The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-09-15
CHARLESTON.
FRIDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER Is. 1865

article, and it is the paramount question of the
time. II can do so, if means can bc devised by
which the negro can be rendered an efficient agent
in society, and only upon that condition; and can
such means be found? Slavery was admirably
suited to the requsition. TO form union be-
tween unequal races, i'll the samo society, special
government has hitherto been regarded ncces-
sity. The laws suited to tho moro developed race
hayo been found untitled for tho other. Standing
Mt unequal elevations, the frame of laws that fit
the ono scarce touch tho other; and hence, thorc-
fore, tho two peoples the least enlightened arc
the least fitted to live without law, and as tho law
applied to tho higher race can mover reach the
lowcr,-as fines can have no force upon people
without funds,-banishmcnt upon those who have
no sense of homo, imprisonment upon those who
have but an imperfect sense of liberty, 1T has been
found n necessity that, the inequality existing,
there should be political recognition of the fact
and a special government to meet tho rcquisition
That special government was givon in the form
and name of slavery; and, whatever may be said
of its humanity, it admirably fitted to bring
out the productive capacities of tho weaker race
And admitting that there inequalities in races
and that such unequal races ought to co-exist
within the limits Of ono single social structure it
is yet difficult to perceive in what other way the
rcquisiton can be adequately met.
But the propricty Of that system has been over
ruled. 1t is denied that there is any inequality,
or If there be, it is denied thoro should DO any
cognition Of it; and whatever wo may think of the
truth Of these assumptions, we are under obga-
lions to accept and act upon them; and the ques-
tion comes, whether the State supply the place
OF slavery in the control and discipline Of info
rior racc2 Truo, wo arc not ut liberty to say that
1t is an inferior race; but have to act upon the
fact, and not conception of it, and as fact it
is 30, that in his present condition the negro will
not be controlled, nor will ho, to q great extent,
feel the control OF the laws adapted to tho white
raco; and whether that be called inequality, OF by
some less Objectionable namc, it is fact we must
take notice of; and if the harness of the horse will
not fit tho elephant, VIC must adopt harness that
will fit him, if VIC expect him to pull or help to
pull along the car of progress.
1t is truo also that we arc not to recognize tho
inequality. It has been proclaimed that the
whites and blacks arc of the same precise social
staturc that there is no necessity for discrmina-
tions; that the harness that will fit tho one shall
fit the other; and that it will be regarded MS oen-
slye If any kind OF adaptation is made to incquali-
tywheh, by competent authority, has been abolish
cd. Hence, therefore, VIC are not to pass any
special laws, nor any laws to regulate the conduct
ofnegroes as such, but must accept ourselves the
native, then, is to adopt system of laws suited to
the discipline and preservation of the negro, and
ourselves live under it,
In such system, of course, there will DO much
that will be painful and Offensive 1t will be pain
full to be compelled to adopt it, from no conviction
OF its proprioty, but from tho opinion or caprice
OF another people, It will be painful to submit to
the restrictions it will impose. If the negro will
wander Oil from his business, he must be re-
strained; and that he may be, we also must sub
init to the same restriction If he refuses to work
without other means of living, Or engaged to work
he shall fail to do SO, lie must DO punished and
the punishment must como in such form as will
most affect him; and that he may be 30 punished,
We also, for the same Offences must incur the lia-
bility to share it with him. This wo admit, must
be sore trial to people,; but it is tho ono con-
dition of success; and the question is therefore,
not whether we shall preserve the negro and avoid
the consequences of war Of races but whether
we will submit to our share Of the burthen that
effort imposes. 1t were idlo to suppose that we
preserve the negro race, as wo propose to do with
out he shall work in the harness of society. It
we're idle to suppose that he will do his work under
such restrictions as we now can put upon him. At
the beginning of this year thcre was abundant
provision in tho planting districts Of this State;
the season now is closing, and VIC havo not now
the half we had at the beginning; whilo numbers
have left plantations for dcsultory labors, such
desultory labors are inadcquatcly performed
there is a scant supply of fish, and now, even ut
this season, when both are easily procured and
the wants of the city and its diminished popula-
ton, are unusually small, tho evil is increasing
daily Negroes who have 30 far worked, refuse to
work longer; their provisions, inalcauatcly DO
tected and imprOyidcntly used arc wasting randi
iy. 1t is not improbable that throughout that re-
gion, ono year ago as prosperous rs any in tho
onon there may be in the coming winter n want
OF 1000, without tho means, either with the whites
or blacks, to buy it. AS it has boon this ycar 40
must IL DC, LII measure, tho next No human
boinS instructed i'll the matter and NOT intcrcstod
to msstate it, will dare to say that left to nrcsont
agencies, there is any hope the negroes will nor
form their work and become oven tolerablo ,nen,-
bers of society.
tic must have government. It were idle to ad
dress his Intelligence OF moral sonse. No peon,e,
tho most enlightened of tho world, wero oyor
competent to social duty under no other discplino
than That imposed by their own Intelligence and
moral sonse. 1t wero idle to address his inter-
ests who is rich on a months wages-can never.
noma sense OF interest, incur tho labor necessary
to advance his fortunes; idle, also, to address his
wants, for, of ulterior consequences be has No
conception, and he has no thought Of want mill
he feels it. To the preservation Of his existenco
therefore, he must have governmcnt-be mnot
nave tho discipline OF better judgment This,
no longer to be applied in the form of a1ovor,