The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-05-08
cation, we are persuaded to let the ne
groes parcel them out amongst them

selves.
Let no one charge me with disloyalty
to the American Union, or infer from
what I have said, that | am not in favor
of reconstructing the Union Of the States.
My whole political life has been spent in
fighting for the Union, and trying to
ward off that fell spirit of disunion which
has brought all these unnumbered woes
upon South Carolina. I wish to see the
Union restored under the Constitution.
know the American people never can
be free and happy, great and prosperous,
without the Federal Union but l will
never degrade myself, or my State, or
surrender my constitutional rights or Re
publican principles, to get back into the
Union. I will live under military gov
ernment, no matter how absolute and
despotic it may be, and bcqueath it to my
children, sooner than vote q negro gov
crnment for South Carolina, which every
man will do who votes for convention.
1t is a source of proud satisfaction to
me to see such Union men as Governor
Sharkey, of Mississippi, Governor Jen-
kins, of Georgia Governor worth, OF
North Carolina, and Governor Marvin, OF
Florida, who never ceased their opposi-
ton to the spirit of disunion till the
Union ceased to exist, standing firmly,
and brcasting the storm of tyranny, op-
preston and degradation which has been
hurled at them, whilst leading secession
lists and disunionists are counselling the
people to their own degradation and de-
strnction. for the purpose of getting back
into the Union; and, in order to accom-
plish their purposes, holding up to their
view the 'sraw head and bloody bones" of
confiscaton. Such counsel comes with
bad grace from those who boasted, at the
beginning of our civil or sectional war;
that they had drawn their swords and
thrown away the scabbards, determined
to die or live separate from the vile, ac-
cursed Yankee nation.
Let no one charge me, either, with un-
kindness to the African race. / have al
ways been their friend and protector, and,
as they show themselves capable OF exer-
cising the right of suffrage, by their in
telligence and property, [ am willing to
concede the rig ght to them. But am not
willing, in their present debased and de-
graded condition, to throw the political
power of the State into their hands.
know the result will be disastrous both to
them and the white race 1t will end in
q bloody contest of determination to one
race or the other. In very few OF the
Northern States, are the negroes allowed
to vote, where they have only few, and
they far superior TO those in the Southern
States. 1t is monstrous, that the repre-
sentatives of those States, in Congress,
should attempt to force us to yield the
right of universal suffrage to the negro,
when they refuse it to him themselves.
There is no danger of confscation by
Congress. The members of that body
may not be superior to the negro in hon
esty, but they have not the same motive
to vote division of the lands. They will
get none of them. a man is not so like
" to rob or steal for another as for him.
self But is it not better to be robbed
and plundered by Congress than by a
convention of South Carolina? As wick
ed as Congress is, the members may have
some regard for the opinion of the world.
They may, too, have some apprehension
of agrarianism at home.
I greatly fear there are many white
persons in South Carolina who will vote
for convention, under the hope OF its
rcpudiating the Indebtedness of the State.
This class may influence the negro vote
to unite with them, and then, in return,
thcv can unite with the negro in parcel
ING out the lands of the State. One step
leads to another. Stay laws frst-repu-
dation next; and then follows division
of lands and an equal apportionment OF
property amongst all persons. And last
of all, tho honest, hard-working, indus
trous and prudent class must support the
idle, dissipatcd, cxtravagant and rogulsh
class
Who cares to be represented in Con-
ercss by negroes, Black Republicans or
pcriurcd Southerners All others are
excluded by "the iron-clad OATH" AnG
this is the great boon South Carolina is
to receive for her voluntary abandonment
OF honor, and principle, and constitutional
liberty! We are to be represented in
Congress by men whom we. despisc, and
who will only increase the Black Repub-
lican majority in that body; whilst at
home we shall have q Legislature COM
posed of negroes and their 7ile represen-
tativcs
Congress has left it discretionary with
the people of South Carolina whether to
call convention or not. They have or
dcred registration of voters and an elec-
ton, and authorized every one to endorse
on his ticket, "Convention" or mo Con-
vention." Therefore, let every man who
is not disfranchised, as he values his life,
and honor, and property, and the peace
of society, go forward and register his
name. and then vote at the election, en-,
dorsing on his ticket "No Convention M,
honor. preserve the peace of society, pre-
vent black suffrage and a division OF lands
amongst the negroes. Dpppv