Year: 1877

reach OF every citizen OF South Caros


lima. [Applause.] And when 1 say


every citizen | do not limit or qualify


the expression. l call every man a


Carolinian, whether he is white or


blac-whether he is born here or at


the North or in Europe-who is q


good citizen and has the interest of


the State at heart; and he is entitled


to all the protection that the laws of


the State and of the United States


can give him. l am pledged to ful~


I'll every promise made in tho last


canvass. can only do that if the


people of south Carolina will help


me. l can do nothing of myself. l


may indicate to the Legislature what


| consider proper course tor them


to pursue, but it is for them to make


the laws. My duty is to execute


them, and your duty is to send the


best men to the Legislature, ire
spec'iVe of race or party. Select no


man for public Office who is not fit to


fill the position. l care not what


may be his politics or his race. Make
it your rule that you will place no


man in Office unless he is competent.
If you give me good men to make
the laws, l pledge you my honor
that those laws shall be framed 80 as
to place every man and woman, OF
both races and parties, upon an
equal footing before the law. (Ap-
plause.)


We have just passed through an
exciting aud bitter contest. If my
voice could reach every man in S u,h
Carolina; if | could impress it upon
you all as | feel it myself; if we wish
to consult the best interests of the
State; it we want to build her mp and
bring peace and prosperity back to
her sunny fields. l would say to one
and to all, forget, for while at least,
all about politics and devote yourself
yes to the material interests of the
State. Go to work! Resolutions will
do no'hing. Public meetings will do
nothing. Every man should place
his shoulder to the wheel. lie must
80 to work resolu:ely, honestly, ear
nestly and boldly in the discharge of
his duty; to bring back harmony and
unanimIy between the races at the
South. | know, my friends, you can
do it. | tell You my col red fellow
that l have not one particle
Of feeling Of i'll will against single
indi. id"al of your race, and it 81
that the first commission
that | issued as Governor Uf South
Carolina was issued to colored man
and Republican at that. When
was in Washington, a cololed Repub
Iican, an ex-otticeholder of this State
Greener of tho State
University-cane to me and asked
for a Recommendation. l told him
that | could not understand what val
ne my recommendation wonld be to
him, but upon hs renewing his re-
quest | gave him letter. and told
he President that [ had not intended
to give any recommendation of the
late Administration in South Carroll
ma, but as. Greener was q colored
man, had voted for Hayes and stump
ed the State for Chamberlain, |
though | could afford to make an ex
ception in this case. What | say to
yon here l wish every man to repeat
[ only say to you, judge the Admin
istration by its acts. | don't want
you to become Democrats or Conser
vatiVes. | ask you to forget all
about politics, and only want the
snppot of those men in South Caro-
lima who believe that l am standing
on the Constitution, obeying the laws
and keeping my oath TO see Justice
done to every man in South Carroll
ma. have the right as Governor of