The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-02-28

uus"eT. OuWace IL 60 say, that even
where sympathy was withheld respect
was freely accorded 5T& SO i1ih 'hi
for me to recall at this time the Incl
dents connected with the other occasions
I on which L had the honor to address
the Forty-sccond Congress. I am
admonished Of the fact that you arc
assembled to do me honor more particu
larly for my recent effort in the present
Congress in favor ofequal civil rights.
1t is, indeed, pleasant to me to know
that my remarks on that question, on
the 6thSof January last, have met with
the highest COMMUNICATION throughout
the country. 1t is gratifying to know
hat my utterancas on that memorable
occasion have been endorsed, not only
by the five millions of people that are
most direct!y. concerned in the result o.
the issue, but bya vast majority Of the
dominant race. That pleasure is in
| SiSaSco eShioiu ny eiie WuTIi atlu natIcr
ing manner in which those whom have
the honor more directly to represent
have signifed their approval My graft
fication is also Increased when I re
member that in onr own Legislature the
| Conservative Senators aud Representa-
tivcs, with but two exceptions, recorded
themselves in favor of resolution in
structing tho Senators and requesting
| the Representatives from this State i'm
| Congress to vote in favor of the Civil
| Rights Bill, and expressing sympathy
Tor the National Convention of the
colorcd race. W It'll, this fact before us.
who is there amung us that eau f;ll to
understand the signs of the times I?
Which of US can refuse to 90 forward
chcered and inspired with renewed
hone aud confidence IN the complete
triumph of true Republican principles
i'll our State, prominent among which
arc these cardinal points :ilibcrty fra
+ ternity, justice, civil ami political
HTn,lity? rFF aA
f! Who among you can reasonably
! dn"ht that the .ta giu-Saxon and the
| ,Aogiu- .\:rcln races. who are here
round tosc her hy til: ties If Il Common
e.tiny, oi wh s. heart, have been in
sc;bed by the '>lFu,crn Inul" Kindred
ie''l,ngs oi icl"s>'ir, will yet live to
-ether in cou,cntm.nt aml happiness,
and mutually enjoy the victories OF
peace
In tho recent debate on the Civil
Rights Bill, the privilege of replying to
the elaborate, legal and cons titutional
argument Of Mr.. Beck, of X kentucky,
and more particularly of the Hon
Alexander H. Stephens, Of Georgia, was.
by general consent, accorded to me-
This privilege, of course, brought with
it tho highest responsibility. 1t was
felt by all our friends that this was an
occasion on which it became the co:ored
race to be represented ny one its own
members 1t was felt. too, that the legal
and constitutional arguments must be
fully met and answered. With pro
found sense Of my responsibility to my
race, to my Immediate constituents, a nd
to my own reputation as Representa-
tive in Congress, addressed myself to
this great task. No man could have
had a more inspiring theme, or more
exciting occasion. | must speak under
the eyes OF crowded galres in the pre-
sonco of full house and of many dis
tinguisEed strangers, attracted by the
novel interest OF such an oc casion
| may confess TO you, fellow citizens,
that | trembled for the result. That
result need not attempt to describe It
has more than filled tho measure Of nv
ambition. The praises Of that effort, as
you all have observed, have been numer
Gus and wido spread. Friends have
boon delighted and enemies have been
forced to cnnccdc that the Vice Prcsi
dent of the Southern Confederacy-a
man acknowledged to bo ofthc greatest
intellectual force, and long public
experience has been met in debate,
and tLat his sophistrics havo been ex
posed, and his constitutional arguments
overthrown, by Que Of that race which,
twelve years ago, he described as Et
ONLY to bo 'hewors of wood and drawers