Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-16
NEGRO SUFFRAGE,

question, at present, on the grounds o.
expediency and humanity, reserving the
constitutional argument for another occa
sion..
Emancipation has been accomplished
The South has acquiesced in her fate with
decency, If not with resignation; and she
pledges faith never yet falsifed, and cx-
tends hand which has never betrayed
She makes all proper pledges for the fu
turc, but no disclaimers for the past. That
she cannot do without falsohood, hypocri
sy and servile deceit which cannot be re.
quired; and If required, cannot be given
The Southern people will give the new Or
der of things fair play. 1t is both their
interest aud duty to do so. They regard
the poor negro, who has been made free,
neither by his own act nor by the will Of
the master, as in no way responsible for
what has occurred. They regard it SOL
emn duty to treat him kindly, Justly and
humanely-to treat him in such nat.her
as to retain his confidence and avoid, if
possible, the horrible consequences which
are imminent to both races. But, at the
same time, they solemnly protest that in
this matter they also are entitled to be
treated kindly and justly. That, in regard
to the institution, their hands are clean
that in this matter the whites of the South
have been "more sinned against than sinn-
Ing, and that with mulltudes of blacks
around and about tthem-iguorant, improv.
ident and intoxicated with sudden liberty
they are rather to be commiserated than
blamed.
IT is inexped;ent to intrust the neoro
sOsM the elective franchise under our Gov-
e'7sment. No other kind of government
depends SO much upon the intelligence and
virtue OF its citizens as a Republic. The
electors are not only citizens, but Cover
nors. They make the laws and administer
them, rs well as live under them. An ie.
norant people are unfit for selfgovernment
and are most suitably situated under any
other form of government. If the freed
negroes were not mixed with whites, but
we're IN some country by themselves, we
suppose that no one would maintain that
In their ignorant condition they could sue
cessfaiy govern themselves under the
forms of Republic. The effort would
certainly ead in convulsions and bloodshed.
SeN-government is high achievement for
any people. Very few are capable of it.
1t seems to require not only certain de-
gree OF general intelligence, but political
eralnlng, experience in selfcontsol, in pol
atlcs and government Our Government
etse'f' resting upon the people, was thought
tor long time TO be an experiment: and
II it has now ceased to he so, it has been
owing exclusively to the virtue and intel
''gence oil the people, founded at first up
on their training for representative govern
ment, while they were English Colonies.
EVea the intelligent people of France, sad
dehty emerging from absolute despotism.
seem not to have been equal to the rreat
achievement Of living quietly under . poy.
etnment made and administered by them
selves; for the reason, doubtless, that they
aad not been educated to it. The associ-
alton OF the negro with white men in his
country has given him some slnattering of
genera! knowledge, but absolutely none
upon the principles of politics and govern.
,nenf: Ibis condition in slavery made
h'm dependent on Others, so that he had
no occasion to think for himself, not even
20 provide living. He had no concern
whatever with government, and is this day
as ignorant upon that subject as his breth.
rem upon the Guinea Coast. Whatever
may De said as to the good qualities of the
negro, ne is certainly not by nature a DO
htscai philosopher; he has naturally none
OF the qualities of republican; he is ip-
norant self indulgent, improyident thought
less and lazy. He has nothing of that
foresight and practical wisdom which makes
provision to-day for the necessities of to-
morrow. Lie has mover exhibited himself
under the forms of yell ordered govern.
ment 10 his own country or. elsewhere.-
we believe it is we'll settled that where he
has been left to himself in the West India
Islands, ne has in no instance maintained
even the statu quo, but has retrograded in
every thing. and, in some places, is yercing
upon starvation and ruin. We have seen
It stated some where, and it is a significant
circumstance, that the Island of San Sal
vedoE the first spo: Of the New World
which was discovered by Columbus. after
assain,ng prosperity under the whites, is
now ABOUT TO return to the darkness of
barsarism from which it was rescued for a
time. The negro is peculiar race
w,thout institutions or country of his own.
ne came amongst us not as voluntary
enlgrant, seeking an asylum or to better
hs condition, but was brought here as mer.
cnandise: He made no choice of this
country because of it's institutions or for
aHg sther reason. He exercised no yoli.
!Sa, but his presence here, go far as he il
'soetnsd, il purely accidental. He is no,
s.tS" our people, but stands TO them
astne Tssketoe doea to thn 81. ~
Les. ,a cMat,n no, nos slave, in his own. hap.
OF yenshad not improsei ~. ~ .uuu.sIas "n.,a;s:na
he heebesa Improved II ,aa.,s s ccnoi'ion
by slavery. Il is unreasonshIs sespec.'
haaevsf, that his whole natnrs' - h.s suppose @
entirely changed in few years. w W. ossl %
sPecthlly, but earnestly, Insist tbst In II,
history t.ths negro race II his own All