserve the peace in this
section, lately the scene of a system OF organ.
izcd crime so wide spread aud terrible III its
execution nd to have placed the white man of
south Carolina upon his defence at the bar OF
an enlightened public opinion throughout the
civilized world. It has compelled the armed
Intervention Of the Government OF the United
States, for the protection OF one class OF
American citizens against violence aud out
rage At the hands uf another class, equally
bound to render obedience to it's laws and
men largely indebted to its magnaumity.
That this intervention was justitiable, who
will be bold enough to deny? The mutton
whose hand has never been laid upon loyal
citizen, saw in tho way Of Kindness WAS
wounded through the sides or it's friends.
It's vessels OF war are sent to distant seas to
avenge. at the muzzes OF their cannon, a
wrong done to one OF its hum blest citizens in
foreign land even though tho wrong door
bp powerful empire. How much more
quickly, then, should the Government ter
vene to protect it's citizens az gainst appalling
wrong upon it's own soil; especially when it
has been made to appear, by uuImpeached
testimony, aud "cuufrmatiOns strong as
proofs OF Holy Writ" that the victims OF the
wrong suffered chiefly because OF their uu-
bending loyalty to their country
The masked rider, with his fearful veil
arousing the trembling object Of his midnight
visit, to wrlthe under the bullet or the lash,
has been succeeded by tho stern trooper Of
the United States army, whose presence
nounced that tho Government OF the ropub-
lie had at last proclaimed TO those who .nur-
dored and scOurged it's citizens thus far shalt
thou go and no farther"
Arrests OF citizens upon mere military or
ders-themseyes a grave violation OF the
laws Of the United States. and only excusable
by the still more grave emergency that then
existod-soon followed. The prisons were
crowded with your fellow-citizens, some OF
whom now occupy cells within the sound Of
my voice. Many OF your men OF substance
have hed and now eat the bitter bread OF
exile. Hundreds Of your brave yeomanry,
the hard-handed tillers OF the soil, are to-day
held III arrest awaiting trial; while OF ers con.
Tossing their guilt, i'll the presence OF over
whe)minE proofs, in open court, have been
transported to remote prison by tho just
sentence or a Judge alike ilustrious for his
learning and humanity.
The most startling fact that presents itself
in this connection IL that, with one holitary
exception, not very striking. the men thus
sentenced wore the garments OF honest labor
the jeans clothing, that. from tho days OF
Marion and Sumter, down to the present, has
been worn by the men who have pressed near
est to the bayonet OF the enemy on the day Of
battle, and have given nearly all it's lustro to
the name or tho South Carolina volunteer
These men are unlettcred and have little
knowledge of books. They never wrote the
burning lines OF the Ku kln1 ritual or framed
the woll-rOundcd periods OF the constitution
thai formed .s blnndy charter. They wore
badly Taught, and they atone, and not their
more guilty teachers, have tasted the bitter
fruits OF that teaching.
With your aid, l will cndcavor, in the line
OF my duty, to prevent and to punish the
great wrong. TO my fellow citizens Of tho
black race, who have been it's chief victims,
| lat vnn peo al