The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-12-05
PREsIDENT's MESSAGE.

y. u. II,
PREsKDIaNT's MESSAGE.
DELIVERED TUESDAY, DEC. 3, 1867.
Felo,o- Citizens Of the Senate and House
Of Represent atiues:
The peculiar qualities which should
characterize any people who are fit
to decide upon the management of
public affairs for great State have
seldom been combined. 1t is the
glory of white men to know that
they have had these qualities in suf-
fcient measure to build upon this
continent great political fabric, and
to preserve its stability for more than
ninety years, while In every other
part of the world all similar expert
ments have failed. But if anything
can be proved by known facts-if all
reasoning upon evidence is not aban-
doned-it must be acknowledged,
that in the progress of nations ne
groes have shown less capacity for
government than any other race of
people. No independent government
of any form has ever been successful
in their hands. On the contrary,
wherever they have been left to their
own devices they have shown a con-
stant tendency to relapse into barba-
rism. In the Southern States, how
ever, Congress has undertaken to
confer upon them the privilege of
the ballot. Just released from slave
ry, it may be doubted whether, as q
class, they know more than their an
cestors how to organize and regulate
sx,slo nfxy 6 10
that the blacks of the South are not
only regardless of the rights of pro-
perty, but SO utterly ignorant of pub
lie affairs that their voting can con-
sist in nothing more than carrying q
ballot to the place where they are
directed to deposit it. I need not
remind that the exercise of the cleo
tive franchise is the highest attribute
of an American citizen, and that,
when guided by virtue, intelligence,
patriotism, and q proper appreciation
of our free institutions, it constitutes
the true basis of democratic form
of government, in which the sove-
reign power is lodged in the body of
the people. A trust artifcially crea-
ted, not for its own sake, but solely
rs means of promoting the general
welfare, its influence for good must
necessarily depend upon the elevated
character and true allegiance Of the
elector. 1t ought, therefore, to be
reposed in none except those who are
fitted morally and mentally to admin
lister it we'll for if conferred upon
persons who do not justly estimate
its value, and who are Indifferent as
to its results. it will only serve as
means of placing power in the hands
of the unprincipled and ambitious,
and must eventuate in the complete
destruction of that liberty of which
it should be the most powerful con-
servator. I have, therefore, hereto
fore urged upon your attention the
great danger ''to be apprehended
from an untimely extension of the
elective franchise to any new class in
our country, especially when the large
majority of that class, in welding
the power thus placed in their hands,
cannot be expected correctly to COM
prehend the dnties and responsible
ties which pertain to suffrage. Yes
terday, as it were. four millions of
persons were held in condition of
slavery that had existed for genera
tions to-day they are freemen, and
are assumed by law to be citizens. It
cannot be presumed, from their pre-
vious condition Of servitude, that, as
q class, they ore as well informed as
to the nature of our Government as
the intelligent foreigner who makes
our land the home of his choice. In
the case of the latter, neither resi-
dence of five years, and the knowl-
edge of our institutions which it
gives, nor attachment to the princi-
Piles of the Constitution, are the only
conditions upon which he can be ad-
mitted to citizenship. He must prove,
in addition, q good moral character,
and thus give reasonable ground for