Abbeville press. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, March 27, 1868, Image 1

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

*5Ww \ BY W. A. LEE AND IIUGH WILSON, i ABBEVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 27,1868. \r,? - - ' SPTiM AN THE QTTnAnunwlih?n,ti?"n"""511 him "' ~ uuvu, Ull JH113 UlXUiillUll. BY HON. B. H. HILL. Delivered in Atlanta, Gx, March 10,1868, JVr. Preiidcnt, Ladies and OentUmen : I appear to-d?y at the instance and under the ansplces of the "Young Men's Democratic Club" of this city. Politico), like other revolutions, have their periods^ and often ranidly ebango iq character, pur pos?; and issues. Fnr up the ^ingsifd river tho waters are quiet and still. Littlu children bathe and play in their dvptba, and parties of pleasure rfide merrily and safely on their bosom. 13ut ftt?-given point the current makee its jtart for the great Falls, and moving slowly fit first, It grows more and constantly more" Tapid, until there is a point in its wild, mad .rush, from which, once reached, nothing tdive has cvor been rescued. Tho American people have been peaceful, 1 r. 1 n? ' , ties, uuu |?ru3jitrouil. i. UOJ IOV8U j lh?ir Constitution aq4 loved each other. ; Hut evil whimpers divided them, and step by ftep th*y approached and Bnallv entered i upon revolution. And bow wildly aud ( still more wildly we havo rushed, and yet tush along! The question now reached is not whether this or that parly shall triumph ?uot whether we shall have a Union?not, alas ! whether we shall bare a government fouuded on our consent. Tt is more vita' . ; till- The is?u* Ins wholly changed, and i has een-icd to a political quoslion. The 1 issue now pressing is one of actual political j 1 life?of social cxiitence. Nothing nioro ' startles the mnn of thought, tho readers of, ' hutory, than the giddiness with which the : ' people are riding on the rapids to destruc- ; ' lion, seemingly unconscious of what awaits . ' them. You are a3 giddy this day as were i 1 the dupes who married and were given in i * marriage, and carried on their ordinary ' transactions, before the flood, The world j t was neither more wieked, nor giddy, nor j { guilty in dial day than is the political world j ? of America at this day. The great dilfi- j c culiy of tho times is this : the people have : 1 no regard lor truth ; they bare no love for J it?not a particle. You think no '.ess of a ? nun who notoriously and avowedly engages ' ' in deception, provided ha'be a politician, j fl than you do of a Christian gentleman. I : Sl rather think you think more of deception ! % jhnn you do of truth; and that it the rea- j e ?m why so much deception is practiced. 1 v It has not only become a harmless thing, j >' i?ut it has absolutely become a passport to ^ c |>ow?t?a m. ans of success?the poli.y by 11 which you manufacture greatness out of j rothirg. t The Church and Sucit'.y are all ut fault ; |fte people themielves are at fault I P upon this question. Why, it has not only ' ^ grown to be a habit, but it has becomo al- j a mist a maxim, that it is "no harm to tell a , " lie in politics." ' Oh, what a preverted , " judgment J What immorality ! No harm 1 . ^ 1'iactice has made it so.'' My Irieud, a j ? political lie it the teomt of all lie', and ought j to l>e held more infamous than all others.,: Jle who ia guilty ol it ought to receive the | e frown aud fccoru ao<l condemnation of every j 'l man, and cf every inemter of society. Why, J ' the very rca?on why the country hasrench- !i ed it* present conditiou, is the failure of 11 your rulers to be henest and truthful, and ,? the failure of the people to call them to ^ account for their infidelity to truth. J What a spectacle the AmericHit now * . presents ! What a *pcctocle for the world ! J and posterity ! And not merely political- ^ ly, but morally. For four !o?ig years the paoplc, North aud South, were anxiously u watching the struggle?a- tjugglo to de- 11 termine whether certain Stntes should be 11 considered in the Union or out of it. Fi- ^ niiUy, the straggle tended. ',ThC Southern ^ peopfe unanimously snfcl?We'll consent v to rtmaio la the tJuittti?wo'll admit tlvftt ? our attempt to^ leave fhe Union is a fail- ? ure." Nenrlythreeyearshaiclap8edeir.ce l' tlion, and you Lave seen your rulers?tbe u pretentious leaders of pel^icil sentiment of n tl.e country?going Ho/ vfashingjfoB C.ty, ? lavjng their Lauds upoifihe BiMe, swtear- ? iog to Eupport -the .Constitution of I the Unhed Staien, and daily violating a very principle of that Constitution, and H setting at naught the whole issue and the h result of theWar. Nay, the people hare ? become so falco- to themselves? so false to tl tfcry principle pi truth and virtue?that tl nr.'old raw; the leader of lhe?rent patty, y without damage to his character openly ^ pjip bodly avows and declares that all the }*>gU1flti<)ir tAyujiifrg these Statue has b^en f* ^utirely ouUide the Constitution, which he tc teat sworn to support! You have seen P the Legislative department, governed by p pauiop, actuated by Vradictivenesj, over* p MKjwng the institutions'* <jf'tbe cbiihtr^?^ r jxotto Buppoift flifl I/niOfo which Uiey fought a] to preserve, but for the sole purpose of pre-' it serving power aid' tfrtttinuing'1 themselves W in office. Thus wpprepeot to the patipps d of tbe world the s^ec-uete of An sfbsolutely tl demoralized Logn-lative'"' Dapartdifent -of o! ffAv?rnm?ttf #? lu all tun#, tbe army Iiju been consider rj d tbe reff ;-?t^teentrtrf ekhralrjr, or, at w lefit, (jofWntofc, m Uiey do, w ***#**>*&?$ W#Slbr* tyej ?? tit&M M ttU^ftVnimUu *i?lUo?glit to.be E characteristic of arms. Bat, what a ?peo- m lade de (hi Anicricu j>eop1e pfe?ent at this tl Houff-Tfee heaU of Jbe awy ooufistiijig it noted of falaebotfl1 ittelf'bf ei* of the k b'gb?f?:WPA?f ?Jf flJWc I "P**1. *> ! b confesses hinaeelf guilty of intentional du-' ? plkffifoiA5WMftifctfr. perpetrated during' [< a itrios qf months. ;jg?jc.of Jba $r?t men of 1 wi uvM/nny/u intentional falsehood. Either tho com manding Gonoral of the Armies of the United States is convicted before tho worM of falsehood, or the President of the eaino nation, and live Cabinet officials, stand convicted of it. For my purpose, I caro not which is right. I briDg to your riew, simply, a startling fact?if you have any raorI ality to be 6larl!ed?^i?t, in either event your rulers stand convicted, and confussedQonvioted, of intentional falsehood. That is the poiut at which tho nation has i arrived. And now, what do wc w'tness! The nation flCtudly trembling, the nation actually doubling, ihe nation actually fearing that that department of the government, which, in all history, has been, ought to be, and which, under our form of govern ment, was intended to be, tho bulwaik of our noertu-s?the break-water of pnssion? I say the whole uutioii is trembling, doubt ing, fearing, that the Sup-emo Judicial power of the country will he utterly unequal to thetabk of declaring what tliey know to bo the Constitution of their country. Ob this point I, for one, havo never yielded. 1 havo always believed that the j qiK'btion, once made before that, tribunal fairly and clearly, they would be equal to | the task, though I confess I bavo not found ' .1 one man in a hundrwd to agree with ine, and that fact alone is a sudiciuct illustra-| tion of the extent to which this corruption 1 and loss of confidence havo gone. Shall the judicial department of the gov ' eminent?lifted by ihe Constitution above ! the mere petty pas?ieneol the raullitudu?j fulfill tho great objects of its mission, and ?ny that the Constitution is the supietnv aw of the laud, and that all acts outside of ' t are usurpations and consequently void '{ ' ft' so, this countiy may be sav*d; thus evolution may be Flayed. But if tlic court j iliould agree with the Congres?, and leave 1 lie President standing alone in the Strug? ) jle, battling with two dt p utmeuts of tlie ! government, then, my countrymen, the inul appeal is to you. . Politicians aro j orrupt?there is no truth in ilieiu. Y our , eaders tell n lie and swear to it; but though ' >e?jury is a crime, it is a passport to pow- J r. If your government f:t?ls, it will lor j 10 other reason than n want of bonesly 1 nid of lova of trulli. Then, I say, the ' ijipesl is to you, to the people of America, . vhetlier you shall prove trulhlul and hon ' at. But, if you fad, then, the verdict is , mtteu that you have neither virtue nor n'elligence sufficient to preserve Republi j an Government, and over the falls we ?ust go, at once, aud forever. That is the question now before the i Lmetican people. I deny that it-is -a tne?? j alitical question between two 'par'.iws ; 1 , eny that It is a ^ueatlon b?lw??p Union {_ nd Disunion ; 1 deny that it is a question . i ettrren despotism and liLerty, solely. It j n? become a question of d?yei;ey or iteccner, of boucaty or dishonesty, of truth i r falsehood, of viitue or vice, of ctviliza- j on or barbarism, and he who ranges him j ilf'bn one'"side or the other inU3t l?o. for i ver so adjudged. (Applause',) 'I denjjf thai is necessary at this i'ay for a mau to itnd up before any intelligent audience uu ?iguo ine constitutionality or the quesious now being thrust ujon you. There j > no mail who does not need a guardian i ut knows they i?ro unconstitutional; and j ou know it.. The question is uot at to i hether you undeistand it ; but whe.her j ou have virtue enough to d6 what you 1 now is right. And people' of Georgia, ig iaeua is made. You aro to be called pou to dutarinine whether you will favor nth Ar fuLftlmAi) T Imw.u. !?..* ?- ? ? ' ?.? vi tMtTVMVwu* A RUWTt 1U?IW UUW, IIIHI iJec<], for many years back, Lhe nir ia /ull f "Policy, policy, policy"?the making of >ia bargain and of that bargain. 1 will <nture now to say?aiftl I bop? L*h?il i ffund nobody; .ihoogh, infvC1 ' ire U'I do,. i? telling tlftf l lere are over fifty men this day in Allan j i who have come here to see if they can- i ot make pome office bjr joining one party 1 r the other. I hav$ (?ceu observing some i t them for two.day8, and I begin to think < shall almost feel respectable (laughter Ld cheers) if I do uot got ou6 of pneb an I tmoephcre. I represent no party ; J ?fe- I jng to noue, and therefore speak only for < tyself. I support that party which X link, in given instance, is rlgbf; and j ? lat party to day is 'represent**!" by these ! I oung g?atlemQtu . (The-members of thp.j roung M?n'ji Democratic'Clulr'of If&rtoh ' (ourrty.-^ I -apeak nr.y own conviction' I sarlessly, and, I trust, plainly. I desire < > do so, and I dosire to b+'tndttfctCT; i ersonally indifferent,; wbiUiir-pr tm*?l j < ?uo vug ujpu ujiiji ui nil uitu. ! ' InnBe.-) ' [ ' " ' 1 ) i.l-'? //?, I ^1 deem, it toy?hitfl|to WW*/ Ww(! 70U j 1 ftd put oi) rcpord my views of theC nsli j I ilion which id n'odrpropMed fc^nioption, j 4 wjitnr giv? tbo retina why I deem and < eelare it infamous. I nm not going over: < le olA wjppipfertt wtyichjE/had tho honor I F presenting 1 by forfe'^an ^udience in tkidj irae hall, at an earlier period of our histo-! M r, by which I prored" tllil'tho irtrtlf^lritTj i bich authorized this matter, digitally,: i An linTinoliliilinnnl Wrtt.II!-! -T. I ill, and every man knows, tbojl r it. ^ b'o. I l?*jybody knows J^bat ibe Convention** I icnbled bare to irnme a ' Con?f1tlrtibnf for; ?| 'j&'ojjld of Georglabiul nO nore aytior i y.CVTdo^o-Oifiu ?2*e^iuy young HMdr J luiog toe/ But $feL*u!,,! lorily wer/K absolutely valid, everybody. ,| nows ion. yrw Jiot culled r" y an honest votp. I sty that the voUj as faUtly cduDtoSTl ?jp<J j/6us'1^i?5w it] >1 \ppfcuw.] 1 ijd you kuow it. ill ifo jC<|? | \ ,:i J: fp/4 fcSIOC - ! i vjutivention illegally Authorized, is enough to justify an honest mno in afrndenming its action, wlintevor llmtfnotion l>3. Well, j uf what material w$s llii^ Convention j composed ? ^Laughter.) 1. Very accoin? j inodating?very charitable?very selfsacrificing adventurers from New England come down here to inculcate the manners and morals of New Kt.gland into the benighted Georgians ! (Laughter.) 2. An oilier part is composed of men false (o their own race and country?false to their own pladgos?false to their own history,# i and false to thoir own oaths?coin;; into, i _ l tlie parly for tlio simpl* purpose of getting honor. 3. Another portion is composed of negroes from your corn fields. (Laugh- , ter and checr?,) negro preachers, and cod , vicls from Sing Sing and our pciiilentiHiie? . ( (Tmmeiiso cheering and laughter.) Men , black and white, uow charged by the ju- ! , ries of the country witb every infamous j j crime known to tho Penal Code. These ' j make up tho body of the Convention? ' t with a lew gentlemen, who are in very bad j I company and serioiuly hazard their repu ! , , lation. (LaiTghti r") |j And these, Georgians, are the men who | are to form your fundamental law. Now , i . ! .Knglatul outlaws; Sing-Sing convicts; , penlilcr.tiarv felons ; and corn licld negioe.J, j t engaging in the work that immortalized ! , the fathers of the country; Sj?irit< of ^ Washington, of Franklin, and of Madison i and of your C'llaborera of 1787 ln<>U i'm" ' * i11 and seo litis mock mimicry ol your grand ? t wotk!?nay, r?v, look no"', I beseech yotii ; lest you shock (ho angels with your Uliuli- ! ing, and startle heaven witli your weeping. , ^ [Enthusiastic applause.] j . liut, let us pass from the material com- ; , posing the Convention, to the woik there- J ' of. It is a universal maxim, as true in i 4 . ? c politics as iu philosophy, that the effect is | always like the cause which piodneed it. | XuwrI will say, i:i passing, that this Con- ' btitutiou leaves evident maiks of a contest; there wer9 two clssaos of minds iu the ^ Convention. One clas# endeavoring to do . ir everything that is infamous, and another? a small class?try ing to deceive It.em into 1 doing something otherwise. [Fviughter.] j l!ut thry have been po afraid that, their de I | eepliuna would he discovured, that, in my l opinion, they failed to hceni?inli?i> lhf?v intended. C( Speaking of Irutli, I will ask ton, candidly und hunestly, whether under the cir J eumstances, the preamble to this new Constitution ia l/uc ? I will read you two pro . an,b!<j?, audi submit ihem for you-tojudgt? ' which is the tiuecne. The preamble, a? i adopted l>y the Convention, readmits fob i H' lows: | " We, the people of Georgia, in ordtrto i frame u permanent government, establit-h j ^ justice, insure domestic tranquility, and i secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves J and our posterity ; acknowledging and ia j ^ voking the guidance of Almighty O-ld, the ! Author of all good government .do.ordain I ^ and establish" this Constitution for the Stat* < uf Georgia.'*.. y., 8| * Now, tliat is wtrtt tl.ej My^knt'what U.lliu truth ? .1 ic-ul iiguiu : '" Wo, lli? niggers of Georgia, in order ^ to destroy all permanent government, es- . tablwli rSTjbery; inftire domestic d sgmce and discord, and eecure, the curses of an nrcliy and despotism to nil races and jjifcir ' [lostcritr; acknowledging tlie guidance of u the Radical party, the auihvr of fll' ba^d government, do o idain and cBtabMi this ! tr Conmitulion for the Slate of Georgia.1' I lh [Here the speaker was unable to proceed i It fur tome qiiuutea, owing.to the iriepressi- , Fri blioul of laughter-] ; ; i ol -Sow, I chall call your altentijj^u to spme j "I portions of this Constitution, as illustrating } its character. notiee its pro- j w; visions touchli^g'tlw relations of tho laces, ! pc und next, wlWl-mithf. br w?v ??f n.imm.. ! Iv i:Iaturc, be eiffled its mornl-'fe?tt?res?some- j rij '.liing ne^llf'Hi Constilutijnl- ' Willi re- | ward to llie question of9?fcee?, r^will uot j wl FUllilyJW' thlr Constitution, thoroughly on i tji lhat enhjpct Y"feut I shall assert a fcW leal j ing pt^jidsitions, which no tnill?f?V'm?n nc un deny, and which nu honest radiivitl. D Fhit^huw does ihis ConUfoetkm' leave , W tlie iociai relation of the races ? -Upon j tit ,h*t Bnhjeot lbera h> but one clause'trt ilio *a; 3?tfttituiion, and to that cltMAteT'dMiio to inj call 'rfi'd attention of tho auJiSfl^T1- ll M tli sactiori' 11of what ? called ll>y(,,iJill of cu [iightef^or^'B^clariitioi' of Fundamental bli Princii?ftsf/*I-The 11th cectiotr'tiad thus: Urj 'The sotftlUtntti of lh?'6{U24ii^iall never ! ho l.a ti.? r...Ltuirior>?I-? i ?- ?-r ? au<]<xv-?i'i?ni>mnBiHv * JNow, the | iju ciuuh1 ob^ttty o*i> ^W*diBg'~ that, might ?g not discover' WJriWtfili%,riniw so, indeed, n B?< casual observe^'reMWii^ the Conslilu q'1 tioD, would discfAr^^r^ little that it does wl maun--'Jl requires tl^a rntyn BhpMli),hsire ,n; some ktfbWIetf^fl-of hiW; ofimrnjof socio- 0?; y, and of^tftUyounirjr?for which it U ini 1 f i- - - leflffHl'MUtrort *hl'' und?ntimd?(kii > U Do^i^o^ofMv,,'.t:The social str.lui j be if the citizen" BlialT iitver be ibe 6ubjeot of : <S* legislation." 12 CB |A {1 *ttt( Now, unJer that provision, what w the N? ri^?^?'&^iMft?g<39cla(io? t2 a ** elatioq~joj?jibe leading, social' 'liv relation is tbe marriage rela'ioc. This pe JonstitutldA'flblft fibl *iy that Mhtermarryi -to ing between -jtfjo whiles arid bUctftf* here oil by made valid," . authorized;^ "Bi butMjr%,VAb|V,P9ffW - 00 ihuft'nvrtor .if,lepulatif#/r foi islatore bhaUoovecbav# iwr. h/JWvw*1 8ul SSSSSffi&SjK* S 2s:ssaaas?i im c.. . ^ /r the welfare of society. Thai clause, there fore, menus that the Legislature shall nevei have the power to punish vagrancy. Wlu shall stop at your hole's 2 What shall In llie manner of riding in in your railroad cars! "Whatihall be llie older of getting in your churches? These are all social questions. And this Constitution Bayt that 011 all thesu subjects thero shall bu 110 legislation ! Negroes can force themaclvoa into our church pews and railroad cars. They can go, young ladies, and sfl by your hides in church and all public places, and you canl.-.l r uut uci(> u. xne Legislature shall never act on the &ul'j'fct. ll leavws you to yourselves. It loaves yoti to anarchy! It, secures no right. It' the negroes choose to >b?eivo your rules, well and good; if they Jo not, >ou have no remedy, you can have no legislative protection. I dare say the dea of framing that clause was to prevent egislalion prohibiting the intermarriage of .ha races. aughter.] I suppose the >arty who framed it, or rather who origilated it, had a tasto that way, and did not ntoliJ to bo interfered with. 1 didn't jlamu liim; but if I was a negro woman, would not have a single member of that liOlIcy Convention [laughter aud cheers], xcept the low respectable ptrsoiiB I have nentioned, and who, 1 repeat, are in great lunger of losing their character?. 1 know hey went there with good motives, though indor a mistake, and 1 am going to let hem off as eubily as possible. [Laugher] Now. Wlovr-ci'.izcnp, it is for you to any rhtther you will ratify this 'social rela? ion" arrangement. It is a qu&Mion of *Ste; it is a question of rufineuisnt; it is question of lace; it is a qnestion of priuiple! Decide (or youritjlvej. lJjcidu for our cniivlren 1'eoide for your countr)'. aid, my friend*, ycu who tliiuk that you re lifted nbuvc tlio common herd and ummon masses of the peopV, and think mt impudence will never date assert itself i your company, I prny you, I pray you, ?ve tbe honest, unfortunate. poor people f this country fiom such foul cohtaminn? on. [Applutrae.j 1 pray you alio,-sav e j 10 negro nice. 1 ?m iinmovable in my j snviction that tho whiles and blacks can nly move safely trge'tl.er '5ri tho same juntry, in their different and natural ; >heup. Whenever you Attempt to bring icni together, you inaugurate a ciisis J lik'li results in tlie paralysis of ihe white ice, and in the destruction of tTie black I ico. God has oidc-red you to keep them 1 >arr, and you muit koep them apart. j I pa*s fiom this view to that of the po? | lical relations Vet ween the blacks and { bites. I know that the iJca has gone i >road?I hare hottrd it iiiyfeli in this city J -that this Convention dias beon "won- I rrfully liberal" to the w hites I u Tlioy i iva not made luo races c?pial!" NVjnsrlul! Tiioy have doii j but one (lit/i'g for a negro; that is suffrage; they have ven that to tl|cui*;,, ' Ttiey havq ^not [ ven the tight so> hold olllco, nor,, any j bvr'-V-rSo they And, kiad^good j matures?those oaj pel-baggers from New j ngland, and convict* from the peuileutia- j es, and nogroe? from tho corn fields? j ey say they l.nve' mpgftaninsously conchi j :d not to' disfranchise tho intelligent j ?fi ?* .? l'1 I biles of the counuy I [Laughter.]' 1 | I assert?and nsftert without fear of con i idiciion?tbat this Constitution makes [ e negro politically equal in all respects, j makes them equal us to the right of suf- ( ige, and equal as to tlie("\Whl tp liold . lice. It draws up distinction . i^IiaCever, J id provides for none to .be drawn,except | ;>?iii8t tho.ivtliiioa. . Kbw, tlJioy any thvre ', its a -stctiou in tiro Constitution* -as r?- , >rteJ ffflnt Hie Committee tihicti positive fdeclared that negroes' sliftilld hrtt'c tlie ! jhtjo Kjjl^l. oflio*-, and Jhey struckfit out j id now thry *ay a notorious gentleman, j liose nainc I witf Hot condescend tp men- [ >n, suys: ^'Look , at,, the Coi\sti^?ttou : ( there any- thing in, it.which rays tlje ! >gro shall hold office Wonderful! anVef, come to judgement"!' [Lauglrter. l oil, 1 ask you to look at the Constitu >n and see iT there' is anything which ys a white man sbull hold oflicu. 'Nmtli; j? 'whatever. Yet'^ou are so far goue in o region of dupedohp that ttien who are HcJL iotelligent uud Joanied, have the unjaliing eilronteiy to go bi^fyre. .(ho. coun? r tiodany.: fcDee? it ?*y tUe negrpi ?ball ' Id office f" Now <wl?atdo?B iL du ? , alifios all mo/c ^persons qypr 21 y^ars of e, and nbojhnva been us, the S^jie.A " i'ti> length, of time,, a to. rote,, .Tliqy are alifioi asf elector^. ?U!dooi'not sa)? that leu jou coino ^u> elect offlfceta; n wkftj insliaU be ejected, t<cr#. bb?cL una*.. It yl that wbtm'joti fcle4t?YOtivornor)?ke ;-l ust bc'fc iMit&f' of- the Stnfb irnd fefithe d uited Statcu 10 manyfogre,' fltfcf'tio:jn6st '' 39.>???.a meujl**the'7 rmle, 26 yeMBoWb^ /Jiut does ,?t:?y be l Ust ftjiv^a wljFftt'fckm bUck ?ki* ? gross get to ^J^yeare_old. [FJrtlfrgh yj ? And *???jiou^ga.joft to.Uefrepjgytu- ;] ' JSl.V**?o i.* Jl.-lCI?a v ....u v uugvo'vi M riot Cutlrt";1 nd^tb^ct liiflef yoU-Ve^ne ! l??r? |>r*cuoeti,laW 'M>> Jw>g- /.T^jox- ?1 ><]<* -most 'ef >lftb-iMegreo* ?fc, pttoeAt/'i ifwlien v68 flWBf IB lllU lllbUNliVMi iaQjufrtul?eitltur H r Justice of tlia Pc\ce,uuutlly officer*, irouers or N<t&rM>Tublio. There nre"| your CJneiltUtfOrt.-nho ntaolute equality ^ mmmmm >?8'*iA XVi&Afl .T .1 ) v, 'it i'l* ttXl ,t? .hull ] ' f . regarding Ilia "ijccial statu*" wap, uot to ri r confer, or retain tho right of intermarriage w > or the interference of the negro in our so- c? oial life; but, tho idea was to prevent the legislature from protecting the white peo- v? ; plu against cnvroacleBiinls. That was w undoubtedly tlie sole object. And that C' . ol-ject is certain of accomplishment if this yt Constitution beeoincs lavr. Now, niy fricn Is, I say, and God only ty knows my feelings when I say it, that the to adoption of this Consti'ution, and its final establishment, will bring ruin to your coun- I I try, and blast the hopes of your people yo It will condemn the poor negro to extermi- y? j nation. No pen ?ran describe, no language da . v>?ii t-a press 111? horrors that tball ensue, co I socially, morally, and politically, whenever thi | there shall be a forced collision of the frc . races. This Constitution provides that there shall l>o oue Justice of tho Pence to evory mj | militia dist.'iot. That Juntico of tho Peace thi , shall have jurisdiction in all civil cases 1 tin i where the amount does not exceed fifty Ti . dollars, tltfcre is no appeal. Now, then, t>iu I take tho county of Dougherty, ior illua- blc ' iralion. In this county there are about trc : seven uegrots to one white man. Do you tin ! not fiie that every Justico of the l'eace j thi : will be n nejjro? Take the district with ' ve ! I J which I happen to be most fainiliur?the Sti most productive, perhaps, in the State of ' in Georgia, west of the liver, out in what is ' ins is callcd tho "oak and hickory countrysut My overseer told mc'theotjcr day, that in I f?ii j the spnee embraced m acme three miles, j on there were one hundred and twenty no- of groes and seven whito men. Now, then, j j if a man has a claim there for anything ; mc I less than a hundred dollars, it is to be ad- i pet j udicated upon by a negro Justice of the pU 1 Peace; and if that claim should not exceed j ou; | tff,? ,!~ll. ! uuiuiiN iiu is suoject to tbat negro's ! sen decision without even tbe light of art aj) | stit peal. It dues not apply to contracts, or to tiit wages, lut it will apply, also, to what law- Go 70 rs call odious ex iL lie to, as well as to cat actious ex'conlracht, fir they are alike 'I i civil casts. Iience, if the complainant the lIUW uul nllcgo Lio tlamngoi nf nin'iA than a j I II I hundred dollar; it comes under the juris- { itig j diction of the Justice of the Pence, and ! bei when less than fifty dollars, it shall be tbt without appeal. 1 e>L "Why, my fiien'ds, you give up nearly, is j no, not quite, half the State of Georgia to the ' He abxo'utu control and domiuioti of the ne- iut gro. You give the interesu of the poor al I white people, by this Constitution, abto- | not lVitely into tho hands of the negroes, and : cal that, too, without appeal. Now, I winh it r those men who are eo continually talking wo about tho "poor man," to bear what I ray. j ] Those men who owe large debts can afford pe< to go to the higher court*, while those j coj who are comparatively poor, have no ap- ! itpeal whatever, auJ must take the decision ; a v oi the D?>gro. ; be Another ingenious point attempted by a j 1 gentleman of the Gjnveiition is this: This . my Constitution stiys that "upright and intel- 004 .figent jurors shall bo provided." Well lar .ihe law regard? all men as upright and in- few telligenl. Que thing, however, is cerUup.: , to,I that under thai law, 110 member "bf that -eon Convention could serve ou a jury?except lief indeed, a small number. [Laughter.] one Who 13 upright) Who is intelligent? del If an Express agent can b.e Govornor, who otb cannot be the Justice of the l'eace? ; plai [Laughter and Applause.] If a little May- J of 1 (... it:-- ti 4 ui vuu ui ?ica j resiuetit or the United ; sis Slajp, who cannot he a juror1 [Renewed j iu s laughter and cbetjfd.] , Where are we go j injtc inglo? / .... | ?it e Vou give an: appeal in cases over fifty j the dbllars atid- uinlef one hundred, from tho i is a justice of the Piuce t<J the Snpterior CctirT, ' eat,u'ul whjen. you get tbero, yoiT findfuur- tho fitlu to aix^tventha, of tbf j?rops pcgroes, \hal and your Sheriff, and Clerk, and all other ,0oh officers of tbb Court, .negroes alao. .Oh| 'beei but, any 60tne, they .will elect white people! vritl Well, what' soft 'of'^hfte people Jwilfll/or 'fur elect? I will tell you. Bui, first let ine rel>< say, that from this time forth the clas&ifi- veo cation of the negro must be enlarged., ha* There ia tile black negro, the yellow negro, doi? and' the while negro. Add to (ell you the '? truth, I have more respect for the black ja n nigger than for the white; for God tuii^o |jl0 hint a nigger, while the' other?the white llon one?is n nigger from choiee.1. I'-tell you ,\\'h candidly, I woultl rather" hnv? a n'gger sla, Justice of the frctifce ihH'n orfb'-of thr'te 'Con adventurers or renegades. Now?,]Kjoo j elppt^ti.overnojr, (or: the State .wfip ,ho!d<t { Coii that the r?ces ate equal,.the.great proba- pa6S bilitiea are' thai he wHl appoint friends of troc hta'o'wn to the pesltion/nndeV his control; i|,at nhd that he ' w ttt, tlftd?r Jlwafeew Mute of it;.- :; i 10 P j?pp9)nt negroes t^^pme^ood posiIfonf,... tfcah*pa ,lia, yr/itU unoalf<l. ??.U^.;.of iKam. i .LuIma* ->?*? r?i.? *. v i n.vw? Mfwwiwp' v?ugoof)lill^ iuu?cuy ^/HVUll l^o|\ ' Why Mrt, 4?'tb*y>?*tr equnl) |'te?y "'lii ii'grpaV'mVnV friirUi of "(liecountry ing p^V^irom [will inembdif eT'tbe"'Legislature dosctiw '<1 toll .stlui your no. deccnl wTSte^nnn will con^onl to !{>* i Jl >' m tjt j /.: .iva-Ai) , leolHVTO W J'* ?y)T?Vff)?,j#U>rt*dl<J^ ?M .m nqrld.taKfc W4miI Why tliaipleet- 'Wh Ih^ lnleVeWMA ttnrfi Mbtions of ttareoarilry '^'Fof MriaVWW&l Wim 'WittiMlIttriisw >;??f ?f<c6?iW< j*j#ti?"*li?erst> rodeflnHtly'Ihe''***' not' Jip ?r '?i: * Wj&y 'iuimiet mtivfou ti e lh? possibility oUUie^wople-of my coon-: tiea trjHtaibjf ?b ''riViftsv^iotjtfDfi^lBvar. >i? kl lH5f:Mri?iinigtf1 fatokMUttHlkW' ' W W '?* imm *3tt7/ a il> $ii ItJw vf'ifu^ tiff'l?n<> ?'?t jfrfulw I *if? o! .L ?i b.? l:1.'t4U d tloMt boforo my vision, night and day hen I see people going along as uncouirnedly as though there was no dnngei ienJ. l'uoplo of Cherokee, do any o ju hear rne 1 Will you permit mo oiu ord of remonstrance! It is mid that tlii* unatituliou is to gut its niiin support from >ur region of coutflry. Mr. A. W. llolcoinbo (of Milton coun? ,) in the audicuco. It will surprise tlieiu hear it. Mr. llill, I appeal lo you, my friend, for know you are a true niau. I appeal to u and all like you, to go home and tell ?ur neighbors what I have told you to y, and ask them, for decency's sake, for uutry's sake, (or God's sake, to save tnusolves aud their race iu lower Georgia iiu &ui_li foul damnation. Mr. Ilolcombe. I will do it sir. Mr. Hill. 1 know you will do it. See, j fliends, what an extreme of maducss is is. It is not lleason tbat has rushed i American people into it. It is not ulh that has brought ihcai to it. Pas n alone has done it?wild, uncoulrolla i passion. Passion, cupt\ued and conlied bjr the fatal ambition for office, ol ) wily politician, is what has brought ? people aud this country to the present rge of ruin. (Enthusiastic applause.) rely, it is not possible that there is a man this country who possesses even the first iinct of honor, who would dare ratify ;h it fundaneutal law as that. I n?k you, low citizens, to rtfluet on. this. Your n conclusions must kbow you the errors such a policy. I now pass to what tuny bo called the >ral features of this Convantiou. I hear sple around the slrculs of A'.lauta?puot who ought to know letter, and who i?ht to have more icgard for common no and decency?sayi-ig thut this Coiiutiou is going to be ratified, and that i ques ion is ns to the candidato for rurnor. Well, if we cannot get a better ididato than some people. I do 110L think worth contending [or. Why give up t contest T "Well, everybody ?ay? ?o." ever heard a white man. say he was go[ tO do It. Wiij jlo tlioy cay 30 J is it :auso of the equality of the races, and 1 social supremacy of the negro being .tltl'islied iu the fundamental law ? Oh, not fur that. Then, why? Well? lid'. They put relief. Tliey put relief 0 it?and that is tvhitt is called the morfeature of the Constitution. I could call it exactly political?I could not 1 it social; and I had therofuro to call noral?though I beg pardon c" the rd "moral'* for trtating it so bs.' * . L never blink a question upon which th? >plu ought to hear ine. 1 don't eareone >per cent1?aud I want you to understand -whethor you or your people ever cast ote for me or uot, aud if you consent to negroes I would not have you vote. L am going to speak plainly. I think self that a large portion of our peoplo ;ht to have some kind of relief; and as back as nearly three yenro ago, some ' of ,ua in the State turned our altcntion the jiuhjucLfor the.purpose of.derUiiig ie suIikiuo Unit should o|>QraU) am a r?' aud be constitutional and leg-il; and i that should be to credtor an J >tor alike. I would not conscnt to nny er. I think we'could have devisod a ii, by tljia lime, if we lmj Lac] control the Stat? Government.. I Lave9 synopof an argument made in August 1-800, 1 county of OWrgi*?One which I had lydoj to read to thi* audience, and may tou>e other tiyie give to the public, bat difliouliy iuour way lw? baan.fji^^thoro party4u Georgia, uusorupaUousy dwlionand filAf/whtr hafo 'tukeu control-* of su:*tcct,"1ji'tftl'fco*deiho'ra'l!zcd; the people L nolhmg'lioncst Oj "seLaibley ' lep if'or ktiUitjuoal caa begone ; a^J, \bifl has a 4-fItrtled .Uy. A-tltpiiug tbojieoplp^not S the reality, but-1 bo idea of reli*f; So froitf'this Constitution operating asia ef, itj ab&olutoly prevonta-relief, and pre la nieu in thp State that might pos*iblv a brains ?uougli to desire, relief, from ig anything at ail. row, then) I aaj, in the first plac#, thia o relief. Why do I say so? What is difficulty in the way of this Coimtitu T Ilis not your State Constitution. >* .1: 1. -I I iat is tbejliftkuhy in the way. of your f Law? Why; it was not youf Slate citation. It w? thp constitution of United State-*, "Mie United'''States stitutTon eajfp that' ,4no' ifnV"ibh*M5e ?d impairing, thei'obligation of pon19." The saro* CoostUiitWA BC.l'P r that {/.institution, anil dike i*w$ p?8*ed urtunnce therefore, thai I be tire supremo 6f the tonay tfnythitfgfti' WW"tfMi?U vilhMavd'Mlg-?.,?WW ,V*. ?,'?' . anr-CwMUiitUow/ a^yoac. ,, th^ obligation! vof'XWMtraoiF,:. conflicts. i a proving of'lh?lUliite<l States Con- ' Wi'i been' *6 dHeWifined ' (BS U^U i* ; :d i ffiuu rty. ' nKk>?^.. .*u?w?r.., 01% titkm;:?. Ml n?df?(Vl^k? fevtfHtiifcJ, onv??tiOT>lo^ M thd!&Jn?UWto*'of ill# ?IfoHeJ ' i itiah*ilTe^iwlatOra 6l I .-?lMK,WHA W jlrfk^lfc^wK i *Ne^im?o8i8t*i?4urtkB*)?<;dWjUFg,, judges to r*Mlt i M aMMfl+J^TttrUTOrftt, U)1(#upp^....fjlMJ, ( ittMi?H-q#i4j?i8?Mfc<?fctG?atgit,ji ?nd Mo'VtolJtW'tb* ofctasre1 t)i?4ino5??*a.*i iflr/fii LtX|/.# > iMtlvf /^ )iist-.ifftno io<^? r ni rtfKil I./iit '(iit> Muli^l'iin ,ill>6 j iji ' i"?i Uv&ai oil' %i' i?*tr. i v yj , tlilulion of the Stale and that of tbc - United SlateB come in conflict, tlio Conr Mitution of tho United States is paramount f and must prevail? And does be not > know that wbon a man takes an oath to i support the Constitution of the Stateol (Jeorgia, be takes thai oatb to support it, , as far as is -* ~ minute constitution of the United States? And aro wo then, sunk so low that our public men? ihoso, at least, who are cortainly learned I men?can coiue before the country iu a I grave pnper and state what they know to bo a falsehood? Well, I am told that this is not n State, but n territoiy?n quibble upon the word "State" in the Constitution, as though the Constitution, if adopted? even though we be a territory?will not take effect when we aro organized as a State. All such nonsense us that is now set at rest. The Supremo Court ha*, as telegraphed this morning, decided that the ten States wete Constitutionally States of iho Union. Well, they decided that adoz en times, but you cannot get these men with a purpose to admit it. They have decided that we are in the Uuion, constitutionally. I do not supposa we nro in any other way just no v. This "rolivf" measure, my friends, is not only no relief, but it was never intended for relief. Nut a half dczen men in th.it Convention voted to place it in that Constituion, that diJ not do it with tho intont, at the tim<*, to cheat and deceive the people. MnrL* mtt ....j ,.u,ur iukb mem down. 1 dare . them to deny wlial I say. (Applause.) I have evidence tlmt I do not doubt that | somo leading men at "Washington?your father*, my guod Radical friends; your great lights?wrote you word,or had some of you informed?whether you to'd the balance of the Couvcntion or not?I can't i say ; though I expect you did?that "you i may put as much "relief' in as you please, to get votes," bnt "when it comes to Coni gross, they would have to knock it out.'" The Congressmen, they said, were uni\er oath to observe this Constitution of tlio United States, nod that clause is contrary to it. Now, the only improbable feature of the story is that a Radical should have any compunctiono nbnut his oath. (Applause and laughter.) The f.*ct of the nmt ter ij, when I first heard tho fctory, I did hot believe it on that account, but I purj sued the inquiry fuither and fonnd it was j truo it would be disregarded, but they did not say it was on account of their oaths, j (Laughter ) I was passing through your ctfy a few ; weeks ngo?I hope tho gcntloman I am j g?'ng 1? tulk about will hear mr; I dare him to deny what I ?ay. -I took the sleeping car down at tho depot. There were three members of the Convention in j the berth right opposite to ine. One of : them I know?or "rather used to know when ho was thought to be somebody. 'He did not recognise me, however. Tho three were talking?iliscu 'sing the means by which they could Lave the Constitution ratified. I believe they ate talking of tho individual/io whom I hnve particularly referred, ai a candidate for Cotoeress. On? 'of them says to another: "Well, Colonel, I don't believe in relief, you know, I believe it is wrong?it is illegal and unconstitutional; but I am g??ing lo vote for it, anil I'll tell you why. In the district I represent there are nineteen hundred whites and twenty-nine "hundred rogistered negroes-; 'and if we do not put relief in wo won't get eir white vote# out of these nineteen hundred. If we do put relifef in, there will not b? six of the nineteen hundred that w? shan't 'get: And although I- think it is wrong, T am going to'paf it'inj in ''or-; to csirfy the Constitution." I have tiot1 "passed through Atlanta much whilo the! ljUMJi XV?NO. 49. i died, a family of eight daughters?aix un married. I They are Utterly unable to live, except, from liand to mouth; and they are abso? lurely doing their own cooking and washI ing; while worth,"in the form to which I , liavo referred, thousands of dollars, and tho men who owe the mouey are living in fitio | style, and with all the luxuries imaginable. | They refuse to pay for the property they bought. You aro tbereforo ruiuing the ' credit class, as well the debtor class, to | whom you hold out false hope3. You are simply postponing the day of payment. Now, you cau get a good compromise. Everywhere I go I tell the people to settleA One spectacle, of which I know, was presented the other day. A debtor gave up all his property to his creditors. They bhared it all out, and then turned around anfl gave it back to htm, saying they would wait for tho money until ho could I pay it.' They returned him the twenty. ! live cents on tho dollar which they had receivprl in w'"* - , ... u.vicr 10 muKo a man of him | again. I have known a great many case? 'settled on this principle, and I do know that much more of it could bo done, if this j miserable cheat of, "relief" WU3 out of iho ; way. j Mora than this, I tell yon this Radical j movement is depreciating tho properly of ; Georgia every day. It has already depic! ciatcd property in value more than sufficient to pay every private individual debt ! in tho Slate. I have no doubt that if it ' could bo proclaimed that this whol# Tlad} ical movement was a fail are, and iho troub lua were settled, all the property of Georgia would, in two hour*, rise twenty Ave j per ccat., and in twelve months, one linu. Jred per cent. Labor would rise ; properly would advance; productions would increase; prices i of provisions would diminish '; crime would bccOmo lessened, and society made ordeily. There i-j 110 calculating the amount of iniquitous frauds wrapped up tn M>U - ? -- ? ' v.iv, uiiiiuu - renei." L'\pplause.] And I will not attempt to lift, the veil beyond. ] will not attempt to go into the future. The present, Ood knows, is horrid enough to the inan that lovc3 his country. T'no dink future, if it must come, may! i bo saved fiotu seeing. Wlicn you make it j the fundamental law of your 'land tfiafc j you have a right to take one species of ! property* from one neighbor to give it to ^ another, you then have admitted the ptfnj ?:ij(lc by which you have n rigbt'io tako any other species c.f property. That is the ' en'.erinx wedge of a^rarianiam in all counI O o o 4 j tries. Take care, you men of property, how you instil into the minds of the peo plo of this country the idea that it is le. gal to rob. Take care how you say that j your neighbor must gire up liis debt tio1 cause'his other neighbor is poor. For the i same reason divide out your house, your ! fine furniture, your well-lad en table. For ; iho samb reason, give up one of your fino ' horses. Why not?- I tell you.it istbo : principle of tbo robber and the net of Iho | thtef. [Applause.] 1 '' 1'rt j If you inrtugufato tins government, fttllow-citlzijnf, you will increase [he taxation of the tetato almost double. Instead I of oducating your children asr heretofore, | you will be taxed to educate all the clill! dren of tbo State- 'And now, I will subj mit this proposition to you : If members of j the Convention .steal' each other's hatband J watches, how much will they steal oUt of ! it.A ??? - , ncusury; ^ Daughter.] And how much of tlie proceeds of ralftonds will be disposed of? I ask yoa'iii all candor and honesty, whether a man who enj gages in what ho detains diiii'^roclauns a ^cheat, nnd perpetrate^ '-it on' lhe ptopfe, swill not Rteal "if Ce' geis a chance? ! [lj"?ughler."l It is the srtme principfo, whether ui inoraTa or phllosphy.^'UTiesa negro aspirants' for (he rich^ offices of ttfi* State, titigulded l?y J>rTKcJ|ilfe:, ntnnfltiefcced by honor, nnd stimn1kt^dl,'io adopt arty means to fecure their en Is, will rob'fhinj his State nioro money ifl&ri 'W6uld ply three times the debts of ail its people. I do not apeak of individuals, I sjfteak' 6f ttio priucip'.e, and I challenge "its 6o#<radicHtSh. The incorporation of 'this re1i6f afclleifio wob effected' fdr the stripping and deceiving the1 people ;-'^nd tbe' nT&n who would1 &ot WfeifSte 'ti^enlrip ot doceive the people bh this matter of; ImptJrtance would not hesitate to commit A?y crime in the calalogtad'. " rroui ' ' ' * Wby;'tbe very riiari wl!6 Ifo Ik/viS it tfaa all Wroii^ toJVote fW'i^'Wto* to be, or lias bftfch, nominated' for Cohgiess, 'fartd IhkVo no doubt, for tBil very i-eaibn. ^You shy this 1ii !hA'rdvtalkc m ii >W i?of baif the tKbtb*. A iiii nought not lo fcW blamed &>r luWk %ev/trtiAl!f"??d ^bt 'jbti'sifybu did iHo' fcheiJrf; Jmn-^yott dld'nrt ahy to chiat?Jo'd ehid' to^&et thfc irotWof'ftie peopttf. Aii ! yoU hypdcrlto? ana d?c*ivcr?, ^ou ire ttisr'king Wut a'WVrlble Cbufae Yof you'tiuilveal '' Ddtfel^-thte'J<^>reWed jfw^<i,U|*ifec)rtl tho' parir?8(i:^onr fcpm?nt Hate bankrupted Ta ^rfojiidrty'aod iwftrtfef Decefve Ore jtedfife1 *ho \6i\ their ill, and whom you have induced into bank-. ftiptcyfc I: tell yon, if'yotf'def there will T>e nt* hiding piece for yoa.-eUlwr Huhia world- ?r the'next. ' Hfgb*aymea and baidiia 'Will reftiie to 'aetoeiata- fcrthyou when you go to^ytar .lt#<|f Aoma^[Cfceeia.3 ' 'Well,1 but ihtffe iret'Mtna caiW where hur ray iM*!?eltef bill ?itt not apply^for irfstantet' Io' wita a|^in?? troataa^'Wbere tle' trtrtt pVoMri^y li ofiv ^aolilAl '>id the " tWrtfied.'Wr BAilW ^V^Ud by ^^a otfx' 'if pe?J>fl^^flRrctt,Jd^/'in Ma4a?<U. *That the*# a trustee b?? b?ei?^i? ! '.ohttt W drdp^'WQlto ittM ?rvpm*7 . -j ! j<|oiiA. n? idjjiio 4a4j !'u y?t JiW.i cnj Uia * ?r a* on f ; buK IfcMo mil i. ixjui Cbiivontibii Tiu? t>&cn tn session?I dou'i I care to'do* it?*'but I understand this ion 6f quite common. T/.iWcd, ?ome members charged it in the Conrention as h biit, and it will certainly not be denied. And hits it come tot his ? That, the people ?r? not only eupallc of being cheated, but wiUint/? Ah, my countrymen, mark what I tell yon: 1 compress the wliole philosophy oft hi* fraud, iulo ono single sentence when J say this i? the deatl.-blow to negro suffrage. It is a bait set by themselves to catch simpletons. [Applause.] Now,' uhp id' willing or ariiious to be caught? And yet iutelligent men go al OVfr the country and,pry?>lOh) the people wanti Helikp." .''The people will lake anything with' 'Relief' in it/* se though tho people Wero nothing but a lot cif rats to run into a' .t rap which thieves si t to catch them, [.^j-.plause.} .. . I go one fctep farther now, aiyV- <Mt not only->u this measure mo roliaf^.auil not.in ;t?H\dW tb'^tMier. bot U. will- piwant the jraHtf of tti^p^dpliiJ'Sttnd tilin^ihi* country 1 \V6y, you 'uo^pn^ injn' iIu^W opJcredHSfc'toi* populfttioa of:fhecountry, wen .oi?twd?,Irtie.quwtiQP p/ PPgrfc suffrage. Coupled, however, with^fc^t' measure, you ruin the entire int4recta -.of ittmbtrff" wftfta* Why; .ip tliu first n^acei this iffeffilimal'e! i>?M-?vr r <,or.. iri!tui7oiTrr ,WWM> .prewiltV III? .people frAm.qonlriviug; or., accept Iptf. any : legitit ?Hlr%ODtte>'l? M fr:*.UrtiH" *... ? j.'Vavo tfayoUeJ'a gopd1 i) fai'oirtt .the tfMJMMf ,A$Hs V^050 ?b?J? ^ them at all. A cm* ?*sne*. -profmiooally,' 16 tiff n6tiw tli? dUi?r day. U WM'tliat ofM 'toWW^iW\W?bwi;'Wild' W property, >ia iDw^iibMr*.,., AU aW ** it ?? ttttw;'' olitfy .' >*i iJklK<&~ lo">[-ji?*"v?ii jt?Hi-iir.?* ?ii? riiil^j'-dt tUd jfe.il T<> ?>t'?v ill' lx \ii- ti 3:q.\4l} at!* '.: tmbtoea au? Jiu-'J I><