The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-09-23


that he intends to exclude him from all offices and
places OF trust in government which he is fully
qualified by his intelligence, TO fill, and for the
support of which his property is obliged to con-
tribute nearly the whole amount OF taxation! ls
he hereafter to be mere newer of wood or drawer
Of water in the State, entitled to no privilege
but that Of voting for colored representative, who
only uses his Office to exclude the man who voted
for him. from similar privilege?
To all this the freedmen will say, Move in
tend no such injustice to our fellow-citizens who
are now only our equals--we are willing to treat
them as 5uch and will demand Of them nothing
MORE" Yet if they are now excluded from the
Convention, no other conclusion will be drawn but
that the whites will not be trusted, even where
they. cannot possibly abuse that trust; and the
white people of Massachusetts will condemn that
decision as the verdict Of ignorant, prejudiced
minds that refuse all light and, not satisfied with
taunt the white man with his color and declare to
the world that the nation has no need Of his intel
gence On such question as that, 81, 600
Will vote against 100000, and it will be settled
forever, and buried too deep ever to bo exhumed.
Will it be prudent" then, for the present ma
iority in South Carolina to exclude white dele
gates, under any deluson, that the time will ever
come, when they will no longer be regarded, as a
power in the State2 For it must not be forgotten,
that in every Southern State, except South Caro-
lima and Mississippi, tho whites are in majority
which majority in the aggregate exceeds 260, 900
of voters. What then would be the use, Of short
sighted local SUCCESS in two only of the States Of
the Union, if thereby the jealousy OF 32 900 600 Of
people was aroused, and the Constitution gained
ground, that the freedman was satisfied with
equality under the law, had determined to exclude
the white race nom all participation IN the affairs
Of the government
Just at this time the public mind s convinced,
that the sooner the freedman's rights are secured
under a new Constitution, the sooner their own
will be restored under the Constitution OF the
United States Some few have fashioned for
themselves an appetite for military despotisms,
but the great mass OF the voters are more hopeful
Of the future, and are not prepared for such an
alternative. They earnestly desire the restoration
of civil government, and see very plainly that
there is but one avenue through which to reach
that object, and that avenue is the. plan pre-
scribed by Congress In that plan, tho political
equality OF the freedman is uppermost, and from
the very necessity Of the case, the people must
consent to, and establish it, by such Arm guaran-
tees, as will satisfy the wstchful care of jeal-
GUS Congress-.
ure that will satisfy Congress- and settle forever
every disturbing question that agitates the coun
try for the Southern people want "peace;" they
want to see the sword returned to the scabbard,
and they nte9f to accept the conditions upon
hope they wish to see it in session at the earliest
possible moment, and they wish to see it composed
Of delegates who are learned in practical phjloso
ply and are virtuous in principle. They deslre to
see all that Congress requires for the freedman
done and ,ce done; and they desire that the dele
gates who meet there shall command tho respect
OF all mankind, by the high character they have
heretofore maintained, and thereby insure for the
work they may do that yeneration which is duo to
the deliberations of wise and ylrtuous II presenta-
tives. But very few OF the white people. with all
the advantages Of education which they have had,
would be bold enough to accept soats where their
want of the necessary qualifications would only
attract the rdicue of the world to themselves and
the results OF their deliberations The freedmen
have all noticed how few there have been in former
times amongst the whites who would declare
themselves candidates for the Legislature, which
is an inferior body; and they have also observed
that in the conventions heretofore held it was
thought necessary to send the most distinguished
gentlemen Of the State. Why is it not equally
necessary nowp Every one knows that it is; the
freedmen know 1t as well as others, and upon them
will devolve the duty OF organizing an assembly
that will do credit to their judgment or involve
them in ridicule, which wll rob what they may
do even of the respect OF its friends.
Before dismissing the subject altogether, ono
more consideration will be presented, and that is
that the freedman cannot have distinct interest
from his employer; they are both rowing in the
same boat; they must strike together, or neither
will make progress. Having henceforth to be free
citizens of the same State, they have an equal in
terest that Its public affairs should be judicously
managed and to effect this object they should see
that the intelligence and virtue OF the country
must be summoned TO the task Neither race can
profit by depressing the other, as peace and har
mony are valuable to both. Hence it would be
correct policy to unite in making this Convention
what it ought TO be. Elect the very best men in
the state, and if they should happen to be white,
let not that be an objection, as their duties are de-
fined, and the performance OF them must pass the
inspection Of Congress.
The writer is not without strong confidence
that this will be the decision Of the freedmen, that
in every portion Of the State they will nominate
and elect white delegates, and thus present to the
world the very best evidence that they can use u-
diciously the privilege which has been accorded TO
them, and thereby encourage continuance of the
power which they show they know how to use go
WE'LL They have the opportunity to secure the
confidence OF Congress for the future but If they
reject it, they may awaken fears that 1t will be
necessary to trust them no further.
These thoughts have been prepared in their
present form for the consideration OF all con-
cerned aud the writer will think himself amply
repaid should they recommend themselves to a
majority Of the voters, with whom will rest the
character and respectability of the Convention.
Very respectfully,
C.. W. DUDLEY.