Litchfield enquirer., 1867-07-11
THE SOUTH.
THE WHITES AND THE BLACKS,

THE WHITES AND THE BLACKS,
 The colored voters of the South appear to be getting, politically, the upper hand of their white fellow citizens This is in good part owing to the indifference of @ portion of the rebels, who neglect to in- scribe their names on the registration rolls It is generally conceded that the South will go radical by defaplt. The state of feeling may be judged by a glance at V1r- ginia. There all the activity is on the side of the liberals. A correspondent from the Shenandoah valley says
 At Winchester we found the registration going on, and, as at other places, the blacks though decided minority of the popula- ton, were far ahead in registering. The IS going radical by default The great be- dy of the whites, involved in their '.lost cause, do not like this registration busi- ness. They have become remarkably in- different about it since they have been gi- ven to understand that Attorney Genel al Stanberry's opinions are to be upset by July session of Congress. The oath re- quired for registration, too, in requiring them to swear or affirm that they are ''not disfranchised for participation in any re- bellion or civil war against the United States, , and that they ''have never taken an oath to support the constitution" etc.. 'and afterwards engaged ill insurrection or rebellion against the United States, is exceedingly distasteful to them, as it in- wolves the recognition of the war as a re- bellion on the part of the South, while they hold thatit was war on the basis of their reserved constitutional state rights. They agree that the war has established the paramount sovereignty of the United States, but they still hold that theirs was a constitutional fight, and not rebellion or insurrection. For all these reason the reg lstration of the state is going by default, and the hesitating whites are awaiting dis trnstfully and in fear the lifting of the cur tain in Congress.
 From another portion of Virginia we have the following comments on the politi- cal state:%
 In word, these Southern conservatives look to the excesses of the Northern radi calls, in some way, for revolution and a rescue. On the registration, which com mences here two or three days hence, there is considerable distrust among the whites, some disgust, but 8 general resolution ap- parently to be registered and to make the most of it against the radicals and their black supporters. Serious apprehensions are entertained that from the thorough or ganization of the radicals, with their paid Leagues in every city, town, and hamlet, and cross-road grocery, they will carry the State The results of the late municipal election in Washington city are looked up
 on as disclosing system of training by
 these Union Leagues too powerful to be
 resisted in the first encounter for the pos. session of Virginia. The radicals will have
 the whole negro vote. These Union | Leagues have fixed that matter, and no doubt upon promises of free farms. Prob
 ably Tn the next place as much at least as fifteen thousand of the white vote of the State will go with the radicals. On the l other hand, deducting ten thousand or even five thousand disfranchised rebels. the dlsgusted whites who have not yet reached that stage of reconstruction which will bring them to the polls with the blacks on the basis of equality, and the case assumes decided radical complexion. In the sin gle matter of Q thorough and active organ ization on the one side, and no organiza- ton, activity or confdenc ce on the other, the issue seems to be 8 foregone conclu- sion.
 Writing from Richmond, still another well informed correspondent says:-
 The conservative whites held meeting last evening, which, owing to the death of Judge Lyons and the remoteness of the place of assembling, was but poorly at tended. A few blacks were present. The speakers urged the necessity of registra- tion, and confined themselves, saving a few unbecoming fiings at ''the niggers, :" to that topic alone Meetings are all the rage through the State. From Norfolk to Winchester. and from Alexandra to Hali- fax county, notices of meetings are being issued on both sides-the radicals, howev- er being immeasurably ahead in number. The flood of Northern ''haranguers' pour ing in upon us is perfectly bewildering.
 It appears that it is not alone in political matters that the blacks are fast advancing beyond the whites. Their zeal and energy are shown as we'll in all that relates to their education, and few years, if the present condition of things continues, will make ; them superior to the lower orders of South ern whites in whatever constitutes the good citizen. A letter writer by no means favorable to the radicals says in a commit nication from Georgia:-
 The rate at which they are advancing in intelligence, by the help of the admirable schools of the American Missionary Associ- atlon, is marvellous indeed The South erners presist iu doubting or fatly deny ing the capacity of the race, and the great mass even of otherwise sensible people re- fuse to visit the schools of the Association, or satisfy themselves of the good motive :, good methods and good success of the Northern teachers. There will be sud den enlightenment of these superior minds before long. Atlanta is full of ''select schools, kept by decayed ladies, who disdained or are unable to do their own housework, and save their gentility by taking pupils, so as to hire domestic. Alas! their teachings is in inverse ratio of quantity and quality with their pride These teachers from necessity are no great help to education. We found that out in the North, long ago; and forthwith began to examine, and finally to train with care those who aspire to tn high responsibil- ity Now 1t is no derogation from the na- tive abilities of southern women to say that the education of our normal schools will beat them out of sight in the thorough ness and economy of time with which they train scholars. There is mighty differ ense in teachers, and nowhere is it more felt than in the first rudimcnts of learning.