Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-07-07
Disloyal Whites and Ignorant
Blacks.

Boston Adrertiser, writing from Charies-
ton nndcr date of June Goth, these two
classes form vast majority of the popula-
ton of South Carolina, and the material
out of which a state must be built, if built
Mt present. There is evidently so much
truth in this plain statement OF the present
condition of that state, that it should arrest
attention. The old adage, 1.-THE more
haste the worse speed will apply to the
present reconstruction mania; and 1t
seems as if this question was precirltated
upon the country with too much haste, and
will end in much mischief.
The question of negro suffrage has been
discussed, just as if the question was one
that must be decided at once, and decided,
not pure and simple, upon its merits but
rs it relates to white suffrage. The reason
ing is this: There are two classes in the
South.-"dsloya whites and ignorant
blacks" out of which state must be
constructed, and which shall do the voting
and the law-making One class oil
politicians the class that has always
thought it a virtue to "kick niger de-
maud that the whites shall be the only
csutodians of power in the newly con-
structcd states, while the other class, urge
that our only safety lies.in letting the color
ed man vote. To this i, may he safely re-
piled :-'.if the disloyal white man is to
vote, then our only safety does lie in con-
ferng upon his dusky skinned, and more
loyal nrighbor the elective franchise. This
is AS plain as the n-dav sun. 1t Is in
this relation that the question is often dis
eusscd. But the phrase 'disloyal white,
and ignorant black man." does not truly
eonycry the exact status nf the two classes
The whites. i'll the main. are rs ignorant
as the blacks. They are as iliterate and
as TO natural shrcwdncss, and a knowledge
of the ways of earning livelihood. and
the customs and habits of civilized life, are
full their equals. So that, if it is safe and
wise to confer power an the one class. so
it is duty. and only necessary precau
/ ton, to do so on the other. But the qucs
! tons come mp, lis il necessary Is 1t wise,
/ is il safe to create states out OF such cle-
ments and trust all the necessary powers
for self government TO those tina: are term
ed disloyal and ignorant ;" Color should
have nothing to do with deciding he qucs-
ton of suffrage, loyalty should have
much to do with It, ignorance much TO dc
with it.
/ But the questions are often asked "why
precipitate the matter! What is the
necessity for hot haste in surrenderins til,
military, or national rule, in the rebe
the two classes named at present =. VIII,
not wait until the schoolmastcr has beer
abroad, and true love for the Union la
been evoked, amoag the people in thes'
states, Why must the President h,
, tcazcd beyond all bounds of decency
weekly, by delegations fresh from the re
bel states. and fresh from plottlngs asains
the Union, asking that noted rebels, IN re
bclhous times, should be placed in authori
~ again, and the important duty of takiu:
the intiatory steps of reconstruction, am
of establishing republican forms of gov
; ernmcnt" for those states that are ncithe
in nor out of the Union, be committed Il
! their hands
To lis it has seemed, up to this time, Il
: if the National Government will not b.
= acting wisely in trusting such men. 10
s indeed any men to be found within til
limits of the late rebellious states with 8
Q much power. The people who hav
! furnished the men and the money to figh
down the rebellion, do not want to tru>
: the political power of the reconstruct
states in the hands of the men who aide
: and ablited secession.
a If the ballot is placed in The white man
. hand, the hand that has just dropped til
n rebel rife, then place it also, for til
coun,ry's safcty,in the colorcd mans han
that has used the loyal rifle to put dow
rebellion. If those who have, or vi
have, the power to settle this matter, wi
&c withhold the elective franchise from til
e one class, no one will urge it, at present
to confer it on the other. We copy fror
the letter alluded to:
As for reconstruction. can only repca
what has been said again and again. tina
l. there are no elements for it, For dslova
= whites and ignorant blacks are no element
,. out Of which to build State, and thes
h two classes form vast majority OF tn
d citizens of South Carolina. Give us time
9 with firm, .iudicious. honest military rule
u and there will grow up class Of Iowa
% whites and of intelligent colored peopl
d sufficient To form basis for political act
ton. There is a nucleus already. Their
e are few earnest Union men who are no
= afraid to look in the face The necessities Il
: the times. and there is a very consderabl
S number of thrifty. educated colorcd PEG
e pie, every way qualified to receive tn
elective franchise. But until both thes
|; classes become greatly increased in mum
;. hers, and until they have common in
tercsts, and that their only safety lies il
j cooperation-unti then amy attempt at re
y construction will be fraud or mock
i cry.
Our leading citizens" have not learne
this vet and are making vigorous effort
). to get again into their hands the powe
S which they once used for the ruin of tn