The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-08

the community, imposed upon an
unwilling people, placed by the Con-
stitution under the executive legisla-
ton Of Congress. 1t would be
viewed as an arbitrary exercise of
power, and as an indication by the
country of the purpose of Congress
to compel the acceptance of negro
suffrage by the States. 1t would en-
gender q feeling of opposition and
hatred between the two races, which,
becoming deep-rooted and ineradica-
ble, would prevent them from living
together III q S ate OF mutual friend
illness. Carefully avoiding every
measure that might tend TO produce
such a result, and following the clear
and we'll ascertained popular will, we
should assiduously endeavor to pro
mote kindly relations between them,
and thus, when that popular will
leads the way, prepare for the gradu-
al and harmonious introduction of
this new element into the political
power OF the country. 1t cannot be
urged that the proposed extension of
suffrage in tile District of Columbia
IS necessary 10 enable persons Of
color to protect either their interests
or their rights. They stand here
precisely as they stand in Pennsvlva-
mia, Ohio and Indiana Here, as
elsewhere, in all that pertains TO
civil rights, there is nothing to dis
tinguish this class of persons from
citizens OF the United States, for
they possess the full and equal bene-
tit of all laws and proceedings for
the security of persons and property
us is enjoyed by white citizens, and
are made subject to like punishment,
pains and penalties, and none other,
any law, statute, ordinance, regula-
ton or custom to the contrary not
withstanding. Nor, as has been
assumed, are their sutfrages necessary
to aid loyal sentiment here, for a
local government already exists of
undoubted feaity TO Tie Government.
and IS sustained by community
which were among the first to testify
their devotion to the Union. and
which, during the struggle, furnished
their full quotas of men to the mill
tary service of the country. The
exercise Of the elective franchise is
the highest attribute of an American
citizen, and when guided by virtue,
intelligence, patriotism, and IL proper
appreciation Of our institutions, con
stitutes the true basis Of a Demo
cratic form OF Government. in which
the sovereign power is lodged in the
body OF the people. Its influence
for good necessarily depends upon
the elevated character and patriotism
of the elector; for II exercised by
persons who DO not justly estimate
its value, and who are Indifferent as
to It's results. it will only prove Il
means of placing power il the hands
of the unprincipled and ambitious,
and must eventuatc in the complete
destruction of that liberty Of which
it should be the most powerful con
servator. Great danger is therefore
to be apprehendcd from an untimely
extension OF the elective franchise to
any new class in our country, espe-
claily when q large majority of that.
class, in welding the power thus
placed IN their hands, cannot be ex-
pected correctly to comprehend the
duties and responsibilities which per-
tain to suffrage. Yesterday, as it
were, 1000, 900 Of persons were held
in o condition of slavery, that had
existed for generations; to-day, they
are freemen, and are assumed by law
to be citizens. It cannot be pre-
sumed from their previous condition
OF servitude that, us race, they are
as we'll informed as to the nature of
our Government as the intelligent
foreigner who makes our land the
home of his choice. In the case of
the latter. neither residence Of FIVE
years and the knowledge of our in
stitutions which it gives, nor attach
ment to the principles of the Consti-
tuition, are the only conditions upon
which he can be admitted to citizen
ship; he must prove, in addition,
good moral character, and thus give
reasonable grounds for the belief
that he will be faithful to the obliga-
tions which. he assumes as a citizen
of the Republic. Where q people,
the source of all political power,
speak by their sutfrages through the
instrumentality of the ballot box, it
must be carefully guarded against
the control of those who are corrupt
in principles and enemies of free in
stitutions, for it can only become to
our political AID social system a safe
conductor OF healthy popular senti-