The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1865-12-14

electors, according to itsssown Judgment ;
and, under thic system, one State after
another has proceeded to increase the
number Of it's elect, until now universal
suffrage, or something very near it, is the
general rulo. So fixed was this reserva-
ton of power in the habits of the people,
and, so unqucstioned has been the inter
probation of the constitution, that during
the civil war the late President never
harbored the purpose-certainly never
avowed the purposc-of disregarding it;
and, in the acts of Congress during that
period, nothing can be found which, dur
ing the continuance of hostilitics, much
less after their close, would have sane
toned any departure by tho Executive
from policy which has SO uniformly OBJ
tained. Moreover, o concession of tho
elective franchise to the freedmen, by act
of the President of the United States,
must have been extended to ell colored
men, wherever found, and SO must have
established q change Of sufrage in the
Northern, Middle and Western States,
not less than in tho Southern and South
western. Such an act would have crea-
ted new class OF voters, and would have
been an assumption of power by the Presi-
dent which nothing in the constitution or
laws of the United States would have
warranted
On the other hand, every danger Of
conflict is avoided when tho settlcmont Of
the question is referred to the several
States They can, each for itself, decide
on the measure, and whether it is to be
adopted at once and absolutely, or in
troduced gradually and with conditions
In my judgment, the freedmen, if they
show patience and manly virtues, will
sooner obtain q participation in the cleo
tive franchise through the States than
through the general government, even if
it had power to intervene. When the
tumult of emotions that have been raised
by the suddenncss Of the social change
shall have subsided, it may provo that
they will receive the kindlicst usage from
some Of those on whom they have hereto
fore most closely depended.
NOT coMpETEyT TO EXTEND
TIE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE TO TIE FREED
MEN
But while l have no doubt, that now,
after the close Of the war, it is not coril
petcnt for the general government to ex-
tend the elective franchise in tho several
States, it is equally clear that good faith
requires the security Of the freedmen in
their liberty and their property, their
right to labor, and their right to claim the
Just return of their labor. cannot too
strongly urge dispassionatc treatment
of this subject, which should be carefully
kept aloof from party strife. We must
equally avoid hasty assumptions Of any
natural impossibility for the two races to
live sido by side, in state Of mutual
benefit and good will. The experiment
involves us in no inconsistency let US
then 60 on and mako the experiment in
rood faith, and not bo too easily dis
heartened. The country is in need Of Ia
Dor, and the freedmen are in need Of en-
ploymcnt, culture and protection. While
their right of voluntary migration and
expatriation is not to be questioned, l
would not advise their forced removal and
Let ,s rather encourage
them to honorable and useful industry,
whore it may be beneficial to themselves
and to tho country and. instead Of hasty
Of the certainty Of failure.
let there be nothing wanting to tho fair
trial of tho experiment. ILe change in
their condition is the substitution Of labor
by contract for the status CT slavery
The freedman cannot fairly be accused Of
unwillingness to work, 80 long as doubt
remains about his freedom Of choice in
his pursuits, and the certainty Of his re-
covering his stipulated wages. In this
the interests OF the employer and the en-
ploycd coincide. The employer desires in
hia workmen spirit and alacrity, and these
can be permanently secured in no other
way. And if the one ought to be able to
enforce the contract, so ought the other
The public interest will be best promoted
if the several States will provide adequate
protection and remedies for the freedmen
Until this is in some way accomplished
there is no chance for the advantageous