The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1874-10-22
SPEECH
GEN. j. B. KERSIIAW,
Before the Conservative State Convention,
on the Sth of October, 1874.


my heart with pleasure; proceedings which,
from their perfect harmony and concen-
trated action, surpass every work Of the
kim. in the recent annals of the State
an asscmblage composed of one of the
most gallant and impulsive people upon
the face of the earth, at time and in
place which testifcs to degree of ruin
and depreciation unparalleled in the his
tory of the world, meeting here as you
have this day done, and calmly and Dc
liberately recording decision after deci-
sion, arraying themselves solidly and with
unanimity upon the only line that is left
for the safety Of the land. This, say, is
a momentous epoch in the history Of the
country. | feel incxprcssibly pleased at
this unanimity. | feel that the Great Ru.
Ter over the destinics of nations has laid
His hand upon the perpetrators of these
acts of fraud and rascality which have
ruined and disgraced tho State Of South
Carolina, to huri them from their places
of power, and place in their stead men
who, from their honesty, integrity aud
moneyed interest, are entitled to voice
in her affairs. ! ieel at this moment de-
gree of hope aud confidence in the future,
which has not inspired me for many
long day l feel that in your action to-
day you have been Diyinely directed to
the only single avenue of escape from the
accumulated evils which surround US. |
feel that while we may in this action have
ignored and sacrificed many of the brighS
hopes that we have cherished, re hare
aaopted hat rhich is die only pisc, lorac-
ticaL, politicai aad sqJc course. If, gen.
tlemen, you carry home with you the
earnest determination to work on this
single platform upon which we have ar
rayed ourselves, the plank, as it were,
thrown to the shipwrccked mariner by
the hand of kind benefactor, and work
with confidence and energy, rtcto'y must
and shall croem or Efforts. ] have long
believed that there is but one way to meet
the difficulties that surround US. have
considered that the one way to win once
more an influence upm the destlnles OF
our beloved mother State, is to bring
about the co operation with us Of another
portion of the community, in whose hands
the destinies Of the State have so long
been placed. We have, by sticking for
absolute right and control rather than a
practical and sufficient participation In
the management of the State, kept in pow
er the Vandal hordt wlic,haye ruined and
desolated the State OF South Carollna.-
We have assisted in erecting that plat
form, in the support of which many OF
them have sold their very souls. You
have now arrayed yourselves upon plat
form which it seems that some kind Provl-
dcncc has driftcd within your reach. l
beg that you will understand Inc IN the
{ position which | assume. ! have been
accused of being an advocate Of political
amalgama,on. | charge the accusation
rather to ignorance than design. stand
here as firm for the integrity and welI-be-
inc of my race. and all that is illustrious
and worthy of being cherished, as the
most impractical pretended statesman in
South Caroiaa. Applausc. My pro-
position is simply this: That circumstan.
ccs over which we have had no control
having forced South Carolina into the
position which she now occupies, where
the two races composing her people are
vested with equal rights and privileges
and our race being in the minority, that
il cannot fail to be the opinion of any
right-mindcd man that we should adapt
ourselves to the circumstances i'll which
we are placed, and sagaciously endcavoI
to attract the confidence Of the honest and
well meaning coorcd people to assist us
/ in restoring good government to the State
of South Carolina. | have laid down. III
a letter which has been published, that we
should offer oll!e colored people of 5. Caro-
| lima an equal and just fhare in the poltl
cal Offices in the gift of the people Of the
State. But beg you to understand
gentlemen. tha; whic | believe that to
be the part Of wisdom and justice, while
| think any o..ef .ourse would be unwIse
mad and suic.da IS it has proved in the
past, am the last man to advocate anal
gamation upon ibis or any other basis
You perceive at once that if YOU adopt
the policy advocated, you exclude from
office ali corrupt Office seekers who have
played the parts of dcmagogues to secure
the votes of the coorcd people, aud there
would he no motive for an ambitious man
to seek to make IN impression elsewhere
The greatest curse in this country is cor
rupt balotng. aud in no way can you
preserve the purity of the ballot box but
by shutting the door against the evil N
Auences open to corrupt asplrants fol
positions Of power and money; Of tempting
the ignorant through bribes and by work
inc upon their prejudices to thrust them
selves forward into the highest places
You should maintain such an organization
as you have this day put in motion, and
have fair dealing to characterize every
movement which you ray make, and stand
firmly and truly upon the three emphatic
essentials of an honest and potent plat.
form. have through the kindness Of the
people of South Carolina become candi.
date for the Office Of their representative
in Congress. feel that cannot Justify
the kind partia!iry which has placed me in
this position; that ] cannot come up to
the expectations which they may have
concerning me. But. gentlemen. If elect