The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-05-16
~ THE .JOU RN.AL.
Thursday, May I6, 1sG7.a
Registration.


day in July next he will proceed to
register the voters Of South Carolina in
accordance with the reconstruction laws
adopted at the late: Congress.
Tho Importance Of every voter regis
tering his name cannot DO too strongly.
impressed upon our people. It will
not do to sacrifice the right to vote, in
obedience to sentiment Of disgust and
indignation, which many entertain at
the requirements Of those laws, Our
people are conquered and have no
rights but at tho will of the conqueror.
We must accept his terms and adhere
the more tenaciously to the limited
rights secured>to us under those terms.
because they are alEthqt are left%o US,
and must form the basis Of any restor=
alton of our liberties, possible IN the
future. Tho class Of our people exclu-
ded from the registration for partl lpa-
ton in the war, is not large. Judicial,
Legislative and executive officers who
embraced the cause of tho South and
followed her fortunes voluntarily, alone
can be excluded. The opinion of the
Attorney General, at Washington, who
has this matter now under consider
alton, may still further resrtictshis eS;
clusion. Let be as wide as it may,
tire number excluded in South Carroll
from this cause, will bo inconsiderable.
Those who are excluded will not
be without their influence in the
elections. Itwould.. not be 1inreason-
able to suppose that each one OF
them may: turn at least one vote, by
The force Of his opinions. 1t is no hope
less struggle upon which NO enter. The
thing to bo accomplished is to break
down the attempt now being made, to
separate. the two races. i we enter
tho contest in the spirit Of peace, and
use the weapons Of truth and justice,
we must succeed.
There is nothing moro certain than
that neither race can prosper if justice
is denied to either. Let justice to the
full extent of existing laws be done,
and harmony, security and prosperity
will follow in her train. On the other
hand, ifprejudioe and passion rule the
day, common ruin will involve the
land, from which will emerge but one
race Of people, from Maine to Texas.
We-cannot, suppose under the proyi-
dence ofGod, that any such doom awaits
us and therefore, we are, for entering
upon this scheme ofreconstruction hear
tily,> hopefully; fearlessly. We annex
the remarks of the Charleston Mer-
curry on this subject:
''The whole frame work of our State
organization and every right in.the COM
munity is involved in the action taken
by our citizens in this business, and it
requires no reflection to arrive at the
vital Importance of every one registering
who is entitled to vote. For veal or
for woe, for conservation OF for Radi-
cal ruin, this matter is going to decide
the fate Of our people. Ifruincd, they
are to have voice and hand in tleir
destruction, md either apathy OF timid
and hopeless time-scving will accom-
plish the end of making ;hc country
Observation-Disclosures security for life
or property, and with a disgusting and
degrading war ofraces. tits incumbent
upon us to rise to the realization of our
true position; to understand the diff
culties and dangers by which we are
surrounded, and to shape our course
with wisdom and discretion, no less
than with courage, fidelity to ourselves,
and the visov and energy'ofa commu-
nifty striving for existence-for every
interest, and every right, and every
hope, which makes life valuable. How
ever unpleasant and humiliating the
the dirty work of canvassing and cleo
tioneering, it cannot bo avoided, and
must be done. We have faith to be-
lieve that the people of tho State Will
do their part honestly and actively,
with q manly patience and good sense.
The State can and will be saved from
the Radical inundation and overthrow
which otherwise is likely to prevail oyer
our rights, property and civilization.
T. H.: ,.4 ,,,,,ond;nr on, a,,rronr1y