Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-03-09

the position of the conquered is always hu-
initiating. But that this was no more humili.
ating than it was for General lee to Surrender
his sword to General Grant when he had no
further means of successful resistance and
no more humliating than il Vas for us, under
the direction of the President, to meet in SOL
cmn convention and repeul the ordinance of
secession which we had pasted with so nnny
demonstrations Of proud dciiSiipo--no more hu-
initiating than it was for US, who boastcd Of
! our State credit, to be required to rcpudinte
our State war debt-und no pore huniiating
than it was, after We had condemned Mr.. lin
US part of the Constitution of the United
States, and incorporate it into our State Con
sitution.
When told that SO large proportion of our
people have, at some time in their lives. held
IF the United States, that the adoption Of the
amendment will render it next to impossible
Cor us to organize Our courts without the i'm
portation of judges or to fudtsuituble men to
fill our county Offices, they say they were not
aware that this class was so large as it is now
represented to be, but that Congress will still
huve the power, by two-thirds vote, to re-
licvc them, and that they doinot doubt that
compliance with the terms OF our part will so
tar soften the feelings of Tie people of the
North, that our judges and pur officers will
very soon be relieved, except our political
leaders, who may be required TO submit tc cx-
cusion for longer period.
These are the views of the more moderate
wing of the party in power. 1t is no longcra
question whether the freedmen shall vote
that is already dccrccd in his favor; but the
question is whether the white men who aided
in the war against the Uuited States shall
vote This will not be permitted if we con.
tlnnr to throw obstacles in tle way of recon.
struction upon the basis of tile constitutional
amendment and universal suffrage.
AS [ have already stated tthe bills passed
in the House embody the substance of the
more radical programme, except upon the
question of general co soo..,tSe fdt wi.iol. .he
popular sentiment is not yet prepared. The
Military bill WAS amended in the Senate, on
the motion of Mr.. Sherman, SO as to allow
e,ch State to be relieved and re admitted upon
the adoption of the constitutional amendment
and universal suffrage, the latter to be secured
by constitutional provision in each State, and
the Constitution to be approved by Congress
The bill, rs amended, was sent back to the
House, where, if the kilograms are reliable,
the amendment was rejected, the majority of
the House being unwilling to recognize the
present State governments and rc-adnit us to
Congress upon our compliance with the terms
contained i'm the Sherman amendment. 1t
seems, however, from the dispatches published,
that this was afterwards rcconsidcrcd, and
what is known as the Wilson amendment,
which excludes all persons included in the
constitutional amendment from voting as well
MS from Office, was adopted as an additional
4 nj lolS 81 fh,f bo
present State governments are to be regarded
as only provisional, to be displaced at the will
of Congress. AS thus amended we arc in
formed, the bill has passed both Houses and
will no doubt bccomca law, without the Pres
idcnt's nqnction. This simply gives us few
more days of grace, which is the hest that even
moderate Republicans will sanction. If our
people improve the time, and act promptly,
We may save something; If we do not, all is
lost. Our prompt adoption of the constitu-
tional amendment and universal suffrage
would, in my opinion settle the question:
Nothing less ever will. 1t might have the
further effect of adjusting the unhappy differ
cnc,s which exist between the President and
Congress. He has contended all the while
that the question of suffrage belongs to the
States. If they move and extend it, he has
no reason to be displcascd On the other
hand, Congress refuses to recognize the State
governments established under his direction.
without their adoption of the constitutional
amendment and universal suffrage. by a
compliance on the part of the States, Congress
maintains its point Of honor. The Democrat
ic members of Congress have agreed with the
President that the suffrage question is one for
the States to decide. The pride of each party
has been stakcd upon the maintenance Of its
position. Unfortunately for us, while this
fight is progressing we are between the upper
aud tho neither milestone, being ground to at.
oms The longer it lasts, the worse we are
ruined.
Here, then, the inquiry naturally presents
itself, what is best for us to do? I answer,
"Agree with thine adversary quickly" We