The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-07-24


our elections one way or the other-
should require that negro. with all
his advantages as freeman, should be
worth two hundred and fifty dollars
before he can vote, and the people of
Georgla-wiere the blacks, with their
nanacles, as slaves, but just removed,
form at least one third OF the pcpula-
tion-should vote without any restric
ton.
This, as we understand it, is the pc
sition Of President johnson. He is
unqnestionably in favor of couferring
the right Of suffrage upon the blacks
OF the South, but he desires that the
people Of the several States shall regu-
late the affair aud place around it such
restrictions and qualifications as will
prevent It's abuse by those who are 10
exercise the right. We cordially sup
port the President in this view of the
subject, believing as we do that it is
the only policy which can, in safety to
the country, be adopted. The Chase
radicals and the New England Jaco-
bins, on the other hand, threaten
new revolution and social war of
races, unless the President, under the
plea of military necessity, confers bv
the wholesale the right of suffrage
upon the emancipated slaves and ex-
cIudes the white population of the
South from aay voice in the matter.
But Greeley, in raising la. banner
Of universal amnesty and universal
suffrage: has manifested a determi-
nation to cut loose from the revolu-
tionary fanatics in New England and
elsewhere. He has travelled great
way around to arrive ut that decision.
He h.S turned all manner OF angles to
reach that point. Even his arguments
in yesterdays Tri6un, on the subject
We're so misty that it would have been
impossible to have OWNED his meaning
but tor tho sentence in which he states
the naked proposition Of amnesty and
suffrage. Like all other advocates of
the right Of negroes to vote, in de-
parting from the only legal and conSti-
tutlonal way Of couferring the right he,
loses and contradicts himself at every
stage Of his arguments. But now
that Greeley has GU: loose from tlp
Jacobin clique and accepted, aud he
has on one or two occasions, our pro
position to restrict the right OF suffrage
Of the blacks to the qualifications Of
being able to read and write, let hius
so step farther, and advocate the
policy Of leaving 1T to the people Of
the several States to regulate on that
basis. and we have no doubt but that
he will have the Presidents co.opera
ton, both as to suffrage and universal
amnesty. AS far rs the elective fran
chlse is concerned, that restriction is
the same which Massachusetts requires
Of all her vo :. both black and white.
The drift Of Mr.. Johnson's policy is
plainly towards universal suffrage as
we'll as universal amnesty; but while
he desires that the former shall be ap>
preached gradually and regulated by
the people of the several States in a
manner that will best assimilate the
varied interests of the two races to
each other, he also holds certain
classes under probation, by the excep-
ton in his proclamation, until they
have had time to repent, bury their
luminosity for the Union, and the last
vestige Of secession feeling is oblitera>
ted. In view of the enormity Of the
crime of the Southern people and the
great revolution which the rebellion,
politically, socially, and every other
way, has brought about in the South
ern States, both negro suffrage and
amnesty should be gradual, snd so re>
stricted that it may not force upon us