Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-11-02
The South and Reconstruction,
Tho tsfNnw York Herald savs. =


South thanitke action they seem likely to take
in consequence Of thosresult Of the Northern
elections. There seems to be neither sense
nor sanity in theirF exultations The organs
are appealing on every side to'vote against
The, Convention, and to do nothing whatever
toward bringing the Southern States again in.
tsto Congress, or into tho Union.
What do they expect to accomplish by this
Do they expect to get into Congress or the
Union in any other way? For two years
longer this present Congress will hold posses.
sion Of power The reconstruction law is not
likely to be changed during that time, at all
events. Nor is there one chance in ten that
the South will be able again to deprive the
blacks of their right to vote. When Il large
body of men in any community have once
had possession Of the ballot, they do not easily
surrender it. 1t has become to them an actu.
al property, and they would as soon surrender
their liberty or their life as their right to vote
The blacks of the South can never be dcpriv-
cd of the suffrage without leading to riots,
commoton and bloodshcd.
Nor will the Southern States, if they arc
wise, ever attempt to take it away from them
We do not mean to say that the right, as it
now exists, can never be modified we think
lit by no means improbable that qualifications
of intelligence or something else, may be af
fixed to suffrage, both black and white,
throughout the South. Giving universal suf-
fragc to the blacks was never measure COM
mendcd by good Judgment and regard for the
public welfare. 1t was rcsortcd to mainly as
a party cxpedicnt. 1t seemed to be ncccssa
ry, in order to prevent the whole political
power of the South from falling back into
rebel hands. But every one felt that it was
hazardous step, the result of which was by no
means certain The evils which will unqucs-
tionahly grow out of universal negro suffrage
in the South. will compel revision of the
whole suffrage question
But tho whites of the South are only put
ting this matter more and more out of their
reach by the course they are pursuing. BY
refusing to take any part in the political &C
tivity of tho States, they simply throw the
whole power in the hands of the least intcli-
gent and most unscrupulnus portion of the
people. If they would take vigorously hold
Of tic various subjects which demand attcn-
tior they mi ght get beaten ut the polls ai the
outs It, but they would get foot hold, and be
in D ,sition to do better next time. lolitica
pow,r does not grow by neglect No party
and no class Of men ever becomes stronger b,
doing nothing.
The Southern people seem to have become
quite beside themselves in consequence of til,
In"S' Dem'crat'c victories !"'y arc very
nkc,y 20 turn 10 hshcS on thcir lpS. N"f
tainly, I'll that is needed to create an other re
action the other way, is fnr the South okccI
upa i'ftlo longer the boasts ana exnitnt'"n
and threats in which they have been SO frccl,
/ indnlgingfor tho last three weeks,
" Thetsllerald" further speaks as follows !:
We notice in tho Southcrn press di.po
sition to attach an importance and sieuili
cancr to tho late elections in Pepnsylvani
and Ohio which the circumstances do not FIJI
warrant. 1t is true, there is in the result
tion'tss;, elections much causc for conrratul,
of the Noraa. e ;sSfavple, as we'll as to thos
sickcncd with corrupt rad,>.assNs.e tired an,
But our Southern friends /; ;shehli Eot 80 y
!. at a tangetk ION these ey3 fences OF
& setur6ing ssnss sof sreasonss 81 among the radca
81 hs Be ft,se they nre ontssy the woods =
ssssJ and COLLECTED we vii
% IS y have acknowl
"ioaoy iney sho"o