The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1867-02-13

election, and who can read the
! Constitution Of the United States
in the English language and can
! write his own name, or who may
be the owner Of two hundred and
fifty dollars worth Of taxable pro-
pcrtv: shall be entitled to vote At
all elections for Governor Of the
! State, members Of the Legislature
and all other officers elective by
the people Of the State: Provided,
That no person by reason Of this
article, shall be excluded from
voting who has heretofore eXcr-
! ciscd the elective franchise under
! the Constitution and laws Of this
| State, or who, ut the time Of the
, adoption Of this amendment may
be entitled to vote under, said Con-
stitution and laws.
. N-i;h the formal endorsement
Of Governors Orr Of South Caro-
lima. Parsons Of Alabama. Sharllry
Of Mississippi. and Narvon ofFlor-
, ida : Of Senator Jones Of Arkansas.
Hon. Mr. Epperson: member elect
from Texas. and MesSrs. Brown,
Boydcn, Uaincs, and Leach Of
North Carolina, these measures
have been submitted to the Legis-
lature Of the last named State now
in session. and arc before the pub
lie for consideration.
The candid mind will conccde
that the Extreme radicals in Con-
grcSs are sutl." >'.lji y strongin their
votes to adopt any law their mad
ness may dictate, and we arc in
their power. But all radicals are
not Extremists. The disqualify-
inc clause Of the former Constitu-
tional Amendment was not pOpu-
lar even in Washington, and the
assurance has been given that the
recognition by the South Of some
plan that would relieve the fears
ofthe North as to our ultimate
policy when rc-admitted, would
secure the support Of all moderate
men, and produce a division in the
National Councils that would dcs-
troy the strength of the present
ruling faction.
1t will be conceded also after
pcrusing the several sections OF
the above document that except
with reference to the question Of
colorcd citizenship, and qualified
suffrage, we surrender little more
than has been repeatedly laid at
the feet of the North since the war.
The vital point of the amendment
with which our people have 10
deal. is that which concerns the
negro. lie has air, ,ady been in
vested with certain legal rights.
his property is already the subject
Of taxation. and it is to be deter
mined by the future, whether in
the course Of 4 mysterious Provi-
dcncc we shall not be called upon
to advance him when qualified by
education. one step further in the
progress Of his race.
Quietly, but seriously, the pub
lie have considered this subject,
and we believe. that were any
press or person bold enough to
stem the torrent ofadvcrsc opinion,
long ago we should have heard
uttcranccs in favor Of 4 properly
bestowed citizenship.
The great question which nndcr-
lies ali others, howcycr, is whether
the South will refuse this boon to
the colorcd man. and drag out
miserable cxistensc rndcr q law
of universal suffrage. which, unless
checked, these radicals will pass
as certainly as the sun shines; or,
meeting the progressive spirit half
way, we will ourselves confer the
right in limited. way, and thus
preserve through the relations we
NAV then retain with the colored
race, the power and prosperity Of
our section. An intelligent negro
vote would undoubtedly be idcntlf-
ed with our interests but Heaven
deliver the South when universal
suffrage makes our country q
political nigger Pandcmonlum;
with Parson French as its Head
Scenter.
The caisis is upon us. We must
face it. The welfare Of our peo-
,,lo 49, cofn+r Of our 1orOnortV