The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-02-28
Speech of Gen. r. 1B, Elliott,
AT p, PUBLIC - RECEPTION - yrIIuRsDA,
EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 1874.

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Ieg gn 0ig Ifigs { alab a---1 dsaaas $50 2
~ Z FELLo1Y CirIzESssI ca can, hardly
lind words wherdwith to adequately ex
press the sense Of gratitude that my
heart at this moment feels for the mapy
,kindfsehtiment of approval that have
been uttered by you as to my course as
your Representative in the National
Legislature l &.a,u}equally destitute Of
the power to. summon forth to my aid
appropriate language wherewith to
testify to my heartfelt appreciation OF
yourssmany manifestations ofgfriendship
towards, and deep confidence in, my
humble self. must, therefore, content
myself. with the mere common place ex
preston of sincere, genuina thanks, and
my earnest assurance that shall ever
IstriveS'to be worthy of your confidence
Indeed, fellow citizens, from the bottom,
OF MY heart, thank you,, iSft.d r.
Three years ago, after sharp and
acrimonious contest, it became my good
fortune, to be chosen byeyou as Repre-
sentative to the most august parliamen
tary body on tIiis continent, the .Ameri
can Congress l. was, indeed, highly
distinguished honor, an honor of which
1 was sensibly proud. tr
But, fellow citizens, amid the cxulta
tons incident to my success, was
deeply impressed with the importance Of
SO high n s'ati"n, and the tremendous
responsibilities that rested upon me ia
the discharge of its functions. | felt
then. rs feel now, that as one of the
l0hecrs IN The national arena Of a race
just emerged from long aud gloomy
i"laht,oi'A mericun boudage--a race rtiil
weighted with heavy burdcns-I would
be required to bring sonnet hing worthy
whereby 10 propitiatc the judgment of
mankind. Robtd with the ..toga" of n
~ !fieEy,sss;eprgtiyyy y,ssses at oure re liz, i II Nv
much WAS expected of mc as a natural
adcruty7soiaa people bu, rcu. Ii tly infused
ns new tlen,cut intn the bnly nr,Iif;c
While l could Scarcely hnPe. to Gil t,lr
nieasnre Of public cxpcctuii II, ! never
thaeetcss d termnc.l, un ler livin;, g,M
uhce, to y;niicue, 10, th hes of nv
ability, the wisdom al li,.t henc6c,nt
policy which strLck fr,m the limb, uf
fuur millions of human bein.s tn /.
CALLING chains'of slavery, and from their
low estate lifted thcm before the, eyes of
the te ls,ssst Wyrld TO the proud position Of
American frecmcn | resolved to cou
tribute my humble share ia illustrating
the capacity of the negro for self.govern
ment,i ,ioand in justifying the conduct of
those of my white tellow citizens who
thought it no disgrace to vote for
colored men. ~. .-
4 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, WON n and
children werC being subject nightly to
outrage; many were falling victims to
midnight assassination; many were
writing under. the sting oil the pitiless
lash while many others, hunted for
opinions sake, were fleeing to our
capital as thoir "oity of refuge" Al
such a time and amid such scenes,
hastened to Washiugtcn to assume the
duties of my office. Shortly after, i.
became me, in the line of my duty, tc
invoke the exercise OF the national
power for the protection of American
citizens domiciled in our State. 81
During the consideration Of the "er
forceuiedt bill,' that great measure Of
protection, had the privilege Of taking
part in the discussion Il sha II neyar
forget that day, when, rising in my place
to address the House, found myself
the centre of attraction. Everything
was still. Those whs believed in the
natural inferiority of the colored race
sappeared u to, fee, that the hour shad Al
rived lin (which they should exultiu
.t,iumph over tho failure Sof the first
.man of.stho despisederacon on.whose voice
was aboutto be- lifted ia tfat cha inber
The countenances of those Who synpa
thized with our cause seemed to indicate
! their eht aaa'e'y a for my isepoeessa, aud their