The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-11-13
TILLMAN'S BIG SPEECH
IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL coNVEN'
TON ON THE SUFFRAGE PLAN.

TON ON THE SCTFH7o-
ua Shows In the IIideousne>~ of Negro
p,,s in All its Deformity--The Days of
p,b,ican Rascxlisy Recalled.
The following is the speech delivered
in the Constitutional Convention IN
reply to Irbv. and the negro delegates
by Senator Tillman while the suffrage
question was under discussion:
I regret that my physical condition
IS and has been such since Tuesday
morning, coupled with enforced at
tendance upon this Convention, as to
render me unable to arrange the data
and prepare such speech as | think
the occasion warrants. also feel my
inability in physical way to accom-
plish what I Shall undertake, but l
will simply do the best can.
1t has been we'll said that this is a
momentous issue, thatthis occasion OF
the State in dealing with the question
of suffrage will mark an epoch IN our
history, [ may further say that the
question of ofsufrage and its wise regula-
ton IS the sole cause of our beng here
The prosperity, happiness and pro
gress OF this people depend upon us
wise solution. The very. !lte OF the
State is involved in the wisdom or the
unwisdom of our action. why 90
saw thise When the Southern Cross
Went down in battle, and the hopes OF
fhe Southern Confederacy were laid.in
the grave cf the Lost Cause, when
we had struggled for four years with
bravery and patriotism and self-sacri-
fee unparalleled in history for the
right of self-government, for our rights
under the Constitution as we conceived
and understood them, what came to
pass. President johnson appointed
provisional government and ordered a
Constitutional Convention to be con-
yened to prepare the way for the STATE
of South Carolina to re-enter the Tn,
ion. The Convention assembled ana
adopted a Constitution, under, which
the Legislature enacted the Black CODE,
of which we have heard so much.
Whatever may said as to that BLACK
Code, nitgave the black Republicans,
Thad Stephens and his gang, excuse tor
their reconstruction deviltry, which
was the only pretence that they wanted
and caused these hell hounds; actuated
by hate. for the Southern people, to de-
termine upon degrading us to the low
est level possible, and they had right
at hand, an instrument which the most
fertileimagination, ifit had been given
a thousand years to concoct a scheme
OF. .villiany, could not have surpassed.
twas the>presence among US OF our
slaves Set free by the results OF the
war.
Actuated solely with the view to per-
petutate the rule OF the Republican
party, and with the hellish purpose OF
venting their rage and hatred upon
conquered people, they passed the Re
construction Acts, and came very near
impeaching johnson because ne had
adopted and moved forward contrary
to their hellish will. And they added
to the force of the army already here
to depose the civil government which
we had established, to overthrow the
fabric which we were trying re.erect,
and to put in its place the rule of the
negro over the Anglo-Saxon. CANDY,
the major general in charge OF this de-
partment, issued his orders calling Tor
the election of delegates to the Constr
tutional Convention, which did more
to put Southern white men down and
to destroy your material interest than
any other agency. The Constitution
which they gaFeus,was submitted TO
a vote of the people. All our then
leaders, without exception, took the
position that the act on the part OF
Congress and the United States, army
was outside Of the Constitution and
must fall. They advised our South
hn. white men to remain at home and
nav Iosttention to it, that it would
drop of its Su illegality, and the con-
sequence was nowhite man participant
ed in the election, waieesssGas pushed
through at tthe polls, guarded !anse
the State by bayonets, and we were
iplaced under the rule Of our ex-siaves.
The legislature was elected under
that Constitution, and aD ex-army Of
6cer, Rober K.Scott, was elected Gov
erior. The State House was fled:
with The minions ofNaek Republican
ism, led by white thieves, who, came
mere for the express purpose OF getting
rich atthe expenseof ourimpoyerlshed
and fallen people.
The first Legislature under the Radl-
cal and-carpet-bag regime metln No
yembers 1868. -1t-was composed IN
both branches exclusively, except from
two or three white counties, OF carpet
baopers and negroes: have attempt
ed to get the figures as to the number
of negroes in the four legislatures
which met during those eight. years OF
misrule. I have not been able to do
so. but my recollection Of the state
ments made in the public press at the
time was a small majority of whlte
men in the first one and IN the second
and thir6a large majority OF negroes.
I have the figures as to the fourth,
1856, when there were Is colored
Senators and I'll colored Representa-
tives. Now so as to give, scme clear
idea of the results of the rule OF those
people during those eight years OF
miseovernment and robbery, I must
BEG your pardon while-cI read some
feures gathered by the investigating
committee, who, in, 1878, took up this
question and gathered such testimony
as would place on record for the benefit
of future historians the facts as to the
hellish work accomplished through
Canby and his carpet-baggers, who
had been foisted upon these people BY |
the bayonet. The amount Of the pub
lie debt in 1868, when the Radicals
went into power, was 81, ,162, ,2s1. This
was the honest debt of the State, and
do not hesitate to say here that prior
to 1868 and up to that, time there was
no State in this Union whose credit
was superior to that which this State