Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-12-11

destroy them everywhere and for all tune. Arb-
trary measures often change, but they generally
change for the 1t is the curse of despctsln
that it has no halting place. The intcrmitted e1-
ercise of its power brings no Sepsc of security
to its subjects; for they can never know what
moro they will be called to endure when its redright
hand is armed 10 plague them again. Nor is it
| possible to conjecture. how or where power, un-
restrained by law, may seek its next victims. The
States that are still free may be .nsaved at any
moment; for if the Constitution does not protect
/ all, It protects none.
1, is manifestly and arowedly the object of these
| laws to confer upon negroes the privilege of vC-
ting, and to disfranchise such number of white
citizens as will give the former clear majority
at ull elections in tho Southern States. This, to
| the minds of some persons, Is so important, that
o violation of the Constitution is justified as
means of bringing it about. Tho morality is al-
ways falso which excuses wrong because it pro-
poses to accomplish desirable end. We are not
permitted to DO evil that good may come. But
10 this case the end itself is evil, Us well rs the
means. The suhjusation Of the States to negro
domination would be than the military des-
potism under which they are now suffering 1t
was believed beforehand that tho people would
euduro any amount Of military oppression, for
any length of time, rather than degrade ,hcm-
selves by suijeeton to the negro race. Therefore
they have bcen loft without choice. Negro suf-
frige was established by act of Congress, and the
military officers were commanded to superiutend
the proccss OF Clothing the negro with the po-
litical privileges torn from white men.
The blacks in the South ara entitled to bc we'll
and humanely governed, and to have the protec-
ton Of just laws for all their rights of person md
properly If it were practical at this tmo to give
them government exclusively their own. under
which they might manage their own affairs in
their own way, i. would become grave question
W.! !ether wo ought to do 80, or whether common
humanity would not require us to save them from
themselves. But, under the circu;nsi auccs, this
is only speculative point. 1t is not proposed
merely that they shall govern themselves but that
they shall rule the white race, make and admin.
lister State laws, elect Presidents and members of
Congress, and shape to n greater or less extent
tho future destiny Of tho whole country. Would
such trust and power bo safe in such hands?
The peculiar qualities which should character
ize any people who are fit to decide upon tho
management of public affairs for n great State
have seldom been combined. It is tho glory of
white men to know that they have had these
qualities in sufficient measure to build upon this
continent great political fabric, and to preserve
its stability foy more than ninety yoars, while in
every other part of the world all similar expert
ments have failed But if anything can be prov.
cd by known facts-if all reasoning upon evidence /
is not ubandoned-it must be acknowledged, that |
n the progress Of nations negroes have shown less
capacity for government than any other race Of
people. No Independent government Of any form
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