Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

[Published, by Request.) ADDRESSES DELIVERED BEFORE A PUBLIC MEETING, HELD IN RICHLAND FORK, NOVEMBER S**, 1865. REMARKS OF GEN. HAMPTON. Fetloio-CUixens of ?tich in ml District : I thank you for the honor you have paid to mo by asking mc to consult with you on tho grave issue before us. And, whilst your partiality may induce you to attach greater weight to my opinions than they deserve, yon cannot, 1 assure you, over-estimate tho zeal, the earnestness, and the sincerity which I would bring to any consultation involving the welfare or honor of our State. And, if there is ono thing in this world which, more than another, could stimulate that zeal, or gaiu greater strength to that earnestness, or deepen that sincerity, it would be the fact that I am addressing my old and honored constituents, and that wo have for the subject of discussion tho pros? perity of Richland District. Mr. Randolph once declared that '?' no man ever had such a constituency as he hail." I can, with equal truth, reiterate that declaration ; and I do so with an honest pride. Years ajio, without any agency on my part, you called me from private lifo to represent you in the Legislature, and at each succe'eding election ? had but renewed evidences of vour regard and confidence. And when legislation and statesmanship failed to secure to us our rights, and our State trusting moro to thc justice of her cause than to numbers, buckled ou her armor for an appeal to the last great resort of nations, it was my good fortune to lead many of the sons of Richland forth to battle. No District in our State contribu? ted moro largelv of treasure, and of still moro procious blood, than ours did. I have seen her sons bearing, with heroic forti? tude, privations at which the boldest night well be appalled. I have seen them on manv a bloody battle-field, bearing a1 oft the banner of our State as far into the fight and as nobly as did any others. And I have seen many, too many, alas ! seal their devotion to their country with their blood, " And sink to rest By all their country's virtues blest." All these memories come thronging thick and fast upon me now, and should be false to them, false to you, and false to the best instincts-of my heart, could I forget them, or fail to respond promptly to any call you could make upon nie. I come, therefore, most cheerfully, in response to your invita? tion to consult with you upon our prospects and our duties ; and your Chairman has well said that no graver issues were ever forced upon a people for solution, than those now presented to us, and upon their solution depends, in a great measure, the future of our country. On the surrender of the Confederate armies, the people ol tho Confederate States were left prostrate, bleeding, helpless and well-nigh hopeless. Nearly the whole of our territory had been devastated by a warfare, savage and inhu? man to a degree hitherto unknown amongst nations claiming to be civilized. And, as if to cut off all hope of recuperation, out system of labor, which had existed for cen? turies, blessing the land with plenty, whilsl it christianized and civilized our laborers, was violently swept away by a single des Sotic stroke of the pen. This was the con ition in which wc found ourselves when our armies laid down their arms, and one more nearly despotic it is difficult to ima? gine. The President of the United States, in his capacity not only as the Chief Execu? tive of tue nation, but as Commander-in Chief, in his proclamation of May 29th. there offered terms to us under certain con? ditions. These terms, with which you an all familiar, we accepted, and we are nov bound, by ovary consideration of self-re Bpect-every dictate of honor-every im pulse of true manhood-to abide by man tidly and honestly. I do not propose ti discuss these terms ; nor will I say that i was the true policy of the South to accep them. I only state the fact that our poop! accepted them, and I, therefore, regan them as binding. The main condition o these terms-that upon which the who! action of the United States Governmen hinges-was the requisition made upon u to recognize the abolition of slavery. You Convention has declared that slavery shal exist in tlus State no longer. Your Legis latine has ratified the amendment of th Constitution of the United States, abolish ing slavery, and the freedom of the negroe is a fixed and irrevocable fact, and th sooner we recognize and act upon this fact the better it will be for all parties. Th relative positions of the two races ar changed, but there need be no antagonist between them. Our fields must be tillei' Unless this is done, and done speedily famine will destroy what little has escape fire and the sword. How are these desi lated fields tobe cultivated? I answer, b thc same labor that reclaimed them froi the savage wilderness and made them ric with the food of man, or white with tho staple which not only gave to us our wealtl but built the cities of the North and covere every sea with Northern commerce. Tb same trained laborers who produced thes f;olden harvests are amongst us, and I b< ievo that their services can still be mad available. How can this result, so desir; hie to thc whole country, be obtained? W can accomplish it, in my opinion, but i one way, and that will be by dealing wit the negro fairly, frankly and equitabi; Let him see that we not only recognize h newly acquired rights, but that wo wi protect h m iii trie enjoyment of thes rights. Necessity will soon teach him th; he is not exempt from the primal euri denounced by the Almighty : '; In tl sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread ti thou return unto the ground." When th great lesson baa been learned, he mu seek employment. Meet him kindly ; e? courage him when he is disposed" to i well : offer fair terms to him, and whil you demand from him a strict observan of bis obligations, carry out honestly ai fully your agreement with him. Show hi that tho white man of the South is his be? friend. .You will speedily eradicate tl foul, the false, the pernicious doctrines i stilled into his heart by thc abolitionists the North. Do this, and you may aga have in the South a happy, contented ai laborious peasantry. To bring about the happy results, time will be required, ai you will be called on to display great f< bearance and much patience ; b:;t the en yousejk not only justify, but demand t exercise of these virtues to their great? extent. You seek to restore the prosper: of your country-to rebuild her cities rfcclftitn h?ir desolated fields-to re-anims lier with new hope. These are the obie? nearest to a patriot's heart, and, to obtf them, no sacrifice should be too great, labor too arduous. But to pursue tl theme, so wide in its range, so general its application, so important in its bearii farther, would divert me from the subj* which is the special occasion of our me ing, thar of the formation of volunteer ganiaatious for home police. iou aro aware that Governor Perry, his proclamation, directed that one or im volunteer companies should be formed each District. At a public meeting of I citizens of this District, held some ti ago in Columbia, it was determined tora several companies, in accordance with ' suggestion 6f thc Governor, It waa p pi?bod that one of these companies sho lie organized in this part of the DJ ?tr and I am glan to leam that its roll is cc HUUi', and it suffice rs elected. Bk'' duties ?!' those ?.> mi pana .- arc ph |^m-CHt Ai preserving order, enroro law, and protecting the citizons. Your company ia not to be a vigilance,comtnittee, nor will it have any authority beyond such as is delegated specially for the preserva? tion of law and order. " Ita duties will bo to protect all citizens, to repress all disor? der, arresting in such cases all guilty parties, be they white or black, and to act strictly as custodians of the peace. Let your company discharge theseuutiea faith? fully and persistently, and you will inspire confidence amongst all classes of our peo? ple. The very fact that these companies nave been organized throughout the Stato will obviate all-necessity for their usc. I, therefore, regard it of the last consequence that these volunteer organizations should be at once raised in every Distsict of tho State. Efforts have been made to procure arms for your company, which I hope will prove successful. 'Should they not, how? ever, you can, for thc present, obtain pri? vate arms which will answer. I urge you, therefore, to organize at once, and when organized, to watch earnestly over the wel? fare of the District, to protect all persons against evil doors, and to preservo thc peace. To perform these duties, you will have to exercise firmness, forbearance, patience and prudence. By the constant exercise of these virtues, you will be able not only to extend the most efficient pro? tection to both thc whites and the blacks, but you will secure tho confidence of the latter, lt is well that these should under? stand the objects and intentions of your company, and I am glad to seo that so largo a number of them have boon allowed by their employvrs to be present to-day. With your permission, I snail avail myself of tbs opportunity afforded by*their presence, to offer them a few words of kindly counsel. And I begin by saying to them that, if they will ask my people, wno have lived with me for years, not one man, woman or child on my place will say that I ever deceived them, or told them what was not true. In what 1 shall say to you, then, to-day, I shall speak only what I believe to be true, and I shall -3viso you honestly. You aro free-free to seek your own hap? piness-li ec to do the best you can for yourselves-free to make contracts for yourselves-free to work, and ./Vye to starve if you tlo uol work. Freedom has its duties id well as pleasures. And the first duty of ?very free man is to support himself and lis family. You will all have this to do now, nd to do this you will have to work. Laws viii be made by which everv man, white und black, in the country will have to show l at he is making an honest support for ?1 uself, or ho will bo taken up and put at hard work. Now, how can yon support } inreelves and your families best ? I say, 1 bv hiring your labor to the white people. We want labor to cultivate our fields, and we would rather hire you than strangers, who know nothing about planting. You must make the best contracts you eau, and when you have made them, you must stick to them, AlLwho are willing to work can got such wages as will enable them, i>>t only to support themselves, but to put up something for a rainy day. There is not an able-bodied negro who is not abbi to do I this, if bc chooses to work. But if you do not work, you will surely starve, for noone can live without work. You know ibis coun? try was full of Indians when the white man first came herc. They would not work, and, though they were a larger and a stronger race than yours, they were driven off by the white men, as the wind drives the chaff before it. This will be your fate, if you will not work, but choose to live like the Indian, in idleness and drunkenness. We must have labor for our fields. If you will work in them, we will give you good wages: if you will not, then we will get laborers wdio will, and they will come here to take the very bread out of your mouth ?. The Yankess don't care for you, and they would bo perfectly willing to see you all die off, so that room would be made here for their poor people. I happened, to-day, to see, in a newspaper, a speech made to the ne? groes in Florida, by the Governor, who was appointed by the President of tho United States; and, as there is good sound sense in it, I will read it to you. He said : " If you ask me tho question, whether the white man of the North or the man ot the South is your friend, I will answer you by saying that I hope and believe both ol them "are ; but if it comes to a question ol certainty as to which of the two is your bet? ter friend, I shall answer plainly and tell yon, tho white mau of the South. I was born in thc North, raised and educated there, but I have spent the last thirty years of my life in the South, and I consider my? self capable of judging between the twe people, particularly in reference to your ! selves. I know the Northern man, or Yan i kee, as you call him, from tho crown oi his head to the sole of his foot, and I tell you to-day as your friend, that the South? ern white man, with whom you were raised, and who is acquainted with your habib I and customs, is the best friend you have got. ******* .' Now, after you shall have found youl freedom, and, driven by stern necessity U do something for yourselves, the questioi is, what is the best for you to doV Mi advice is to remain on the plantation when you have been accustomed to work, witl your former owners, if they will make : contract with you. Make? the best contrac you can with them, and show them tba you are willing to work better, now tba you are compensated for your work, thai von ever have done before;. Bu faithful, bi honest, be interested in the affairs of tin plantation ; see that the mules aro wei fed, that the hogs get good attention, am I that the things entrusted to you be no neglected. j ? * * * # # * j "But. you must not think, because yoi are as free as the white people, that yoi are their equal, because you are not. Yoi will have to do a great many things yoi I cannot do before von begin tobe as grea as they. You will have to be able to writ a book, build a railroad, a steam-engine, I steamboat, and thousands of other thing i you know nothing of. They are far ahea j of you, and it is foolish for you. to thin : they are not superior to you and will eve , be ; but they will help you risc if you try t raise yourselves, and you must try, an j make fast friends of them, and not, by ba behavior towards them, make them hat 1 yon. I ****** * 1 "The President will not give you or i foot of land, nor a mule, nor hog, nor cov nor oven a knife and fork or spoon. Il j has given you your freedom, and that , everything he intends to give you. and tin is enough ; and some of you will undo stand me when I tell you why. Before tl I war, each one of yon was worth in dollai i and cents to your owners eight hundred < I a thousand or fifteen hundred dollars worth more than fifty acres or eighty ion of land, and a mule "thrown in. Well, tl President has, in giving you yourfreedor taken so many dollars and cents from yoi old masters ; and he thinks, ns I do, thi I have lost enough, an 1 you by it have hi enough given you. If ho were to give yi ; more, it would prove a curso to yon." Now you see what Governor Marvin, wi says hu is a Yankee himself, and wi i " knows thc Yankee fi om tho crown of 1 I hoad to the solo of h's foot," told the ii i groes in Florida, ?nd he gave them goi ? j advice. Think of these things, and io .i around you to seo what you can do f I yourselves, Try to get good employe! . and when you have found a good hon ' stay there, and fulfil your contract fait i fully. Do this, and my word for it, y : I will find us good friends to you. Wo c get along bettor without you than you can without us. There are twice as many white people in tho South as negroes ; so it is to your interest to be friends with us. I have always tried to treat my negroes well, and I intend to do all in my power for them now. I have offered them good wages, and I tell them if they can do better else? where to go there. Most of them are going to remain with me; and I advise all of you, who have good homes and good masters, to stay where you aro. Bo orderly, quiet, attentive and industrious, and you will do well. The law will protect your rights, and vou will then find your best friends in us. I am sure, fellow-citizens of Richland, that I speak your sentiments when I give this assurance to the negroes. You will be kind to them, I am sure ; and if you are, you will not only be promoting their interests, but your own. I thank you for tho atten? tion you bavo given to me. I pray that your efforts maybe crowned by all success, and that tho richest prosperity may reward them. And in bidding you an affectionate farewell, I beg you to remember that you may always command my services whenever you need them. REMARKS OF E. ~BT HEYWARD, ESQ. FELLOW-CITIZENS: In addressing you this morning, I am confident that I entirely express your feelings, as well as my own, when I say, that tho first sentiment this meeting calls forth is one of sincere con? gratulation, that we have once more thc opportunity of welcoming among us thc long-tried ?oldicr and true patriot, who has just taken his seat-Gen. Wade Hampton. Passing through many an arduous cam? paign, t^e cares and hardships of thc camp, and the dangers of the battle-field, ho has been restored in safety to his native State, and has stood before you, to-day. as able and willing as ever to labor for lier good. It is for such as he, my friends associated with all the sacred memories of our past, and with whatever there may be of hope for thc future-it is for such as he, I say, to rally the broken energies of his countrymen, to lead us in peace, as he did in war, and to restore, if possible, some degree of prosperity to an unfortunate, but still proud and honorablo people. On my own part, I have also to thank you for tho mark of confidence you have bestowed upon me, in electing nie to my present position, and to assure yon that I will (lo all in my power to justify your choice. Under present circumstances, it is a situation of much responsibility-and while willing to do all that 1 can person? ally, I must hope for thc hearty co? operation, not only of every officer and private in the company, but of every citizen in this District. If you will now give me your attention for a few moments, I will endeavor to lay before you my"ideas on the various subjects of interest which have called us together. Five years since, we unanimously decided to withdraw from the association of par? ties, which wo thought plotted treason against the General Go. ernment, and after unexampled endurance, we find ourselves compelled to yield, and to accept such terms as are offered us. I trust upon our return we shall find the conspiracy ended, and that some degree of peace and pros? perity yet await ns in thc future. I do not myself believe that the majority of the people at tho North will deny us the righi, of self-government, or that their present temper is hostile to us-the war seems certainly to have accomplished somewhat in that respect. The President enjoys tho eonfidenco of all parties, and his policy for the reconstruction of the Government seems to meet with very general approval, and it is probable that our Representatives will be received, and the right allowed us of participating in the affairs of thc country. But, my friends, one thing wo should never for "one instant forget-it is this: We aro not yet back in tho Union, and until wc are, there will be no quiet, and not the smallest chance of SUCPCSS with anv of us. Wc may talk, and plan, and work, and worry ourselves; but unless we can bc received into tho Union, it will all he labor in vain-our existence will be embittered by ever recurring humiliations and annoyances, while every element of destruction will be fearfully developed amongst us. Another season, like the past, and wc are ruined. Indeed, had this state of things commenced a month earlier, our crops would inevitably have perished for want of proper culture, a kind Providence above bas by natural means saved. We will simply have a famine, and, with lack of food, will over? come every well-known act of violence and barbarism, such as have been always pre? dicted for us, as the consequence of a chango in tho labor system of the South. Our country must be made to produce that is the word. Wc must make money and I assure you we are now only spending it. Every halo of cotton which leaves this District is just exactly so much" wealth, tc be calculated in dollars and cents, going away from us. It is tho very life-blood bowing out. We are only weaker every day. Wo must stop it, and that, too, iii the next few months. Before next Marci) I we must all be at work. Thc attempt ol the United States to interfere with, anc direct our domestic policy, has been, as fai as our welfare is concerned, a total failure We all see it, and I am prepared to prove that they have succeeded no better in thal portion of our State, of which they hav< had undisturbed possession for the last four years. During the war, and that ai this moment, corn is selling in the city o Beaufort (brought ground from New York at nearly $4 a bushel-this, too, at a tim* I of the year when their barns should b< I full. Tho country, simply, does not sup j port itself, and "tho negroes are mostb I paupers on the Government. I could tel j von many curious things on this subject j but it is enough at present for us to'knov 1 that tho failure there is complete, ant they have ruin staring them in the face : Such a fate awaits us, and cannot b j averted, so long as we arc deprived of th right of self-government. Wc must, thou get back into the Union; and to do so, it i necessary to find out what is required o us by those who are arranging tho term I of our admittance. Thc Northern people i though willing to receive us, are evidents and perhaps naturally enough, extremcl oautious in tho matter; and nothing whic we do, say, or I believe, think, or drean escapes their vigilance. Remember, t thom belongs the right to make the term' I believe, in the end, they will be foun such as we can honorably aceept, and tha only a certain portion of tho Norther peoplo desire anything to tho contrary. The size and strength of this party known as Radical,(has yet to bc testet The President himself is evidently uneei iain on this point, and he is exerting a ! his sagacity and prudence to avoid ai: I act which might, result in adding to the numbers. This party do not intend us I return on any terms, except such as woul prove repugnant to most of tho race 1 whom tina Continent belongs. These R; diesis aro our enemies, and have al wai boen so; tho enemies, I believe, of t? country; but wo must hope to find ne month, in Congress, their power consul rably weakened. They have been stroi enough, however, to break up for season tho Government, and to drem our country with tho blood which has bet s ) liberally poured ont for the last fi' years. Now, I say distinctly, you ha' . much to fear from tins party; the Pr?t dent himself will tell you so, if you a? him. Ho knows it, and has very iuc cioosly put us on our guard against tnet At the samo t.imt?. on ono snhject, i parties at the North aro agreed. On this point tuero is no disunion of sentiment. They all demand one condition, and that is, that tho institution of slavery bo abol? ished. Tho result of tho war will at last bo found to be merely that ono great change, namely--that slavery ss at an end, forever, ou this Continent. Now, these distrustful men will not be content with our siraplo acquiescence in this change. We must not only placo it on our Statute Book-they demand that we acknowledge it in our hearts. Our whole sentiment on tho matter must be in accordance with thok own. This to be dono at once, and at their bidding, does seem nearly impos? sible. I trust, however, wc will be found equal to tho occasion. Our failure to do so will bo disastrous, and will defeat all the efforts of our friends for a speedy re? storation. We have no choice, and the sooner we decid'- upon our course of action, and let the Nortli sec the change is accom? plished, tho better for us. To a South? erner, tho earnestness of these people on this subject scorns strange, andean liardlv be understood, and I am afraid we have always under-estimated it. What it will finally end in, no ono can now see; it is enough for us at present to be extremely careful of olTemling this sentiment. De? pend upon it they will resent it. They nave the power, and they will not hesitate to use it. Though a nation of philan? thropists, they have somehow or other not many miles from here left some ugly marks of their disposition when irritated." Fortunately, what is now demanded of us will be found, u|s?u consideration, to be a course of action in accordance with the promptings of our own self-respect. By our failure in this war, ?PC have lost many of our rights, and we must Lake the conse? quences, however terrible. The policy of the President, and we must conclude it to be the same as the majority of the North? ern people, was to treat us as honorable foes; and, upon certain conditions, we have, most of us, been allowed to retain our property of all kinds but one. These conditions we have accepted and have bound ourselves to abide hy them. We must, in honor, stand up to them, agree? able or not. We have pledged our sacred faith, and must not only in words but in actions prove to the world that we under? stand and fully rt cognize this oath which wc have called God to witness. Wt- must realize our position, ami with it must come a change in our estimation and treatment of those who have been so faithful to us, and who have, by their labor, so largely contributed to our wealth. We must not confound old things with new. <>r put new wine into old bottles lt may require pa? tience, but certainly no people ever showed more ot' this virtue tiian ourselves during the past five years. I cannot fear, then, that we will be found unreasonable or un? true to our pledges. Ami, after nil, whai is actually required of us? Simply kind? ness and justice. And have these quali? ties never before existed in tho Southern man? And towards whom are we thus called upon to act? Not to an enemy; for. if so, it would be our forgiveness which was required. It is to our servants who now stand around us. These are not our enc mies. They are our fri? ads, who, undei our protection, have passed their wholi lives in total ignorance ol' the responsibilt tics ami trials of the great world in whicl they have lived. Have we ever been faith less to these people so dependent upon us I say no. Have wi-, by our influen?a, de? graded them? I say no. Have we mad? substitutes of them, to stand in our place on the battle-field ? I say no. Have the; received no ?ducation or pay in return fo their labor? I say they have, inasmuch a we have given them constant religion culture, and had the life-long care of th old, the helpless and the young. Tba these teachings were not lost is proved b; their generosity and constancy with whicl they, while our men wen- away from home remained the faithful guardians of our un protected families. Their whole contine during the war was unexampled. Yo know it, and must acknowledge it. I could not have been better, and this re flection must influence us at such a mo ment as this. No act of violence betrayer their desire to be free, but calmly hav they awaited the great change upon whicl they have been taught to rely fm- ultimat and" extravagant enjoyment. This chang is now complete, and we have to ?leal .'-'.t the most serious question which has eve arisen. Step by step we must commenc to build up a new system, upon th? succ?s of which our prosperity, as a people, am I may say, the very existence of the m groes, in a great measure, depend. Th first difficulty we timi is our inability to ii fiuence, by reason, those whose labor w desire to obtain, and we are, therefor? somewhat at a loss to know how to pr? teed. Before we teach others, or blain ignorance, let us endeavor, first, to have clear idea of our own duties. Our se: vants, remember, ar?; in a great degree 01 imitators, and many of their impressioi they derive from us. This will still be :.i ami 11 rust will always prove for our mutu benefit. Let us be calm and dispassiouat divesting our minds of ?di prejudice, an ?hiing all we can to regain tin- confident of our servants who have been estrange i from us by the teachings of those wh undoubtedly, ar?; not our friends or their Hold out your hand to them franki Promise them your protection thc sanie i before, and you may rely upon your ol? not being rejected. We must come bold before th?- world -say we have nothing our past conduct to regret in the trea met of onr servants. Wo acknowledj their faithfulness, and, in their preso changeil condition, we intend to be as tn to our duties as before. We willprote them, not only by passing laws, but 1 honestly abiding by their spirit. We w ?lo more than be simply just to them. Y owe them something more than that. V intend te guard them from all wrong. \ are sat ?stied of their helplessness and s their necessities. We had them attach to us before and intend to make them again. Let us determine to show t world that we can do more with these pi plc than has ever been ?lon?; before, ai perhaps force our enemies to admit tl: our previous system, in the close relatio which then existed between master a slav??, has prepared them for a step mu higher in the standard of civilization, a such a position as has never before be reached by the same race anywhere in t world. The result of th? "war has 1 made mc ashamed of myself or of my pi pie. Our system of labor is changed. 1 not the sentiments of our people. Tho thank God, arc still preserved, and I tn will remain the samo forever. From tin have sprang our institution^ which In produced thu most noble, patriotic u enduring people the world has ever ne Time will reveal the purity of our thongl the wisdom of our acts, the generosity a endurance of our pe ipi?;. Ami futi generations at tho South will yet liv? revere our memories, and at the North, comprehend the sacred principles which we have contended for the last years. No, my friends; all is not 1 where honor remains. This has b manfully sustained by our gallant boys many a'bloody field. They proved tn* their duty. Let us follow their glori example, walking honestly before (rod ; man, and all may be added to us in ti Each ?lay reveals some facts to opr er?; ! We are now judged by disinter, st -d par, j and rest assured we have little to fi I The charges of our calumniators ar?; ht i refuted by truths which meet them ! ?very stcii. I tell yon, my friends, tl failure to substantiate their vile slanders is a terrible rebuke to the insolence of the j honest among them. Nothing under Hea? ven can convince thc certain few, who wore most prominent in accusing aa of cruelty in trading in human beings for the benefit of their labor. These are the iden? tical men who hired three hundred thou Band able-bodied negro men, at eleven dollars per month, and a promise of some amount in the shape of bounty, as their substitutes in the desperate charges upon our works during thc war. I again insist that wc can rely upon the kind feelings of our servant.-". We have had too much experience of this to doubt j it. Wc must bchve it, and act up to that belief. Seek their .confidence, and show them in every way that we have their real interests at heart. We have the opportu? nity such as no strangers can ever enjoy of influencing them, and I know you will continue to exert it for their benefit. He member, the inure you elevate these peo? ple, the better for both parties. Just as you progress, so they will be found follow? ing you. I again repeat, that they arc more improved than any other class of field-laborers in the world. Don't indulge the mistaken notion of exchanging for white labor. In the first place, as a reme? dy to meet our immediate wants, the plan is impracticable; and if this was not the ease, in my opinion, it would be at any time very much to our disadvantage. Un this subject, I would wish to .y a word or two. Tlio want in our su^^ly of black labor for our fields, may some day make this change necessary ; but the vacancy must be the result of natural causes. We should be careful not to force it. In fact, we ought to do all in our powei co prevent it. The labor which would be furnished us would be found totally distasteful to us. Tin would be merely the scum of Europe, thrown oil' by the process of puri? fication, which seems never to cease over there. We would simply be filling the country with ignorant, lawless, infidel scamps, who would turn everything up side down, and who, after a few months1 resi? dence, would join the radical party, vote for all their abominable measures, and make the place too hot to hold us both. 1 have seen enough of this class tramping over our fair ileitis at the South, and 1 would rather not meet them there again, if even armed with nothing more formida? ble than a hoe. In the large cities, they will, ofeour.se, find a place and an occupa? tion, ami will gradually expel the blacks. This, in some measure, had commenced before the war. For myself, I never wish to woe them taking the places of my ser? vants, ami it would take a good deal to convince nie that, for our purpose as labor? ers in tlft- fields, any Europeans ari' supe? rior. Alni this would always bc the case, as no system for white labor could ever be devised whieh.would include that degree of protection for them which formed so prominent a feature in our former institu? tion, and which, I hope, will still be found practicable in our changed relations with I the blacks. A better class of whites is also i spoken of. These you cannot afford to I hire. They are clever, honest anil indus ? trions; hut they have expensive idoas, and . will only come when they can hire farms. \ The laud about us here will require too ! much outlay to make ehort leases prorit I able, and we will be obliged to be satisfied I with long leases, which, though in England are understood and can be relied upon, yet, in this D?mocratie country, would cause difficulties in collecting rents, and we would have endless trouble and perhaps loss. Some advocate cutting up our lands and sidling them, but, in my opinion, we woulc profit less by this than we expect. Bul worse than all, it would introduce amont us those busy-body ami wonderfully phi lanthropic Scotch and English farmers who would consider it their mission to Ix our teachers in agriculture, as well as iu everything else, ami who expect to displac? and push aside the small fanner-' of tin South, who arc native to the soil, and a whom they have always been sneering These- known abroad as "the poor whit? men of the South"-arc by us regconizei ns the class who in the war pursued a pa triotie course, so unexpected to our ene mies, and which, so long as their distill gulshed services are remembered, mus make us keenly alive to their interests it the future. ! don't want these people ti be forced to go away from us. They hav. beon true once, and will be so again; the; have, with everything to lo ie and nothinj to gain, followed us to the field. 1 cunno desert them now, and I will labor mos earnestly for their benefit, and hop they will live anti multiply, to furnish U> their country's service another army c patriots and heroes. Tile English hav been among our worst enemies during th war, professing to admire and encourag us when successful, but shuddering wit horror at even our acquaintance when ur. fortunate. It is they who, by asharpstrok of diplomacy, iu the shape of athwart C their much dreaded recognition, force from the late President of the Unite States his Emancipation Proclamation, th necessity of which, in his public capacit? ho might have seen, but from its probabl consequences upon our helpless familk during the war, his kind nature must hav shrunk. The English, evidently, ha\ always confounded the Southern gentlenia with'the Jamaica planter, and our previoi system of labor with their own in the Wei Indies, which was ruinous to both masti and slave. And nothing seems to deligl them more than their anticipation that tl same results will follow from emancipate with us as noon their own now unprofitab and turbulent island. But I tell you, gei tlemen, they are doomed to disappoin nient. We do not fear such results, ai we hope for a very different reward fi our treatment ol' our servants. They w not only find the Southern gentlem; superior to their Jamaica negro-drive but they will soon find the Southern neg to tie in the same measure superior to ai of the same class their own system of lab could have produced in the West Indies. They have always envied our prosp?r?t and have desired our ruin. They have n hesitated, as you see, at any time to a complish this end, and now glory at tlx seeming success. But, my friends, if ' are true to ourselves, they may find thei selves .uistaken; and under our new s\ teni, do ised and directed by Southe men, we may vet see our fields bloomi: and our ' ires full. All this, as I said I fore, must depend upon ourselves. 1 . member that wo have as laborers a ra who demands our protection. Fortune h placed them here, and it is our duty, i well as our best policy, to take care of tho i Such intentions, expressed plainly at tl i time, will do more to remove the chill indiff?rence now apparent on the surfs th.in any laws which all the wisest Leg 1 laturej can make. Our main difficulty arises from our i i appreciating the full importance of t i changed relations now existing bet wc ? ourselves and the blacks, lt seems, ? first, to be so terribly tu our disadranfl that wo aro induced to give up altoge/ei i while to our servants it seems so grto i in their favor, that they are inclined (po > peet all kinds of extravagant and hup a i ide privileges. Thu?, everything if sa I "stand still," and neiiher party un* t . tied. But we must inquire into t life rt cause of tho?o stab* of things. Tljfco , much to bo explained, and On this uJko . I am very glad wo should prot f day. I hope this meeting wahrst stc| i tive of good, ami will be tin Jjfcnment r the right direction. The G ?vre established the position to bo takoti by both whites and blacks, and can L!O nothing more in thc matter. Thc 8 ta teri will havo full authority for their futuro regulation. We can dopend upon tho laws for the black man's protection, but I am satisfied that is not'enough. Like yourselves, I have seen free negroes all my lifo, and have always pitied them, and so havo our servants. These have had always the protection of tho law, but nothing more. We cannot allow these old servants to sink to their level. Tue country cannot afford s > many paupers. The lifo they have always led around our plantations) living on scraps, is just the samo as that of the blacks on the islands on our coast, ami are depen? dents upon charity. We must do some? thing better than that, and wc can do it. Much has been promised thc blacks from the wonderful schools and liberal wages, which they abuse us for having always denied them. I am prepared to prove that on our coast, where the Northern system has been in operation for four years, tho whole business is a complete failure. Tho United States Government is getting weary of thc heavy drafts made upon its Treasury for the support of the freedmen, and tue people will not long submit to it. All this is tho consequence of their bad system, ruinous to botti whites and blacks. At such time as this, I cannot enter into the details of all I would propose to insure a total change in our management up here, and which 1 am confident will prove entire? ly different in its results, and that our ser? vants will prospor equally willi ourselves, and will never depend upon the charity of the North, or be included in a begg'ing letter for their blankets by any United States officer. They can afford to pay for their teaching out of their own earnings, and in fact to provide themselves with most of the comforts of life. In this part ot the South the climate is favorable to that king of staples, cotton; and we can afford to pay higher wages for our liehl labor than any when; North of us. We should decide upon some plan, which will not only satisfy, but will prove attractive. We will find this belt of cotton-land gobig across thc Southern States, from East to West, will sorve as a resting place to those blacks who musl, sooner or later, move from the States North of us. They cannot stay where they are now, and thev must come South. We will have a plentiful supply of labor, and these will be the emi? grants who will lu worth the money. Let us get ready for them, by first gaining the confidence of those around us. I believe if we can only get back the right to self government, and give ajhearty farewell to those friends of ours in blue coats, who aro as "p'dite as we can expect after the five years of worry and trouble we have given them, wc have a splendid prospect before us, and our success will refute every slan? der which we have so patiently endured all our livts. I confess I am somewhat afraid of tho competition offered by the Western coun? try. The history of emigration shows a direct course towards the most productive lands; and there lies our greatest danger. Tl ie black race will form no exception to thc case. Depend upon it, it is for our interest to arrange our system of labor as attractive to him as possible, and tims induce him to remain with ns. Pay good wages, lie kind as ever to him. Protect him against all wrong and injustice. Gain his confidence and grati? tude. .Attach him not only to the white race, but above all things attach him to the soil; and therein consists the most essential requisite lor our success. All is now uncertain; and what is known on the subject of free-black labor, would deny all hope of success. Other countries might afford to fail. We certainly cannot. The demand for our products, from this vast, increasing country alone must be met* They are all fleeply interested in our ! success. The \>*ant of cotton affects our whole people, "?lou sec the effects in the prices of every arttck) yon buy? wl?'Ui4'or the absence of cotter! are noiviwe than double the price paid before the war. You cannot long continue to pay such at such i enormous rates. When kiiig cotton again j rules, all this will conpc right. In starting a new system like this, we must expect to find difficulties. We must be prepared to meet them, and, like wise men, examine and apply the remedy as soon as possible. In my opinion, our greatest difficulty in engaging the labor of the blacks and of educating and improving them, will be found in their unwillingness to remain with us. There is no enmity between us; but the separation is complete, and they obey a powerful instinct in desiring to live anart. Hence comes their earnest wish aiid universal appeal for land. From Northern Virginia to Texas the cry is still the same. To us this may seem unreason? able and extravagant, lint I think I can 1 explain better than our blacks themselves j how to interpret this feeling, as they are ! hardly aware what prompts this strong ! desire. I believe it is simply their wish for & j home Some spot where they can enjoy the freedom which such a place can alone afford. They wish to live to themselves. They will.work for us, but they must have their own society to be independent of all supervision of "thc whites. And it will j perhaps be found to our interest to all w I them this innocent indulgence. This is ' easily within our reach, by allowing I each"family to have the use of a few acres ' of our land as a part of the biro yearly of j every male member of that family. You will find great advantage to both parties : by such an arrangement. To them facili ; ties will be afforded for their churches and schools to be directed solely by themselves. ; And to us the right of instantly ejecting j thc entire family in eases of breach of 1 contract, by which their interest in tho ; crop on their laud will bc forfeited, will , prove the strongest check upon the laborer I and tho most Hevere punishment for seri? ous misconduct. This must always con? stitute the moat iinportant clause of every contract. He wiil have this home only on A coudition of laboring for the proprietor of ^ his cottage and land; y 1 he will be careful about loosing such tt^Acioua boon. Whenever such a happy advunta geous state of things is tiij/^oiut&lishcd^ each proprietor will ftSAmaining perma assemblage of peojrf?d by every bond <>t nently with him, fi feeling, and over who-.; interest and gocful influence can always ho tho most pownh we will have no more of the excited, i'i/rage. Each proprietor, as the right of 8>nias sagaciously observed, would Presidepfoo many votes, controls prosperity 1 believe awaits us, if Sy.Jfil all avail ourselves of our opportu w: irs. We havo our lands, wbicfi are I O' it valuable, and the labor near at nyftid. We intend to protect the weak, ami b/bstrain all disposition to violence and in Jijustice. Our company is formed for this ^purpose and norn- other, j] We clearly understand our duty, and are ? pledged most, solemnly to keep the peace > i ami set an example to al!. You will lind , mc ever willing to lead such a cause, ami I ' have ?ufiicient confidence in ail my com? panions to rely upon their hearty co-opera . timi. I think enough has been said to [ pri vent any misconception. Should there be any within the hearing > of my voice who aro bent apon a different I course, I would say, my friend, you can ? I only do yourself harm; be advised by ? I others, and decide upon a change of feel . : inga at once. Public opinion is against 1 I you; but if you still refuse, then don't slav' i ! "with ns a moment. Go out. to the Rocky