The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-03-27
yite Nn"ro Vote.


tant and vital question Of the present
century, the public men OF Virginia
have not exhibited that s&gacity and
intelligence for which they were once
most Justly renowned. Indeed, since
the famous resolutions OF 179Sr99
were lost somewhere in the vicinity
Of AppomattoX Court House, in the
month of April, 1865, our bewildcred
and unhappy politicians have moved
and acted as if controlled by somnam-
bulistic influence. We have very
unwiscly, not to say foolishlv, as
snmed that the emancipated and now
cnfranchised blacks would, under the
malign influence of that very class of
white men whom the negro, as a
slave, held in undisguised contempt,
array themselves against those whom
it is to their interest to propitiate.
Forgetting all which centuries of
slavery should have taught us of the
nature, temperament and preiudices
OF the blacks, we have Tor two years
lett the negro at the mercy of those
who have impressed upon his plastic
and unthinlling mind the belief that
antaGonlsm between capital and labor,
land that, while white gentlemen were
his enemies, white rascals and vaga-
bonds were his only friends and de-
tenders. When emancipation rup-
tured the old ties Of maSterand slave.
We should have taken immediate steS5s
to convince the freedmen that their
old masters were still their best and
only friends. The poor black, who
had been al his life Il parasite, cling
ing 20 something stronger and more
vigorous than himself, when turned
loose, daZed and blinded by the no
veltE OF his new state, should have at
once been taught that the great laws
regulating the relations OF labor and
capital could not be abrogatcd by a
proclamation CT emancipation. We
should ut once have placed him upon
his guard against those wolves in
shccps clothing, who, the moment
the protection Of his master was re-
moved, ponnced upon him like wreck
ers upon Il stranded vessel.
While We have lest much by falling
to act with the promptncss and Wis
dom Of men like Wade Hampton, vet
the relations between the freedmen
of Virginia and their employers have
been, since April, 1865, for the most
part 50 kind, that it is not vet too late
to deliver them from those false and
malignant influences to which we have
SO often alluded. It is also pecu-
Ilarly fortunate circumstance that
cvil-disposed and degraded white men
have, only in few localities, sue
ceeded in prejudicing the freedmen
against their natural friends and pro-
tectors. In the agricultural districts,
there will be no difficulty in teaching
them their true interests and duties.
And here, in Richmond, and else
where, where the efforts to corrupt
and demoralize the blacks have been
constant and persevering, Il few efforts
like that of Wade Hampton, in Co
lumbla, will efface the vile lessons OF
renegade white men as easily as the
waves OF the sea do characters writ
ten upon its unstable sands.
Since the noble and timely example
of Wade Hampton has attracted The
attention Of the whole nation, and
called forth the plauolts OF all think
ing men, even the New York Trib2ole
admits that such a policy will render
''the negro cote' harmless to the inte-
rests of the Southern capitalists
"No person" says Greeley, ''was
ever taught by the Tibune that the
colored vote would ol;cous be at the
command of itinerant political mis-
sionarles from the Northern States. "
Wade Hampton's triumph consisted
IN his convincing the negroes not
only that there was no antagonism
between white capital and black
labor, bat that the welfare OF both
races depended upon their electing to
Office the best and most honest men
they could. The idea was a simple
and plain one, and found a ready
lodgment in Cuffee's head. 1t is very
easy for Us to teach the same golden
lesson to the blacks Of this State, and
the sooner We DO it, the better for
both races. -Richmnn0 Times.