The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-08-26

shall always be an object with us to mako our
sheet a mercantile paper that may be strictly
depended on, while the general reader shall have
no cause to complain Of its being unintercsting.
THE CONVENTION Of the People of South Carroll
ma, to assemble on the thirteenth of september,
and the delegates to which are to be elected one
week from Monday next, will be invoked to sub
jects of very grave Importance. In fact, it would
be difficult to conceive of greater powers than it
will bo called upon to exercise. 1t will be required
to alter, amend, or make q Constitution for the
State. Every right, interest and condition of our
people, social and political, will be not only under
its authority, but tho subject of its immediate ac-
tion. What may BIO done, or what may be undone,
will be equally radical and vital in results; and it
is eminently important, therefore, that these mo-
mentous trusts should be committed to tho hands
of conscientious men, The trust seems not to be
solicited. Men feel the responsibility, and seem
generally disinclmed to assume them. Tho sub
jcct has been little urged OIL public attention, and
it is to be feared that the body will be formed with
out due sense ofits full import.
There is one thing favorable in the present con-
dition Of our State There are no parties, no feel
ings of personal or political hostility, to push men
beyond sense of propriety. The war which has
peace towards each other There are none-in
party organization atleast-few individuals even
to point to others the authors of their misfor-
tunes; all concur in tho common ruin with sense
of sympathy and brotherhood; and we are free,
therefore, from the apprehension that any meas
ures will be urged before the Convention from per-
sonal'and party feeling, and assured that what
ever shall be the action of that body, will be the
dictate of honest purpose and tho expression Of
it's best intelligence.
In some respects the duties Of this Convention
will be simple. Many Of its acts are already de-
termined on. Slavery must be abolished; the
election of Electors and Governor must be given
to the people; legal validity must bo given to the
acts, public and private, legislative and judicial,
which have become facts accomplished since the
suspension Of civil government. These deter
mined upon by the necessities of tho case and
preconception of public sentiment, and with re-
spect to these therefore, there is apt to be little
= delay embarrassment. '-''l
In transcending these, however, and enteriug
upon the field open by the inquiry what shall be
the relations between the races thus brought into
contact in tho relations of natural equality, the
difficulties will commence, and they will be of n
= character to impress anxiety and awe upon those
who enter on them. 1t is matter Of tho very last
importance that these relations should be such
That no antagonism between the races shall result:
that they shall continue intermixod in society DIR
suits and enterprises thnt they shall have indiyid-
ual, immediate and continued intercourse with
each other, and thus 60 hand in hand, with COM
mon energies, to the achievement of their fortunes
and the advancement of the country But if, in
stead Of this, they should be tcased apart there
should be distinct attitudes towards eac other: il
each shall regard the other as foreign to its feel
ings and interests; if each race shall constitute
distinct society, and act within itself and for itself
and thus there shall arise two communities, two
social sentiments and societies within the State
the evil will be irreparable. When these bodies shall
come to have only external relations to each other
when each shall act from its own standpoint, and
IN their movements necessarily collide upon each
other, there can be no hope of peace between
them, no plan OF rcconcilement, no process of in
tern,xtnrc, no mode of reintegrating and erecting
one single society out oftWo such gonistic con-
shtucnts but they will stand to oppose each other
stand to contest every question orcspectve right.
stand as the Indians and the whites have done, in
constant hostility towards each other until the pain
full dioramu shall be closed the extinction of that
which shall happen TO be the weaker There can
bc little question which Tint is; bit IL we're a sad
calamity if this State shall one generation at
least the battle-ground for such contest. Every
effort should be made to- avoid 'it and the result
will much depend on tho policy WHICH may be initi-
lated in this Convention. -r. .-,p IHuTIJ.d
1t ls not evident what are the measures coInpe-
tent to secure us against such q calamity We
have no experience to guide us;; the subject hds
been little illuminated by tho lights of iteilectt
has been but short time before us;, there: sl,as
been but little opport to discuss it, andauthe
end, thorcforei6f taking nis OF
resolving q line of policy, to determine our rc
iations and conduct in this matter Of such extreme
delicacy, the members of the Convention will
scarcely be prepared; and it is to be hoped that
tho body will como up to the occasion, pass the
ordinances demanded by it, but pause when un-
certain Of their further steps, and wait for the pro-
ccpts OF our experience to guide US in our further
course. This task will be not moro easy than to
proceed; as much Of greatness is exhibited in for
bearance as in action ON momcntous subjects:
and there occasion, therefore, for oil the charac
Ter and capacity we may have amongst us. :.
RADICAL Northern papers assail the Presidents
appointments of Provisional Governors, and thust
undertake fdslebtroy adence inKia kamiaistraa-
&ion; but the moro honest and candid RepnbHcah
Journals speak in quito a different tone. Tho
philadelphia North american says tft ia ploas;no