The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-26
The Convention.

HON. RuNs.-JoNEs and DENNY Of Palmettos.
The Convention.
From the Darlington Sopthaner.l
1t will be held, notwithstanding the clamor that
is raised against it. II the whites should oe-
termine to renounce all participation IN recon
sruction upon the basis Of the congressional plat
form, the consequence will be that the freedmen
will take up the power that has been 80 unwsely
surrendered to them. Many of the white people
intend to vote 'no Convention" in order to block
up the only aperture through which the South can
escape from present and future calamities. Be it
80, il nothing else will sufice-f madness must
rule tho hour, let all prepare for the storm in the
best way they can. For confscatlon, II 1t comes
at all, will not como alone. All the dogs OF war
will be turned loose, and not an eye will be found
to pity those who will not pity themselves. This
is absolutely inviting confscstion.
Yet these very writers object to the Convention,
for fear OF contiscation They charge upon the
"periured Southerners and negroes, that will
compose it, an utter recklessness of all that is just
and honorable, and assume that they will luxuriate
in every wrong, that wicked men flushed with pow
er could perpetrate. Would it be possible that it
could perpetrate more egregous and bloody
folly than secession has proven itself to be?
But, examine the matter, and see if there is
really any danger, after oil. As to mere power,
the freedmen and perured Southerner," have had
it for two years-has anything occurred, that
would justify the uncharitabe suspicious as to
what they will do hereatter?
Let it be remembered that this Convention will
meet to provide for the distant future-not to
snatch present advantage, to be held by the
tenure of power. without principle. That would
be the title OF the robber. Something far moro
substantial will bo aimed at that will be in har-
cd by the civilized world. Right and wrong will
be the great landmarks by which they will steer,
for there are no others that can long sustlin the
superstructure of any government. The freedmen
very well know that what they might gain by in
iauity could be taken away in the same manner.
II is well established fact that thieves never get
rich and that the surest and shortest way s 10 be
honest. The experience OF all past time has de-
monstrated this fact and it has not to be learned
at the present day.
Let it be remembered, that this Convention is
to be held, as part Of the Congressional plan OF
reconstruction. 1t will act under the supervision
Of Congress, which has assigned to it certain du-
ties which on the one hand are not 20 be omitted,
or on the other, exceeded. Any action beyond the
limits assigned to 1t by Congress- will be consid-
cred as Objectionable, as the omission Of. duty
specially assigned. The great purpose Of the
Convention will be to secure the political equality
OF the citizen without distinction of race or color.
The freedman who has just been introduced Into
the ranks Of freemen, requires some guaranty as
to his future condition. This, and this only is
the legitimate object to be effected-and to be
sure that this limit is reached, and not surpassed
Congress has reserved to itself the right to ex-
anime the Constitution which shall be adopted,
and accept or reject it, according as it may or
may not conform to the plan OF reconstruction
which has been prescribed. The Convention
is not to fly off into every field Of wild, political
experiment, which the young advocates Of untrIed
theories may suggest, but they are to be confned
to the specific object above stated-and any con-
stitution departing therefrom will be rejected.
There is too much profound craftsmanship in the
Congress of the United States, to commit the
future government Of ten States OF the Union en-
tilely to the deiberation OF inexperienced
minds. The result might be, that the work of
such bodies would be disastrous to the whole
country, and effectually destroy oil hope of its
future prosperity. Constitution-making is dan
gerous privilege and is to be used with the utmost
caution-hence, a check has been wisely placed
upon the powers Of the members, 80 that no mis-
take shall be committed that can be lrreparable.
it come up to the requirements set forth in the re-
construction measures, it will be accepted-and if
not, it will be returned for amendment,
It is plain that "confscat;on" is not one Of the
duties that has been assigned-for if it had been
thought to be expedient, Congress would have pro-
terms, has not been enjoined, neither will it be
permitted in disguise-and intolerable taxation is
that disg guise. Crime, that does not dare to walk
erect, will not be permitted to crawl in nsidiousy.
Every thing must be called By its right name, and
it is idle to suppose that nero astuteness will ex
pect to carry out improper ends by tricks Of eger-
demain. That will scarcely be tolerated in court
house-never will be in q grave deliberative as
sembly, met together to consult the interests OF
great nation. II condscatiOn cannot be perpetrat-
ed under its own name, neither can it under any
other-for it is the substance, and not the form,
that will be considered.
First, as to the policy Of such measure. 1t
would be the triumph OF power over weakness
can any Justly balanced mind consent to the es-
tablishment Of such principle, principle thatre
rlo yhat hoQ hv
try but as the lawful spoils of the stronger man
Once admit this as principle, and the only secu-
riy for title would be The strength OF party, and
its continuance in power Look at the Democratic
party, where is IL now? where was it in 1862 1t
has lived and it has died, repeating the history Of
all parties in all past time. The same epitaph re-
mains to be written also over the tomb OF the Re-
publican party, which, at some uncertain time in
the future, must yield to the same law of decay,
which enters into the constitution of all earthly
combinations for political or other purposes.
When this may be no one can tell but it Is
inevitable, and such ia tho general apprecia-
ton Of its durability, by all right thinking
men. Would any one pay for little land that
was 10 exist no longer than the Republican party,
or any other party did? Yet such would be the
confscated property taken away from tho rightful
owners during the late war? All gono back to
where the great principles OF right and wrong do
cared it should ever remain. The morality OF the
can rest securely, either in public or private
affairs-the eternal obligation of truth and even
hand justice. When these form the cornerstone,
the building may defy the washing influences Of
time or the rude shocks Of outward violence; and
without these, all in-gained prosperity will perish
in the grasp.
If the landowner has more than he can cultivate,
what else has he? Has he not lost everything,
and have not tho freedmen gained everythinsY
The great boon they asked from Heaven was their
liberty-t they have acquired it, and now have with
in their reach every temporal advantage they can
desire. They have the right to hold property-to
earn wages for their labor-to vote, to sit on ju-
ries to testify, to sue, to hold ONCE and in every
which tho unfortunate whites now occupy, with
this important advantage, that poverty ls no
wretch edness to them-they can help themselves,
they know how to labor, their eyes can see bright
pictures in the future, the world IS Ior tne, nope
is bright and cheering; while on the other hand
the unfortunate white man has no where 10 slt eX-
cept upon his land, and while he looks, all these
bright pictures are fast receding from him, "a
the light of hope is dying away, seemingly 1or-
ever. One has future and the othor % mas noG "
one sable to contend with adversely, Whlio the
other is too much eufeebled to do more than barey
exist The frecdman's liberty has been purchased py
the white mans ruin, and to oil this no mas con-
sented, as the punishment OF his 1olly, III the van
attempt to destroy the best OF governments, Will
out sufficient cause. He has subscribed the iii-
strument, which binds him forever to acknowledge
the privileges of the freedman, and in dong So
surrendered $4,000, 100000, the hard earnings OF
his past life. Ho looks around, and sees nothing
left but his land, while he feels that even with with
this, that all is gone, and that he is little better
than beggar at last. Now, to make raid upon
this remnant, is what confiscation proposes, an
| this too, while the freedman is cultiyatlng thls
very land, On equal terms with the owner-he lives
it and enjoys the fruits OF his labor protected
by equal laws, with none to mako him afraid. In
many instances, they rent what they cultivate and
the crop is all ltheir own. bright future is before