Year: 1868

The 8. O.. Gnmreutiutr.


GOVERNOR ORR's SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen ofthe Contention


Iesteem the invitation which you have extende
to me to address this Convention, as compimen
paid to the existing executive authority Of tn
State, more than to the individual who represent
that authority, therefore, in behalf of the Stat
for your kind consideration, tender you m
thanks.


You are here in convention to frame constitu
ton for the people Of South Carolina, and hav
been elected in conformity to the laws Of the Uni
ted States.


Unfortunately, in my judgment, for the best in
terests of thepeope of the late Confederate States
serious differences have arisen between the Presl
dent of the United States and the Congress. Ii
1865, Immediately after the surrender of Genera
Johnston, the President appointed Provislona
Governors, and provided for the calling Of eonven
tions in all of the Southern States. The pro
gramme which he adopted was not in unison witt
the views of Congress, and, after very considerable
delay, the Reconstruction Acts OF March Wer'
passed. The Congress claimed that the power II
reconstruct the Southern States which were in re
DEMON against GQ6 dutuOItty VI tuC SuieSo OSAoS"
belonged to them and not to the President. Hence
they ignored his action. 1t is due to frankness
that I should say, that, in my judgment, the plar
projected by the President and which has beer
carried into execution in all its details except t
the representatives in Congress, was not only lib
eral, but wise With reference to the latter point
however, Congress having taken different view
ofthe subject, determined thatthe Southern State!
shall not be admitted to representation and t
equal privileges in the Union upon any other basis
than that which has been prescribed. The acts
passed, 20 even further. They assume that the
South, in relation to the government, stands IN the
position of conquered provinces and that as con,
queror, it las a right to prescribe the terms and
conditions upon which the South is to be admitted
into the Union.


It is unnecessary, on the present occasion, that
should discuss the constitutionality or wisdom OF
the acts of Congress Let it suffice for me to
say that they have become the law OF the land.
They are laws which have been adopted in strict
accordance with all the forms prescribed by the
Constitution of the United States, and as a law.
abiding citizen, not only now, but from the time OF
the passage of these acts in March last, | am one
of those who believed that it was not only the duty
but the interest of the people Of the Southern
States to 60 to work in earnest and carry them In
to operation. ,u


116nCS, lUuUQeuldUcIy pooSaeSS VI Dih'
in March last, publicly advised the people of the
State, of all compilations, who were entitled to
register to do so, and then 60 the balot-box and
vote for the very best men possible to frame con-
stituton in conformity with the provisions of the
Acts of Congress.


NY advice upon the subject ought, think, to
have been received as disinterested since the exc
cution of these laws excluded me from all the priv
ileges of citizen, because belonged to the dis
franchised class.


At the extra session in July, the Legislature
made the restrictions even more stringent than
they were before, and this harshness on the part
of Congress has had much to do with the action
of the white people of South Carolina, in refusing
to, 90 to the polls and participate in any respect
whatever in the election of delegates to the con-
vention. In this, think great mistake has been
committed by the great majority of whites OF s..
Carolina. My Judgment was, and is, that every
white man who registered should have gone to the
polls and voted. l even 60 further. think that
the whites, who have the intelligence to very
large extent, should, in convention or otherwise,
have submitted to the colored people Of the State
propositions as to the privileges and franchises
which they are entirely willing to extend to them,
now that the whole of the race have been declared
free, not only by the constitutional amendment,
but by action of the convention OF the State :,



white population has almost unanimously abstain
ed from exercising the privilege, and your conven-
ton is, therefore, strictly speaking the representa-
tive only of the colored population of South Caro-
lna This being the case, it cannot be denied that
the intelligence refinement and wealth OF the State
is not represented by your body. Hence, the very
high duty is devolved upon you of discharging the
important trusts confded to your care, in such q
manner as to commend your action to the confl-
dence and support, not only Of those by whom you
were elected but of those who refused to 60 to the
polls and vote in the election.


say to you, very frankly, that regard this
body as invested with the sovereign power Of the
State, and that the constitution which you may a.
will not only be ratified and accepted by Congress,
but one under which all classes in South Carolina,
will live for years to come.


The party which has passed the Reconstruction
laws, has undisputed control OF the government IN
both Houses of Congress, and will retain it until
the 4th of March, 1862 Prior to that time a
Presidential election will occur. The probability
is that an individual representing the Conservative
and Democratic element in the North and West,
will be elected President. It.may be that Con-
servatve element will largely preponderate in the
next election for members Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives on the 4th day Of March, 1869; and al
ClOugQ OppOSeu W INC leSisldIlVu ohae Lloy law
been adopted, it will be impossible to effect re-
peal Of these acts, obnoxious as they are to the
new party, prior to the 4th of March, 1871. Con-
firmed as I am, therefore, in the opinion that the
legislation of the present and preceding Congress
will remain in force until the 4th of March. II,
and that any constitution adopted by this con.
vention will continue to be of force until that time
at least. have felt it to be my duty as the Exc
cutice of the State, and as an Individual, to be
present in Charleston during the sessions Of your
convention, in the hope that through official II
not personal influence, l may accomplish some
thing in securing from the convention, liberal.
lust and wise constitution.


IF such constitution is adopted, harmony, good
feeling and prosperity will prevail Ii, however
extreme views and measures are engratted upor
that instrument, it will increase the antagonism
which now exists between the two races, and force
the whites of State, who have the means todoso
to leave the borders and seek homes in other com.
munities. 1t viii produce discomfort and disquiet
everywhere, and confidence, trade and enterprise
will all be parayzed As responsible duties are
therefore, devolved upon you as were ever deVolv
ed upon a similar body of men in any State the
interest and prosperity of South Carolina depend
not only upon law and good constitution, but
upon the kind relations which are to be established
between the two races.


It is idle to disguise the fact that the white anc
colored races, where they have been thrown to-
gether with equal privileges, have rarely, If ever
been able to harmonic.


The experiment of giving to the colored people
of the South, all of the privileges of the franchise
of citizens is novel one, and time only can deter
mine whether it is to be success or failure. OI
the one hand it is said that the negro is utterly in