The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-23
CHARL ES TON.
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH %, 1867.
REORGANIZATION.

! 1t II III - II ~ I ~ ~
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH %, 1867.
REORGANIZATION.
A s;mnle anouiescence in the fact that universal
suffrage is the law Of the land, and that we nlust
s,,rot IN its exercise, is not enough for the dis
charoe Of our duty, nor for the protection OF our
interests. 49,.
! The sudden addition of o mass OF voters 10 o
constituency, the great majority of whom are un-
fitted for the Intelligent exercise OF the fanohse'
wold at any time put most of the interests OF so
cioty in danger, for there always will be base men
and selfish men anxious to use their ignorance anu
hoir preiudices for personal profit Still worse is
it when Tie new constituency consist, az IN our
case Of those who have been excluded from pohtl-
cal life. who have been taught to consider that ex-
clusion as tyrannica oppression, and who have re-
ceiyed their enfranchisement against the wishes
and in spite Of the resistance of the CLASS
| of the community. ,szs.a--,'
But our position is even worse than thls. oe-
cause what has hitherto been the governing class
Of the South is not at present either identaed IN
interest nor feeling with the majority, who hold
tho power an3sontrol the legislation of the ooun-
| try. A great war ended in defeat-vast wealth
utterly arnihilated-od political power completely
swept away-have made condition OF material
suffering, political weakness, and personal dlscon
| tent which excites constant suspicion and pro-
yokes stringent and vindictiye legislation on the
part of those who hold the power OF the govern
rnent.
Now. of course, in such state Of affairs, every
effort which the South makes to meet it's duties
fairly will be distrusted and misrepresented.
Prond men who are willing as patriots to sacrifice
their feelings 10 their duties will resent the doubt
that will be thrown on their professions and in
tentions. Timid men will exaggerate the difficult
ties which appear to stand in the way of any line OF
practical action. And large class of good men
win fold their hands i'm despair and disgust and
bend submissively to q fate at which they shudder
but which they have not the resolution to oppose.
Allthese feelings have to be overcome. There
is no alternative Of duty to-day, and every man
who either from false pride, sickly sentiment or
timidity fails in his duty now, is doing more harm
to his State and to his race than the incendiary
who is Indignantly tanning the fires Of hatred or
than the ignorent freedman who is making foolish
use of q privilege he does not understand.
We have hitherto stated the reasons why we be-
Heve that there is no real antagonism Of interest
or feeling between the white and oolored citizens
Of the State. Time will show that among the sub
stantial educated freedmen, there is intelligence
enough to und arstand and character enough to
maintain the truth. And with the great mass OF
! the iIterate, We have the advantage which always
belongs to capital in its relation to labor, to
superior culture, to long political experience,
to wealth, and above al, to- That superiority which
belongs to the fact which no Radical rhetoric can
destroy, that in our old relation we were just and
| true, and that our old power was tempered by
kindness that is not yot forgotten.
;Of course there are errors to correct, there are
prejudices to overcome, and there is wicked ln-
fucnce to be checked and controlled.
To stand afar off, to fold our hands in cynical
apathy to sneer superciliousy ct foolish speeches,
and to be very indignant at fierce ones, is not the
way to do the work before u.s.
The first thing that we ought to do is to take
the necessary steps to exercise those rights which
arc left us-to show that are willing, to accept
and discharge the duties OF citizenship-to prove
that we feel that We are not the less citizens,
because they are so much TIE more-to make the
| freedmen understand that although we think uni
yersal suffrage an unwise and dangerous expert
ment, we do not feel ourselves degraded by his as
sociation There is great deal Of foolish talk on
this subject which ought to be discountenanced
No man can be degraded by the discharge Of duty,
however unpleasant that duty may be. For years
has the negro been initiating us-copying both
our vices and our virtues. To-day he is doing the
same. He holds public meetings because We held
public meetings-le makes speeches because we
made speechcs-he wants to vote because we
voted-and as we do our duty as citizens, so will
he initiate us, and the higher we place that stand
ard, the more will he endeayor to initiate it. We
think, then, that an enlightened public opinion
viii hold every man not disfranchised bound to
register his name, and to cast lis vote, and will no
M o tolerate detection in this duty than it would
desertion from the ranks on the eve OF tattle.
Noxt, wo should make it clearly understood that
whatever we may think of the policy of the Re-
construction Act we have accepted it fairly as the
practical solution of our present difficulties, and
as the basis upon which the future political life Of
the State rests. That while We intend to use that
legitimate influence which education, experience
and the possession of nino-tenths Of that property
which bears the burden Of taxation, gives to u.s. we
recognize and will respect all the rights and inter-
ests in the fortunes OF the State which that Act
confers upon the new voters.
And lastly, in order to do this, we should use all
the means Of instructing them as to their rights
and duties, of informing them Of their interests
and the interests OF tho State of which they now
form part of correcting the Misrepresentation
| which will be made by those who arc interested In
misleading them In other words without the
contemplate hypocrisy of pretending that we re-
oice at this change, without attempting to deceive
them, by professions Of extrayagant consideration,
without concealing our convictions that we are
visor and better fitted than they now, to direct
the fortunes ana shape the character OF tho State,
let us in that spirit Of selfrespect which mover
fails to treat with due consideration the rights OF
others, treat them as what they are, citizens
Of South Carolina, whose votes must contribute to
maintain the strength, the fortune, the reputation
Of tho State, or must aid those who do not love
her to sap that strength, to destroy that fortune,
and cxtinguish forever that reputation.
CONFIsCATION.
We publish in another column this morning the
text Of Mr.. / HADDEus STEVENS Confscation Bill.
The New York Times of Tuesday, speaking of it,
says:
1t confscates all the public lands belonging to
zl.11( H. 1,1l lc flar