Year: 1877

Chief Justice vas TO be elected. u was a
place which had been filled by men OF the very
highest reputation In our commonwealth,


The names Of honored SONS OF Carolina, who
would have done honor to any bench in the
lnountry were presented; but that Democrat
III Legislature elected to the Supreme
Court q citizen Of New York who came to Che
State as soldier, and who is 9 Republican.
| that we arc not governed by q proscriptive
| feeling Does It not show. that we have full
| filled the pledges and promises made during
| the last canvass. to make no distinction on


account Of race, color or party Applause
| We wanted to show you, people Of the North,
that we were aetuated by the highest and
| most r,atriotir feelings We knew that Judge
Willard was an honest man. No stain was
upon his ermne; and though he differed from
tile Democratic Legislature in politics, they
elected him to the position. We did not


wage political canvass We were fighting
foi. every interest dear to freemen. and thanks
todhe brave and true men and glorious women
| Of South Carolina, this war for good govern
IT In every department of the State govern
msnt. They have accomplished this. and
they now propose fulfilling to the very letter
the pledges ! made and appealed to high
lieaven to Witness that they should be car
ried out | declared that IF elected | would
be Governor .of. the whole people Of Soutl,
Carolina, and that should know no race. no
party, no color; that all men who stood on
the soil Of South Carolina, native or foreign
born. white or black, should be equal before
the law and, so help me God, 1t shall be done
Enthusiastic applause. ! am glad to cay that
The bitterness which marked that strife is pass
ing away; and say to you, men Of New York,
rs say at home, j owe my election to colored
men. lApplause.l Thousands of them voted
for me, knowing that had been good friend
Of the race-Rnowing that was the first man
after the war to recommend that they should
be given the right of suffrage, and | have
never yet changed my opinion on this sub
ject. Knowing this, they sustained me in
large numbers, and am happy to say that
nearly all fears Of tho more ignorant are
passing away. and they are satisfied that
they will be dealt with III all respects rs citi-
zens Of South Carolina. We intend to try to
elevate them, educate them and show them
the responsibility as well as the blessings Of
liberty. We want them, as other citizens of
America and Of South Carolina. to be worthy
of the great boon Of citizenship Of this great
republic. ,


most cordial greeting, doubly gratifying be-
cause il is the voice of New York reverber-
ating to South Carolina ] came, as said to
do honor to my distinguished friend, Gen.
Shields. He wore the blue and the gray but
we can let the curtain drop over these
years and go back TO the time when that flag
borne by him, waved alike over men of tho
South and men of the North. and we can look
beyond to the future. when through all time
and united country. Applause. | say this
to you as a Southern man. q rebel. for
when fought, | fought as hard as | knew
how against YOU, and | say this, that if that


flag floats as " should do over free and equal
States, If 1t shall be q symbol Of liberty and
equality and Justice. all States, and every
man in every State. men Of the South will
honor 1t and love 1t as of old, and the time
may come once more when New York and
South Carolina shall stand shoulder to shoul-
u ynit lEf fnr,fl mad ih.,;,.
blood mingle upon the soil Applause.


My friends. | shall bear this cordial greet
ing back homo with me to the little Palmetto
State, and assure our people that your hearts
here throb kindly for ris.


! trust in God that better future is before
the whole country. and that we shall have
peace, prosperity and liberty to every man
upon the continent. tApplause