The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-04-24
ANDERSON s. c. WEDNESDAY, APRIL a., 1857

/
- ,...;..: =. - ..,,.. ...z:
/ offered, worse will be imposed Have we
any assurance that worse may not be i'm
posed, if we do accept? Like the wo:
i man who.consented to her own dshonor
to save the life of her husband, and was
then made to witness his execution
There is no faithein tyrants. Threats of
5confseation are futile. Almost every one
has been pardoned, by taking the amnesty
oath or by special application. The
Southern people may be robbed and MUIR
dered, but their property cannot be con-
1 ,hscated.
In order to debauch prominent South
ern men, offers have, been made in Con:
gress to remove their disabilities, and, it
would seem, not withoutsuccess Threats
to the many, and bribes to a few,:is the
policy adopted for radicalizing the South
7ern States. With universal negro suf-
frage and debauched politicians, we may
bid farewell to all hope of republican in
stitutions. Virtue and intelligence alone
can sustain republic. When the negro
has acquired Intelligence to understand
this political lsrights and property to make
him feelun intefestin heproper exercise of
them, he should be allowed tovote. This
principle has been adopted III most of the
/ Northern States, and is wise and Just.
But it is wicked to put ballots into the
hands of those who will be the passive
tools of their employers, or the mischiev-
GUS agents Of Black Republican emissa-
ries.
Nothing can be more unjust and iniqul-
| tous than the discriminating disfranchlse-
mont Of the military bill. A Union man,
whose life has been spent in trying to
maintain the integrity OF the Union, but
|swho was member Of the Legislature or a
Judge ten or twelve years ago, and who,
after his State seeded. fed or clothed II
son in tile Confederate. army, is distran-
Echised! But the man whose whole lite
Emay. have been spent in treasonable Ell
forts TO destroy the Union and involve.
the country in bloody civil war, who.
was o Leading member OF the Secession
EConyention, and afterwards distinguish
ed General nthe Confederate army, burl-
| ing his command against the United States
Etorces in u hundred bloody fields OF battle,
lis not distranchised, unless he had pre-
lsyiously taken an oath to support the Con-
stitution OF the United States! There
are many instances of this character
which might be mentioned, showing the
injustice and folly of this sdisfrancllise-.
.ment.. tits believed that neither Gems
IBeauregard, Hill, Magruder, or Gen. Lee
himself, the illustrious commander-in-
chief of the Confederate forces, 10 dlsfran-
.chisod. But the humble Union magis-
trate, who relieved the distresses OF son
or friend in the Confederate army, is dis
franchised! .E...,; -
There is not the remotest hope or pro-
bability of the Southern States being re-,
stored to the Union tillsafter the next
Presidential election. Why, then, shall
we voluntarily degrade ourselves, and
give up our dearest political rights for
'deIusion? If. dishonor must come, do not
embrace it. If we are to wear manacles,
let them be put on by our tyrants, not by
ourselves. If a man threatens to kick
YOU, sclf.respect would forbid your ex-
posing your person to him and asking
Thin to kick you at once and be done with
BIZ. We have lived already two yearsunder
military rnle, in great poverty and dis
tress, and have been cheered all the time
by the consciousness that wesare not a
degraded, though, a conquered people
We. can continue to live in the same way
two years longer, or, if need be, ten years.
and feel Il pride in knowing that we have
maintained our honor, and made every
effort possible to preserve ourtreedom and
constitutional rights. A man who feels
that he has dishonored himself, is lost;
and so it is with people.
Let US live quietly ard peaceabiy, at
tending diligently to our various voca-
lions in liieIobeying patiently the pow
ers tbatsbe; but never think of volunta-
Irily voting away our rights as State or
our honor and freedom as men. Let us
trust Ina returning sense of justice on the
part Of our oppressors, which sooner or
later must come. Have patience for
bearance; and long suffering. The South
ern States fought four long bloody years
for what they believed to be a sacred
right proclaimed by all the American
people in their Declaration of Indepen-
dence. Can they not now afford to live
I:iour years longer out Of that Union,
rather than sacrifice their honor, their
trights, as States, and the great republican
principles of freedom?
B. F. PERRY.
.--------<o