Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1874-08-20

system. Georgia and Virginia said if it
PASSED they would make no appropria-
tions for its support, but if they refused
to educate their people, they would have
to bear the responsibility, and no people
could be happy, virtuous or prosperous,
without education, but such step could
never be taken in South Carolina.
tCheers)
Now about state politics; it was said
that the republicans were responsible for
the condition Of affairs, but let them
20 into a little history which was at all
times their best guide, and see how facts,
carry out such statement, whether the
republican party was responsible, and ifit
was proven that such asthe case, the par
ty ought to be driven from power. They
say that they are taxed too much, that it
was taxation without representation, that
there was a mis-appropriation of the
funds, and that the state was ruined.
Now who ruined it2 In 1860 South Car
elina was as prosperous as any state in
the union, but were the white people
happy then? No. When they saw the
north was going to elect Lincoln, they
said the abolitionists were stealing their
slaves, and now they say the carpet-bag-
gers are stealing their money. Was it
not the same cry2 In 1860 they were op-
posed to abolitionists and now they are
opposed to republicans. When you were
slaves did not they know that you were
men and had souls? But were you ever
consulted about disolving the union? ? No,
and was not that taxation without repre-
sentation2 We're you ever con-
suited about secession or elected dele
gates to the convention. No, the two
hundred and fifty thousand white peo-
pie were the people, as the Charleston
.Meus and Courier talked about I've the
people. " The ordinance of secession
was passed, which involved this whole
country in ruinous war. Was it for the
interest of the colored an?-No, but for
che interest Of the slave holder, to keep
the abolitionist from stealing their slaves.
After the war, was not the state ruined,
Ill the property lost, and all involved in
one common trouble? Then a kind
government stepped in and.said to those
people we will take you by the hand,
although You have cUst the government
three hundred and fifty thousand lives
aud millions of money, and al we ask in
return is that you viii deal right and just
with the colored people. Now let thmen1 m
inquire into the history Of that time and
see if they kept their word.
President johnson appointed Perry,
governor and they had no voice in the
matter and the first thing they
did was to pass the black code,
Ia code of LAWS that should have
damned every one Of them They ap'
propfiated thousands of dollars, for the
pay ofjudges for tie establishing ofcourt:
to carry out the provisions of that code
and now If they appropriated any money
that democrats did not like, they made a
great fuss about it. While that Legislature
was in session did they appropriate any
money for common schools, and yet these
people claim to be their friends, and hat
been true to them, but did this histor!
prove it2 No,-Did they pass any act fo1
the benefit and elevation of the, colorec
| man? Never one. And thus they pro
| cseded in this shameless career until con
gress in the name ofcommon justice step
| 10 and. gave them freedom; the right t.
vote, hold Office and run the government
| If they had had the power to do 50. Die
1.-The democrats help to do that--no no
une of them voted for it. The democrat
| run the government for three years afte'
the close of the war, and in 1868 thestat'
was in as bad condition as it was wheI
they commenced. Instead of legislatins
for the good Of the entire people, the!
spent their time IN making scheme
to benefit the few against the many
In 1868 the amount Of money turned
over to Parker was sixteen dollars ant
these are the men who talk about thei
business tact and of capacity for govern
ing. When they were all dead ant
prosperity read the history of these time
they would coincide in this opinion
Frpm 1868 republicans were responsible
lin 1865 the state was poor, there were NJ
crops because the laborers were afraic
they would not be paid. TIE speake
con,plimented the colored men on thei
willingness to labor referring. it tn
large crops that had been raised sine
1868, and the building up of the city o:
! Columbia and its general prosperity
| Then the condition of the railroads il
| 1858 and at the present time furnishedth'
best evidence of the increasing prosperit.
| ofthe state. In 1868 the income of the
| South Carolina road was only $4,000 and
| now t was $4,000. The Greenville roa(
had increased from two hundred Thousand