Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-06-21
Neero Suffrage in the South.

all the blood and treasure it has consumed
will have been lavished to no purpose what
ever. 1t is not easy to see how sane men,
protesting to be patriots, can permit them
selves to use such. language as this. That
Mr.. Phillips should declare such sentiments
is not perhaps surprising. lie is not an
American citzcn-disclaims all political al
leeiance to the fundamental law of the land
and has said publicly within month that
he would sooner lose his right hand than
swear 10 support the Constitution Of the
United States. To him the maintenance Of
that constitution and the preservation Of th'.
Union are nothing. They are not objects for
which he would contend a moment. II he
sustained the war at all, he did it from other
motives, and sought by it to attain other re-
suits. But Mr.. Sumner is not in that cate
gorv. He is an American citizen, and GLAZING
TO value the Union and to stand by and de-
feud the Constitution. The war has pre-.
served Che Union-.nas crashed rebellion
against the constitution, and has extingnsh-
ed slavery forever: How can Mr. Sumner
believe or say that it has been waged in
vain.'' ever. if some other desirable results are
not at once attained?
The fierce obloquy which Mr.. Phillips
peurs upon President Johnson for not con-
ferring by stroke CT the zen, the right to
vote upon all the negroes OF the Southern
States, is characteristic Of his relentless aud
arrogant temper. lie visited President Lin
coin with the same tempestuous wrath, as he
does and will every public man, who fails to
come up to his standard of public duty. No
ability, no uprightness of character, no pub
lie service can shield from his yoluble viru-
lence any man who fails to comply with his
demands in regard to the negro. And these
demands Just now, ignoring every considera-
ton of Justice and public policy, exact from
President Johusen that he shall give the en-
franchised slaves complete control OF the
rebel States. -
Probably the great mass of our people will
concede that political rights should no longer
depend upon color. Whatever rights one
man enjoys, every other man, under simila'
circumstances, should enjoy also. The col
ored race must enjoy oil the political rights
and privileges of the whiterace, ,-other things
being equal. Whatever excludes the black
man from voting should exclude the white
man also. The whole country will recognize
lhese reou;rements, and the legislation of the
country will hereafter be based upon them.
But the question of negro suffrage in the
Southern States, as now presented, is not set
tied by those principles. Other questions
are involved which demand attention, and
foremost among them is that which in
wolves the right of the President CT of Con-
sress to decide wkat saaH be tie Qaat'-
fcations for ,oters IN tie several States.
Hitherto The National Government has never
claimed any such power. Ncw-fork decides
5y her own constitution what men may vote,
and what men m;.y net vote: e. her elections.
Some of the Western States permit aliens to
vote before they are iaiura'izcd. Some
Northern States exclude re!,ro vctcrS alto
gethar-sou,e require Il property qualification.
and others admit them on !hc same terms
With whites. If the national government as
serts control OF this whole question, we must
he prepared IL See that control exercised ev-
erviwhere. If the President may say who
shall vote in one State, he may say who shaI!
vote in every other. We do not believe the
several States are prepared to concedc 10
bin this power Massachusetts, will dec:se
fo,. herself, and will not permit the President
or Congress to decide for her, who shall not
vote within her borders.
Tie same rule must be applied TO Virginia
and to Georgia in this matter, as to Mass1-
chnsctss and: New York. IF they are States
of Che Union they must con'rol This question
Of voting themselves; and it they are not States
Of the Union, they have no business to vote at
all,s President johnson acts upon the prirci-
plethat t. ev aro in the Unioa-tha. tney
have never beer ont ofit-!hat their acts OF
pretended secession were null and void and
never changed in the slishtcst particular the
legal relation of those States 10 the Union:
and this principle. With all lis legitimatc con
sequences, will be accepted by the country a;
the basis of reconstruction.
But even if it were compc!cA' for Con-res;
to decide this question oi nro suffrage.
there are some considerations Connected
with it which Senator Sumner can scarcely
ignore. Cunceding the ull natur, equality
of the two races, their opportunities Tor cul-
ture have cartainly been very unequal.
v.ry large proportion Of The recent slaves at
the South were field hands-i!sitera:e, igno
rant Of even the existence of government. and
Just as incompetent to iIrm opinions on polit
ical subjects as the cattle By their side In
South Carolina Til: class would very nearly
form majority of the whole voting popula-
ton. Is it sensible or decent 10 place the
political control Of that State in their hands ?
hoes Mr.. Sumner believe ,hot it would be
for aaybody's interest to doso? 1t is true
we have terribly chclpeued that great and
priceless possession, the suffrage; hut is ii
wise thus absolutely to degrade it and empty
i. of all its worth
The day will cnmc, VIC trust, when every
man, black or whi itc, in the Whole country.
lit to exercise the right ofyoting will possess
and enjoy that right. But We require of for
cigners who como TO our shores some Years
of instruction and preparation before they
are admitted 10 its cnjoymsnt. The same
reasons which pake tbs plan WISE would
also require similar probation from those
who have but just escaped from the Ignorance.
ard degradation Of slayery.-New York
Times.
"Hello Tom, which way you swine 2"
"C;esar, dis chile gwine to Augusta to ply
for offs of de sohevnment.'
"lValI J,r.sv vhnt Won irvine to do down