The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-12-13
TIE AMENDMENT VS.. IMpARTIAL SUFFRAGE.

fer to the subject again by way of contrast with
the new scheme of the Radical party, to wit, i'm
partial suffrage which seems to have found greater
favor in this latitude. The scheme thus set on
foot by HORACE GREELY, and others of the milder
stripe of Republican politicians, proposes to invest
the right of suffrage with property qualification,
Of few hundred dollars, and the ability to read
and write. By this means, few thousand ne
groes in the South would become entitled to exer-
else the right of suffrage, while hundreds and
thousands of the gallant men all over the South
who periled life for the slost cause" would be de-
barred the privilege. This is practical and un-
biased statement of the result to be attained by
this specious device of fanatical brains and we
truly sorry to observe that there are persons within
this State who are deceived by its provisions
Let us briefly consider the two schemes set afoat
to catch the popular applause, and endeayor to
reach q conclusion as to their respective merits.
The most Objectionable feature, to the great
mass Of the Southern people, contained in the
proposed Constitutional Amendment simply dis
qualities those persons who, at any time prior to
the war, had taken an oath TO support the Consti-
tuition of the United States and afterwards volun-
tarily participated in the so-called rebellion This
class is debarred by its provisions from holding
Office either State Federal, and though the ap-
pication of this test in South Carolina would IN
olude very large share of her population,
the other Southern States are doubtless better
prepared to accept the measure. The old
militia system in this State alone would cause this
test to reach hundreds Of our best men, because
that system was thorough and complete, and was
kept up wihoutintsrmissionf for many years before
the Inauguration Of actual war. In all The other
States lately antagonstic to the Union, there was
moro OF less deficiency in the militia organizations,
and hence, under this state of things compara-
lively few subscribed an oath Of Office, of the char
acter referred to. On another score South Caro-
lima would be the greatest sufferer by the adoption
of this measure Her white population was sparse,
compared to Georgia, for instance, and there was
an inordinate thirst among her people to fill some
Office, however petty and contemplate. There
fore, the practical workings of this Amendment
would be harsher and moro odious in this State,
perhaps, than elsewhere.
Impartial suffrage, on the other hand, makes o
general onslaught against .he entire GLASS of peo
pie unable TO read and write, and who are de-
p1iTed Of property. We will admit that this
scheme equally affects the entire South, and in
fact entertain no doubt that every State unless it
may be Virginia, would immediate On equal pro-
portion of her citizens by acquiescing in this helm
Gus proposition. Almost the only white persons
to be affected by impartial suffrage would include
the rank and file of the Confederate armies prin-
cipaly the private soldiers. The highest duty and
sternest obligations imposed upon these States re-
lates to o careful fostering Of the brave men who
stood between them and the avalanche Of hatred
and revenge hurled against the South. They are
the men whose breasts were barred to the foe that
our women and children might escape the calumny
and devilish malignity freely manifested in the
past eighteen months. They are the men whose
faithful defence of our border wrung admiration
from the civilized world, and shed lustre on the
American name. They are the men who toiled and
fought, endured and suffered, without compensa-
ton and with no hope of fee or reward beyond the
consciousness of duty performed. They arc the
men whose brilliant achievements, under their
chosen leaders, will 60 down to posterity invested
with halo of glory such as cannot be excelled in
the records of the past And when it is proposed
to place these men on equal footing, and indeed
below thc descendants of negro blood,-who may
perehance have been taught to read and write,
and whose savings amount to few paltry dollars,
the idea is too revolving for comment Away
with such peurie reasoning, that, in order to pro-
pitiate the Northern massos, we should humbly
bite tho dust, and disfranchise those men who,
few short months ago, We were deifying almost
given 60 place the State in this perjured political
position.
Between the two schemes, moreover, if the choice
was absolutely necessary, undoubtedly the prefer
ence should be given to the Constitutional Amend
ment, which rejects the services, bu. does not dis
franchise the leading politicians Of the South. If
either GLASS is to be set aside, let such full
of honors retire from the field of activity and USE
fulness Others will be found of equal ability to |
supply the vacuum thus created. The poor man,
whose devotion to duty and inhexible mien kept |
back the tide Of war from our hearthsones, is in
better entitled to the privileges Of a
freeman than the wealthy aristocrat whose voice
rung loudly for secession, but whose courage
proved wanting in the defence Of that principle.
The brave, gallant officers, and those noble patriots
who performed their part in civil life, will be
among the frst to abjure tho State against dis
the white man unable to read and
write. Their hopes and aspirations, for the most
part, died away with the last echo Of resistance,
and thcy would willingly ascribo oil the honors
achieved TO their less fortunate oompatriots. At
least suoh ue take tito be the sentiment Of all un
selfish and honorable men.
But We are firmly impressed with the belief that
tho Southern States should have nothingto do with