The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-25

am I to say whether they Shall or not 1t 1B
not q question for me. but whether American
citizens, whom yon say have the same rights
to vote and hold office as you, shall be at ltber-
ty to vote for men ], an icy pr prefer, or snail Dc
The question reaches notseveral hundreds,
but several millions of our people. WILL, they
say. what do the people care about this ? The
banks are making money, the people are pros
pering, manufacturers are thrifty, who cares
that q few hundred or Thousand men are dis
iranchised :? care. I say war which ended
nearly eight years ago ought 10 have had nearly
all It's bloody traces wiped out before this time.
Applause.
| say that while we have often been amused
with promises of general amnesty, the gov
ernment of the country has practically been
controlled by men like Senators Morton and
Chandler and General Butler, one of which
senators is saying: well, then, all may for
give rebels If they will, but I never cam
Now that spirit Is not one which should rule q
generous and falthful-ganerous 10 errors
whereof the very last evil consequences have
long aimee faded away. Grant that 1t was
wrong, indefenslbly wrong; grant that the
whole Confederate movement was as hetnous
as you please, still 1t was utterly defeated.
It became q lost cause, and there Is no more
probability, and | may say no more possibility,
OF AnOJneT HtTlUu6 pIGCUhPS w ultluC luC auCl
lean Union than there Is Of an attempt to dis
rupt and destroy the solar system. Never be-
fore dId the Union stand 30 strong as today;
never was it's future 30 assured as to-day, and
never did any movement result In a more
complete and utter discontinue than the Con-
federate movement. Then,+ i say seven and a
half years after the last shot was fired In be-
half of that movement. IL ~ time for amnesty,
complete and perfect; 1t Is time for oblivion of
offences that go long since passed away.
Fellow-citizens, we stand on the principles
embodied in our platform. Those principles
onr adyarsaries do not asBail. They confess
Judgment, but they insInuate that a purpose Is
Therein declared which is not our real purpose
aud HAT we mean something utterly different,
and. therefore, proceed to attribute to US pur-
poses which we never cherished, which we
positively dIsavow, and which they ought to
know are utterly absurd. The most important
tion. and thew know 1t. No maj can 90 to
Conpress or be chosen" President without
taking q solemn oath to sustain The constitu-
ton. which absolutely forblds the payment Of
rebel debts or payment for emancipated
slaves.
of the American people. lask them to Judge
US without prejudice, Without passion, and
with q spirit uninfamed BY wrath and ven.
peance. / ask them to Judge us as citizens
who are sincerely trying TO do what we be-
lieye best for our country, and I do trust that
passion and prejudice will not prevail, that. we
shall be Judged as We are and. not as we are
Represented, and q benefcent triumph, which,
will Increase the value OF every acre Of land
In the Southern States, which will in
crease the. product Of these States, make
their people harmonious, black and white,
and make them live In q more t%rustful, peace
ful and iraternal relation than they have
hitherto held toward each other, will be Sc
cured. I trust this result Will be attained,
and that generations to come shall rejoice
over the inception, progress aud triumph of
the Liberal movement. Applause
Friends, I bid you good night
At the close of bis speech MI. Greeley re-
tired amid cheers.