Year: 1867

with the hags OF the prinClpal mar ltlme powers,
the stars and stripes, entertwIned with the Pal
mett0 ensign, being testoOned conspicuously at
the head OF the loom. Governor Orr responded
to the first toast "State OF South CaTolina.r
After alluding pleasantly to the practical evil
dences of recOnstruCuon exhibited by the social
gathering OF citizens OF Charleston, in common
with the military, naval and civil officers of the
United States around the festive board, he con.
tinued as follows;-I desire to state to yon that
your commerce, manufactures and agricultural
interests will all remain paralyzed until our
political relations are re-estabished with the
Government at Washington, and until you secure
representation in Congress- While the Consti-
tutiOnal amendment was proposed to South
Carolina as State, and our own volition in
that capacity could be exercised, ] opposed its
adoption: but the act of Congress recently
passed has assumed that this country is
conquered territory, and we conquered peo-
pie, and consequently that that body has a
that body to dictate those terms; it is certain
for the next two years; and when they place
themselves squarely and broadly upon that
platform, for one do not propose to go TO the
Supreme Court, or anywhere else, for the pur-
pose of disputing that power, but in good
faith, will accept the terms, humllating as
they may be, and openly, fairly, and squarely
urge their adoption before our people. (Great
applause) With reference to the disfranchis-
ing clause, l think 1t was unfortunate
one. 1t Is better however, that some should be
excluded than that we should refuse to accept
the terms proposed, when there is a reason
able certainty that if we do not accept those





Looking, therefore, 10 the interests of the great
mass OF the people of South Carolina, and be-
lievIng that the threat of con6scatlon will not
be carried into effect if we accept the terms of
this bill, and believing that condscation will
follow if we do not. knowing, also, that we
shall be benefited by Its acceptance, say that,
in my humble judgment, interest and wisdom
dictate that we shall concur in the measure
proposed by Congress. (Applause.) l would,
therefore, say to every man in South Carolina
who has not been disiranchised that as soon as
the proper order has been issued he should pro-
ceed TO register and prepare 10 vote for the
best man that can be selected to form consti-
tuition under which we and our posterity
can live; 1t is your interest. further, that
the black man shall vote with you in the
common election. i have heard a good deal
said of controlling the vote OF the black man.
1t has been supposed that his vote will be con-
trolled by personal influences, Notwithstanding
his convictions of interest; but you are mis-
taken. That vote is destined to be controlled,
not be personal considerations, but by going to
the black man and talking to him in private
conversation, and proving to him that his inte-
rest in South Carolina is your interest; that the
white mans interest is the blac mans interest.
think it can be shown to any rational black
man that it is to his interest to make his friends
here rather than in the State of Massachusetts.
If agriculture fourishes in the State, whose
interest is promoted by it! Is it not that
mans who occupies the position of land
holder? Yet you find Congress imposing
tax OF three cents pound upon cotton up to
September last, and two aud half cents since





there was no complaint of the colored peo-
pie in any section of the State, and when we
produced hundred thousand bales of cotton.
What proportion of that has gone in the shape
of taxation One million two hundred thousand
dollars, which has been literally wrung from
those people in the shape of tax upon cotton,
while not a dollar has been levied upon the
wheat or grain in Ohio or corn IN Illinois,. Do
not then tell me, gentlemen. that the colored
people have not the intelligence to be Interested
in these affairs. They need representation in
1ah OF VIC ThnU rnOntrp
the tax shall be taken off their labor. 1t Is not
only the cotton of South Carolina, however, but
tobacco of Virginia and North Carolina, which
is as unequally taxed. 1t is not, then, by In
timidation and browbeating, or by wronging
those people, that you are to control their
votes, but you must show that 1t is to their
interest to vote with you, and undertake to
say that when those facts are presented to those
who have intelligence they VIII be found stand
ing shoulder to shoulder with the white man,
and carrying out the principles which desire
to urge upon you on this occasion. 1t is to be
expected that attempts will be made to ahenate
the sympathies of these people hom us. When
an emlssary comes here from the State OF New
York, Massachusetts, or Ohio, aud says TO the
black man, 1--WE are your friends, we are going
to take care of you, vote with u.s." these
white people cannot be trusted. want our
eolored men to say to those enlssaries -
TO the Massachusetts, man-that in South
Carolina under this law, 1t matters not by whom
it was passed, every colored man tWenty"one
years of age is entitled to his ballot, and that he





unless he could read and write; say to the ennis
sary from Ohio, who comes here for the pur-
pose OF giving advice as TO how you shall vote,
1'Go back to Ohio and enlighten the heather
there before you come here, because no black
man there is entitled to vote" Within the last
three weeks New Jersey, Ohio, and Michigan
have resolved that the black man shall not vote
under any circumstances whatever. Therefore,
say to these colored men, when these emlssa-
Z ries come among you, tell them TO go back ana
remove the beam from the eyes of their fellow
citizens before they come here to take the mote
from the eyes OF our own people. l have
seen indications in various localities Ia South
Carolina to organize q colored and white
party, to be called a National Union Repuoli
can Radical party--I think that is the name.
do not think this is wise, because believe that
the white and colored people of those unrec0n-
structed States will further their ends more
thoroughly by turning their attention TO their
own State politics, and when we get the right OF
representation in Congress would send men
there not pledged to Republican Union party


NOT pledged to the Democratic party, but
would send men who would say to all parties


..We stand by that party which will give us equal


rights equal legislation, and equal justice
under the laws and Constitution oil this coun


tryD / know there is an apprehension wide


snread in the North and West, that after the


reconstruction of the Southern States we shall


ian into the arms of old allies and associates


the old Democratic party. say to you, gentle


men. however, that / would give no suci


pledges. / was identified during the ten year


If nv public career as a representative in Con


lima. with that party, and as my distinguishe,


friend, the Commander Of this Military District


lnows I enioyed their confidence in the highee


office within the gilt of that party. Applause.


I have, therefore, every reason to entertain


respect and regard for that party, and I hay