Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-04


are rebels, or have been, and therefore de-
serve to be punished, is this the way TO puno,
sh us, in view of.enlightened statesmansn,p
Is it wise to punish US by forcing upon US BAD
governmental That might possibly do If we we
were the only ones to endure the penalty,
But it will extend its baleful influence to all
the other States twill destroy agriculture
it will swamp the national debt and curren-
&C it will crush out from the breasts OF the
people. of the South the last throh of frater-
nifty, which msgianiln;ty ard justice and WISE
craftsmanship won!d engeDder and cherish.
Let me add, the calamity will fall upon, our
posterity for generations to COME and, az
present, upon thousands Of innocent persons
who did not participate in the rebellion. i
am, therefore, opposed to the universal en-,
franchisement of the negro, bscsusc it Will vii
inauguIate bed government-the very worst st
of temporal evils to socicty-and not merely
because their skins are'black. If the North
are determined to punish the South, let them
do it. They have the power. But let them
adopt some method besides that of inalctlng
on MS bad government. For the punishment,
in that form willfall upon themselves and all
Our posterity.. ~
Il would seem to me that we have suffered
enough TO satisfy the most vindictive. Oar
beautiful region has been desolated, ell our
capital sunk, our people impoverished and
our slave property, which was worth. to US
$500, 100000, has been cor fscated by ythe
act Of emancipation. We could, after 8 long
time, recover from cur prostration, if allowed
the right of se'fgovernment. Ought not
statesmen to desire our recuperaticn? They
may deSpisc US as people, but is it the in
tcrcst of the Republic that we Should be
made paupers ard outcasts?
You believe, maintain the natural equal
ity Of tie negro with the white race. am
not going to debate this question With you.
The difference between US is rreconcilab!e.
do not believe in any such equality. But
admit, for the sake CT argument. that the two
races are, by nature, equal. What does the
admission amount TO but that the are en-
lowcd by the Creator with equal capabilities,
intellectual and moral, and, therefore, under
sufficient course OF training, that tue ne
grocs among US are susceptible Of attaining
to the same state Of intelligence, virtue and
civilization, which the whites have reached2
1t does no: prove that they are now, in point
,of fact. the equals Of the white race in these
indispensable qualities of good citizenship
and wise clfg0vernmcnt, and no candid man
will so insist. Bat being, as You contend,
thus equal bynaiure, yau draw the conclusion
that, being free, they have the right to vote.
Women are free, aud also intelligent and vire
.tuous, yet they are not admitted to the ballot:
a large majority of f.-eigners are highly IN
teligent and vir:unus, yet they are denied
the franchise until five Years Of resident pro
baton. Thousands of boys, at sixteen years
Of age, are intelligent and virtuous, Yet theg
are post poncl to the age oF twenty one years,
The coloiei people OF nearly all the Norlhcrii
Stats are denied the elective franchise, and
where they are not they onj"y qualified s1f-
iragc only. Why all this :? 1t simply proves
that, no matter what may be your abstract
philosophical views cf equality between the
races, the Predominant sentiment of the
Northern people is: that mere freedom and
equality do not necessarily carry along with
them the right 10 vote; that they regard the
elective franchise as "a boon to be bestowed
by the respective States upon those only who,
it is believed, will use it wisely and well.
Now, are tic uegrues cf the South more in.
tell.cnt and viruous than those cf the North ?
NJ wel.inlormcd man, who will BE- candid,
can assert the affirmative. On the contrary,
believe that tic free negroes Of the North
are the more intelligent, and, therefore, better
qualified to use iudiciQusly the right Of SUI
trage. Why are they excluded !ron the bal
o u.
ted at the point Of the bayone,? Tbs in
consistency clearly demonstrates that these in
power are recreant to the principle they
profess. If they believe the principle right
anu sacred, they SHOULD make it universally
applicable. Ii, on the other hand, they be-
iicvc, n, SIN sure the masses at the North DO
bclieye, that The application of The principle
in the Northern States is incompatible with
good government, ti,en they ought not to en-
force it il the South; for the ain Of the true
statesman is to promote good government in
all the States.
The Congressional scheme ofr>cnuSruction
is based upon tic assumption that the ten
prescribed States are without cool govern
mcnt-thatl lawiesIncsS prevaiiS--ihal life and
property are insecure and the Republican
press and leaders assert that loyal citizens,
especially those from the North, are abused,
prosecuted torinented, threat cned, and some
timaS murdered. This whple assumption is
untrue. There is less laycssness in the South
than in the North the laws are as faithfully
executed by our courts Of .iu1icaiure, and
even-handed justice is metcd out to white and
black. We welcome enterprsine. good peo.
pie among US from any quarter, We earn.
cstly wish them to came with their capital,
energy, and enterprise, to aid us in develop"
ing our resources and rc-estab'islling our lost
prosperity. But they do not come. Nor will
they come until tranquility, upon sound prin-
ciples Of craftsmanship, shall be restored. IL
is q great mistake to suppose that the con-
summation of the Sherman programme of
reconstruction will induce them to come. Il
may bring trading politicians Of so inferior o
type that they cannot obtain office at home.
They will come 10 traffic for the black mans
vote, in the hope of making their salt By the
cmoluments Of. offic'. But the honest, hard
working mechanic, the capitalist, and the
manufacturer, will never cast their destiny
and hasarG their fortunes in any State thstis
under negro dominion. II seems to bc sul,.
posed by many that if these States ho oroe
restored to representation in Congress all will
be well, and that prosperity will follow as a
matter of course. Never was there a more
fatal mistake. There is no certainty of these
States being represented in Congress if wc
adopt the plan Of reconstruciion-it is not
even promised nor will such admission bring
good government to the several States. The
aaerman schsmH WILL certainly rc.ult in bad
government, which Congressional representa-
tion has no necessary tendency to cnre. And,
| repeat, there can be no prosperity for any
people cursed with bad gorernmcnt Capital,
energy, and enterprise will shun it.
] have written much more than intended
when began. Dut have written In spirit
Of the most perfect franliness and kindness.
| nave much more that wish to say, bat