The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-11-28
MISCELLANEOUS.

From the Charleston Courier.
THE RULE OF FORCE AND THE
LAW OF PEACE.
The New York Times, although
Republican, yet is not so bound IL
the trammels of party as not to re
cognize and reflect the sentiments oi
the more moderate portion of its or
ganization.
The present condition Of things al
the South, it is plain, connot stand
The proposed mode Of rc-organiza,
ton is so complete a parody on JUS
tice and self government as to fail tc
command the assent of any thought
full man, never mind to what party
he ostensibly belongs.
The great heart of the country
beats for peace. 1t desires reunion.
1t feels that the necessities anil the
rights of every section require the
unity and fraternity IF the States.-
Time and events have demonstrated
that these great objects cannot be al
tanned in any other way than by re-
cognizing the Constitution as the only
common bond, and as containing with
in it's provisions the terms and basis
of a common government.
The country will never sanction
the existence of pure negro Republics
here, or that the white race, whose
ancestors formed the Government,
and for whose posterity it was ordain-
ed, should be made subject to the do
mination and rule of that class, whom
the North itself will not admit to suf-
frage. Every interest in the land;
and every hope Of a stable govern
mcnt in the future, forbids that those
should be the rulers in the South,
whom tho North itself rcPudiates az
voters.
The recent elections in these States,
thus far. have been of the nature of a
farce. The voice of the real people
has not been heard. Their interests
have been, and arc urrcprcsentc'l. So
far, as the heretofore and constitu-
tional voters arc concerned, these arc
without validity or authority.
The Times, upon survey of the
status of political affairs, confesscs
the fatal error in the Whole scheme Of
the Reconstruction Acts, and "thc
necessity of a harmony ofsentimcnt,
and unity of purpose and feeling a.
mong the people Of the sections late
ly at war In other words, that the
steps of the past must Le rctraced,
and the principles Of restoration re-
established OF the basis of our hereto
fore accustomed Constitution.
1t therefore proclaims against nc
gro suffrage. "cxccpt with the assent
Of the Southcrnpeople.'
This is step in the right dircc-
ton. 1t is occupying the very ground
long since announced by President
johnson, and which it were we'll, for
the interest of all races, if it had been
then occupied: that the elective fran
chise is, under the terms of the Con-
stitution, for the accustomed voters,
in each State to determine.
No other course is likely to prove
either stable or beneficial.
AS the Times says, "wc may force
negro suffrage upon the South, and
maintain 1t by the bayonet; but until
tits there by some different tenure
than that, 1t aOil be a curse, instead
Of blessing, to aH Heoncerncd, and es.
pecialy to the negroes themselves"
And herein is the acknowledgment
of a great truth. The law Of tho
bayonet can never be the law of per,
manence or acquiesence. 1t has
proved fruitless in the past, as i,
must in the future. 1t neither pro,
duces assent or conviction. ltrathel
defeats the very objects it proposes tx
accomplish.
And so of all the other laws ant
changes which are sought to be mad
in the South, by which its inheren
rights are sought to be overthrown
its statcships subverted, and its civi
government destroyed.
Nor does the Times otherwise thar
utter what must be the judgement o