The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-05-29
Our Duties,

|
section, to n State Convention, and that
| great manv persons are inclined TO adopt
fGov. PERRY's advice and vote mo Con.
ven,ion" At the ensuing election. II &C
ours to us that this opposition to the plan
Of reconstruction submitted by Congress
can only be predica,ed upon miscor
ceptiQn of what that measure really is,
and we would suggest to all persons who
honestly desire to pursue the course rha,
is best calculated TO promote the interests
OF the country, to read the reconstruction
Ac's Of Congress and acqna'nt themselves
fully with the terms which have been
offered the States lately in rebellion. No
one unacquain,el with the provisions Of
these Acts can !orrn an intelligent opin on
as to whether we should accent or reject
the terms Offered bv Congress.
These terms are not such az any Of us
desire. but thew are all that the conqnerers
have been pleased to co0code. When
the Confederate armies were overpowered
hv superior uu,uhers and compelled to
surrender To the Frderals. the whole Ouasr
tion Of further opposition was solvsd, al
the South Law cNmr'ete'v at the mercy of
the successful comhatants If the batter
have not usa! the power which superior
numbers and resources enabled them T."
Obtain. with that wrguininG'v.w We
pe'haps had a right to expect. it is a mis-
for rune which we cannot remedy and op
position will only sarve to increase the
rigor Of the rn'e Of military conquest to
which we are subjected.
II the question Of unlimited negro .uf
traga was presented % MS for our accep
tance or rci-c'i0n, as Gov. PERnr-(wheth
er inadvertently or not, we do not under
take to ssv) has led the people to suppose,
urere would be a strong incentive for
rejection OF the Congressional policy
But no snch question is submitted 20 us.
Whether we vote "convention" or s'no
convention" or whether we vote at all.
the negroes are already cnfranchisedsan
in every election hereafter to he held.
either for District or State officers. they
will he allowed to vote. as the following
section Of the miIi,arv bill will show:
"Src 9. That until the people Of said
rebel States shall he hv law admisved TO Re-
presentation in the Congress Of the United
States, anv civil government which NAV
exist therein shall b" deemed provi.ionnl
only, anil in all respects sn'act to the
paramount authority oi the United States
at anv time. to abolish. modify. con,ione
or superspde the same and in oil cleo
tons to any offices under such propjsionnl
government. all persons shall be entitled
10 "o'e ""dr'-the provisions Of the ftth
section ofthis act"
It will be seen, therefore, hs, the evil
Of negro suffrage (and that it :. an evil Of
the most stupendous kind none can gain
saw which Gov. PERRY has pictured in
such vivid co'ors, IS already TIE law and
no action on our part can ave-t it
Practically, the only question submitted
to us by the Acts Of Congress, .is, whe,h
er we will accent the poor privilege &C
corded us Of acting with those who we're
submission and allow the freedmen and
their radical emissar;es to have absolute
Of I,t,, 7.
question whether the white race shall
hereafter be utterly in the power Of the
ignorant and deluded blacks, and tha
man who counsels inaction now is labor
ing under dangerous deception, or else
he is traitor to his family, to his race
and country.
That we are approaching fearful cri
sis in our political and social relations.
none can doubt for moment. Bv the
exercise Of vigilance and prudence, and
by cooperating with the well disposed
blacks. who have the capacity to under
stand that j, is the interest Of both races
to act in harmony, there is hope that the
end will be satisfactory ana the country
saved from utter ruin. We believe that
the whites are still masters Of the siiua,
! ton and that IL will he their own fault IL
'hev are supplanted by the inferior race.
BY dealing fairly and kindly with the
blacks, many Of them will understand
the direction OF their true interests, and
the danger Of serious conflict between the
two races, now so iminent, may be avert
ed There can be po'hesi,atIon as 10 the
dnty OF eVery true man in this crisis.
GREELEY OPPOSED TO CoxFrscArIoY.
The Rome (Gi.) Courier publishes the
brief affair below, written in reply TO a