The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-09-20
COLUMBIA CORRESPONDENCE.
[rHoM OUR OWN coEEEspoSDENT. ]

CoLU2iGIA, September 1G.
To-day has been devoted entirely to business by
The Convention. Report followed Report from the
permanent Committees, and Resolution after Res
olution was referred to them for consideration
There wasting Of time, because nothing
came before the body which time could be
wasted. There was no spccc!-making, because
thcro business before the Convention on
which the orators could cxpcnd their wit, show
their cloqucncc, or talk their different
stitucncics No question up in shape in
which any member could make capital for The Lc-
gisaturc, for Congress, for the United States
Senate; and the consequence was, that the day
spent in work. 1t is true, that tho considera-
tion that it was Saturday, and that The members,
from a time-honorcd custom, desired to get away
carly Oh that day, may have had something to do
with the matter.
On the resolution of Mr. MACBETH, that negroes
be enabled to testify in the courts there is
sarify differences OF opinion, and it will probably
give rise to much debate whenever reported back
from the committee. All right-minded men feel
that the negro is not to be blamed for the position
into which he has been suddenly thrown by the
rapid events of n revolution; and I am sure that
every one will agree that some method should be
adopted to protect him in his newly acquired po-
sition. But what that method should be, is
proper matter for wide differences Of opinion. The
negro, from a protected and weaker Glass; has
been made competitor-still retaining his phys
ical and mental infcrority-with the white man in
the struggle for bread, and unless wise and be-
nefcent system of legislation is adopted, he must
sink under the competition, and the country will
be deprived of four millions of peasants, whose Ia
bor is necessary for the present welfare Of the
Southern States and the proportion of loss in this
State will be greater than in any other. Te our
prosperity two things are at present necessary ::
that each man should labor sufficiently to prevent
pauperism and that until white lsbor can be in
troduced from abroad, that the negro should be
protected in the enjoyment of the fruits Of his Ia
bor, 80 that he may labor with pleasure. 7 do not
believe that the negro can stand long before the
competition with the white man, and believe that
he must eventually either die out emigrate
The sanatory rules adopted and practised by the
United States army in its passage through the
Southern States and the remarkable health of
that army, seem to hays demonstrated that the
white man can live and labor in malarious dis
tricts.
If this bo true, it will not take many years-at
least many in tho life Of n nation-to substitute
white labor for black; and as emigration pours in
the negro, like the Indian, must disappear before
the white man. This, it SEEMS must eventually
be his fate; but while he is with U.S. justice, hu-
manity and self-interest demand that he should be
protected in his newly-acquired rights In what
manner this can be most wisely done, is matter
that demands the gravcst consideration. He is
ignorant, stupid, liar, and not unfrequently
thief, and it may we'll be doubted whether his
ability to give testimony would servo us much in
arriving at tho truth Of the statements of class
habitually regardless if not ignorant, Of tho obli
gauons OF an oath. AS between themselves, it
would be well that in oil civil cases both plaintiff
1nu aetendant should be heard as well as other
"lehesses; but as between the negro and the white
man IL lS diihcult to say what course should be
adopted: This Government, by the abolition OF
aayery' mas become entirely the government Of the
white man, and tho delegates Of the people Of tbs
State, in protecting the negro, are bound 10 take
such measures as will not place tho white man IN
the power Of those who have reoentlv become hi.
antagonists and competitors in the struoolo sor
daily support.
Kyour correspondent reads tho signs correct,v
the Senatorial and Congressional cue Ia being
ground on the grindstone called "the parishes. )"
and on the other grindstone called popular elee-
hops." The change generally desired through
tho State could be effected by a Constitutional
ColYention; but before such body could 1poet,