The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-02-28
Speech Of Gen. r. 7B. Elliott.
AT PUBLIC REeEPTIoNi-& THURSDAY
EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 1874.

H8 IsN 9Aa atg D4s}s s---t HsrHss hl4
y FELLow- ClTlzENs-sI can hardly
find words wherewith to adequately ex
press the sense Of gratitude that my
heart at this moment feels for the mauy
kind sentiment of approval that have
been uttered by you as to my course as
your Representative in the National
Legislature l .am4eqna!ly destitute Of
the power to summon forth TO my aid
appropriate Language wherewiti to
testify to my heartfelt appreciation of
your many manifestations oftriendship
towards, and deep confidence in, my
humble self. l must, therefore, content
myself with the mere common place ex
preston of sincere, gcnuinu thanks, aud
my earnest assurance that shall ever
sttrivessto be worthy Of your confidence
Indeed, elow-citizens, from the bottom
OF my heart, thank you, 3r. "
Three years ago, after a sharp and
acrimonious contest, it became my good
fortune to BE-. ch oscH by !, ,ou as a Repre-
sentative to the most august parlamcn
tary body on this continent, the Ameri
can Congress 1t was, indeed, highly
distinguished honor, in honor of which
1 was sensbly proud.
But, fellow citizens, amid the cxulta
t1ons incident to my success, 1 was
deeply impressed with the importance OF
SO high staten, and the tremendous
responsibilities that rested upon me in
the discharge of its functions. | felt
then. as | feel now, that rs one of the
l0necrs in The national arena of race
just emerged from a long aud gloomy
"lsht Vi y merican boudage-a race rtii
weighted with heavy burdens woull
be required to bring something worthy
whereby. TO propitiatc the Judgment of
mankind. Robtd with the ..tega'' of II
,EeI,S.enra,iyu., at once re liz, i h Nv
much WAS cSprct.d al u.c MS Il natural
adcrui yasoisa l'coplL bu, ret. ,ltly infused
"s new ,len'cut it.tn The hnly p,,lit;c
w hiic could scarcely s,nPc to Gil tn.
measure of public ,xpccla.i II, ! never
thetcss d termlncl, an Ter lisin; g.,.,l
ahca, to y;n.ic,te, To th Lrs Of my
ability, the vision oi that bcncGrcnt
pplicJ which strirk from the l,ub, If
four millions of human beings tn 4,
CALLING chains of slavery, and from their
low estate lifted then, before the, eyes OF
the world to the proud position Of
American freemcn resolved To Goa
tribute my humble share ia illustrating
the capacity Of the negro for self govern
-nent, aud in justifying the conduct of
those of my white iellow citizens who
thought it no disgrace to vote for
colored meu.
The condition Of affairs in our State
at the time of my first election must
still be fresh in your memories Organ
lied crime was dominant in many of
our counties; murder, unabashed, stalk
ed abroad ; inoffensive men, women and
children wert being subject nightly to
outrage; many were falling victims to
midnighs assassination; many were
writhing under the sting OF the ptiless
lash ; while many others, hunted for
opinions sake, were fleeing to our
capital as thoir "oity Of refuge" At
such time and amid such soeues,
hastcned to Washington to assume the
duties Of my office. Shortly aftor, it
became me, in the line of my duty, to
invoke the exercise of the national
power for the protection Of American
citizens domiciled in our State.
During the consideration Of the zen
forcenieht BILL" that great measure of
protection, | had the privilege Of taking
part iu the discussion. shall never
forget that day, when, rising in my place
to address the House, l found m yself
the centre of attractions. Everything
was still. Those wis believed in the
natural inferiority Of the colored race
qappeared Ito, feel, that the hour had al
rived in which they should exult in
triumph over tho failure Sof the first
man of"thc despisedorace" whose voice
was about to be lifted inifthat cha nber.
The countenances Of those who sympa
thized with our cause seemed to indicatc
their aaiety for, my suooass. and their
heartfelt desire that it might prove