The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-08-18
CHI r L e S T O n.
SATURDAY MORNING. AUGUST 18, 1865.

SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 18, 1865.
THE NEGRO CODE AND OUR POLICY
The wisdom of ,naction is often the great
est, as it is the most difficult, to praotoe.. 1t
requires patience and selfposseasion by no
means common amongst men. To be trying,
when trying can only compicate our dlttioul-
ties. is the course of the unwise, weak or
timid. In nine cases out of ten, waiting ls
SUCCESS !; for time does more tor men than
they oan do for themselves. z=
There never was any occasion requiring
more patience nnd forbearanoe in action than
our subiugation. It was plain to the observ-
ant that, although the Southern States were
conquered, the interests Of the Northern and
Southern States were SO identified, politically,
that the ruin or prosperity of both required
q Common policy. As the passions awakened
by war cooled, it would be perceived that
despotism over the Southern States must also
be despotism over the Northern aud West.
ern States. Self-interest, therefore-the self
interest of the North-would compel apolicy
Of forbearanoe and union. True wisdom, for
the South, was to wait-to do nothing-until
the people Of the North should realize their
true condition and final policy. There were
but one of two courses for them to pursue.
They must oonsiderus as conquered provinces,
and Their tho President of the United States
oould do nothing whatever to shape our re-
lations towards tho Northern States. From
the origin Of tbs Government Of the United
States, Congress only has had the power to
prescribe rules for governing Territories or
admitting them as States into the Union.
But if Congress should exercise this power
to establish ten States as subject Territori es,
it was clear it would be practically the an
nihilation of the Constitution Of the United
States, and the erection Of gigantic despot-
ism for the governanoe of both the North
and South But If the other alternative was
adopted, and the Southern States were con-
sidered to be States of the United States,
then neither Congress nor the President Of
the United States could have any control
whatever over the constitutions or the insti-
tutions Of the Southern States. These were
exclusively within the control of the States.
One or the other of these two alternatives Of
pplicy,it was olear, must be adopted by the
Government of the United States. They in
volved entirely different measures of legis-
laton, on the part Of the Southern States,
to place them in conformity. Under such
circumstances, was it not the plain dictate Of
wisdom for the Southern States to wait until
The course of the Government Of the United
States was defuitively determined? A great
deal Of unwise and perhaps humilatlpg
| |, gislation would be saved. IDstend of this
course, however, we entered upon career
of satisfying our conquerors. Without self
confidence, it was very natural, per 'aps, al
though not wise, that we should sur
render our institutions and change and al
ter our Qons.itut ons to suit their capriues
or will. Amongst the unwso acts of our
llegislat,on was the Negro Code we adopt
ed. Tutally iguorant Of the relations the
Government Of the United States would
recognize between those we had liberated
aud the white race, whilst yet under li'ary
domination, we undertook he task OF making
laws determining these relations VI course
our Legislation was con temned and nuliitied.
We weakly assumed fact which dd mt
exiat-that We were a people, governing our
selves. Our eide was refused operation ny
those who governed US. This lesson, 10 preg-
nant with instruction, it seems, however, 's
likely TO be lost upon US. We see 1T stat d
in thu pap4rs that one OF the objects for as
mhi'rg tho Legislature of the State shortly
together, i4 to get it to tinker at III" "Ntgr"
Cody.O We have now no more seIf-govarn-
ment than we had whel We m lde this Code.
Our status with respect to The Northern
States is npw NO more determined than it was
then. Incapsble Of enforcing our laws in
Suuth Carulins, our Legislation oan be moth
ing but an act of obedience to the authority
over us. For our legislation to be operative,
it mu carry out the policy of the X sdicafs,
Us deolaroo in the Civil Rights Law Of Com
gress. The President, in his veto Of this