The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-12-11

| "oe' VI Whue chizens ss VIII give the
former clear majority at all elections in
the Southern States. This to the minds of
son,e person. is so oimpoitant that a viola.
tion OF the Constitution Ia justifiaLle as a
means Of bringing it about. The morality
is always false which excuses wrong be.
cause it proposes to accomplish desirable
end. We are not permitted to do evil that
good may come. But in this case the end
itself is evil, as well as the means. The
subjuga,ion Of the States to negro domina.
tion would be worse than the military des-
Potism under which they are now suffering
II was believed beforehand that the people
would endure any amount of military op.
preston. for any length Of Time, rather than
degrade themselves by subjection to the ne.
gro race. Therefore. they have been left
without a choice. Negro suffrage was es-
tabiished by Act Of Congress and the mill
tary officers were commanded TO superin-
tend the process Of clothiug the negro race
! with the political privileges torn from white
/ men. @
The blacks in the South are entitled TO
be well and humanely governed, and to
have tho protection Of just laws for all their
rights Of person aud property. II IL were
Practicnble,a at this time to give them gov.
srnment exclusively their own, under which
they, might manage their own affairs in
their own way, IL would become grave
question whether We ought to do so, or
whether common humanity would not re-.
qniro us to save them from themselves.-
Bot, under the circumstances, this Is only a
speculative point. II is n"t proposed merely
that they shall govern themselves, hut that
they shall rule the white rsce. make and
administer State laws, elect Presidents and
members OF Congress, and shape TO = greatrr
or less extent the future destiny Of the
whole country. Would euch a trust and
power be cafe in such handel
The peculiar qualities which should char.
acterize any people who are fit to decide
upon the management Of public affairs for
great State have seldom been combined. II
Ia the glory OF white men to know th.t they
have had these qualities in .uhicient meas
ure TO build upon this continent a great
political fabric, and to preserve its STABILITY
Tor more than ninety years. while IN every
other part of-the world all rimlar expert.
menis have failed. But if anything can he
| proved by known facts-if all Reasoning
upon evidence is not alandoned-it must
bs acknowledged. that in the progress Of
nations negroes have shown less capacity
Tor government than any other race Of peo-
l'ir. 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 constant tendency to relapse into barhar-
ism In the Southern States however,
Congress has undertaken to confer upon
them the privilege OF the ballot. Just re.
Leased from slavery, it may be doubted
whether, as clsss. they know more than
their ancestors hoy to organic and regulate
\ civil society. Iadeed. it is admitted that
the blacks Of the South are not only regard.
less OF tho rights Of property. but so utterly
ignorant Of public affairs that their voting
can consist in nothing more Than carrying
ballot to the place where they are direct
ed to deposit it. I need not remind You
that the exercise Of the elective franchise Is
the highest attribute OF IN American iizen
and, that, when gnided by virtue. intelli.
gence, pntri ,tism, and a proper appreciation
Of our free institutions 1t constitutes the
true basis Of de nocratic form OF govern.
ment in ~hich the sovereign power is
lodged in the body Of the people. A trust
artifciaily created, not for its own sake.
but solely as m-ans Of promoting the
general welfare, its Influence. for good must
necessarily depend upon the elevated char
acter aud true allegiance OF the elrctor. 1t
ought, therefore. to be reposed in none
except those who are fitted morally and
mentally TO administer It well; for IL con.
kferred upon persons who do not jpstly esti-
mate its vslue. and who are Indifferent as
to its results. il will only serve as . means
Of placing power in the hanis Of the un-
principled anf ambitious, and must eteniu-
ate in the complete destruction Of that
liberty Of which IL should be The most pow
erful eonservstor. / have, therefore, here
tofore nrgel up"n your attention the great
danger Ito be aPprehended from an M.
timely extension of the elective franchise to
any new class IN our country, especially
when the large majority of that clnss in
welding the power thus piseel in their
hands, cannot: be expected correctly 10
comprehend the duties and responsibilities
which pertain to suff age Yesterday. asit
were, four millions Of persons were held In
. condition OF slavery that had existed for
generations to-tay they are freemen. aud