The New York herald., 1867-03-29
PUBLIC OPINION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.


be re established in this unhappy state.
PUBLIC OPINION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
II is unnecessary for us here to recapitulaie the
political history South Carolina during past forty
years The genius Of Calhoun gave 1t shape and being
and. whether for good evil his connses during all
this period in the main have been implicitly followed
The small fry Of politicians finding that the the
popular sde tuned their Tyres his pitch, and year
after sharpened their the state rights grind
stone. To this doctrine born, in this school
have we been bred, and this has been the harp OF
thousand strings which politicians and newspapers
have rung the changes Of antinaonalism. The people,
in the proper democratic or the word. have had
but little 10 do with determining even the most mo-
mentous public Afew ambitious politicians
pacemen sounded the key note aud the forty thou
sand voters took up the chorus. We are ashamed to
say this-we gricved 10 be under the necessity Of
making such confesson-but stern truth demands IL;
and at this important juncture-ths turning point in
our political existence-such retrospect, rigid SELF
examination, may not be Improbable i
The leaders politics. Senator'S members Of Con-
gress and Governors goaded people
and to war. And when the war came, what did these
gentlemen ao' Rush 70 the front or lead forlorn
hopcss A few Of them perhaps may be found by the
uugept ana careful nist0ran on long TOi OF Soutn
braves; bat the vast majority in this and other
Southern States went 10 the Confederate Congress
ned other civil Offices If they foled in this, they
still had sufbcicnt influence in Richmond TO secure cx.
emption from field service. They became posmasters
and tax diplomatic agents collectors OF
ssax in kind We were called TO mourn the loss of
very few Of these horoos True these gentlemen may
object and say, they not soldiers and could
the Sata better in other capacities. This protest did
mot protect the farmer the merchant or the artisan who
wei ALL C hai
for not going TO the field was good one 10 not
equally good now for requiring them to remain at home
and enjoy dignihed easepianting pease and aspara-
gus tif they ft like Sir William TcmpleS Politics
is the trade they profess They made is the business
possible opportunities for exercising their craft and
they failed. All their prophecies have failed. their
counsel proved foolishuess and their devices have come
70 naueht Neither their conduct during the struggle
their efforts since the coee Of the have justified
the trust repossd IN them BY too connding constitr-
cloth and ashee, and screening themselves from human
KEN they tho rst 70 rosh 70 Washington ana ain
would have forget the bitter lessons Of the They
tell the credulous people that In them alone lies saliva
ton, and again ask them for their sunmees .
have their eyes opened We are beginning At last TO
shake on tho torpor, and TO think for ourselves We
cannot undo the past out. God helping us We intend
in the future. II our present anomalous and by no
satisfactory condition shall teach 70 rely
ourselves TO think speak and act for ourselves shall
no; have borne the military yoke altogether in vain
We want not again the old political hacks We must
ourselves
rejecting the skin and wsdom acquired BY years and
practice. But We know to our sorrow that years and
virtue do no. always keep pace Political wisdom has
H. LIT us have new men, honest mon; and viewed from
this point the third section Of the proposed constiu
tsona amendment may prove blessing TO uS II seems
not much have been aimed at the soldiers OF the
late confederacy at her politicians Were 10 not for
the unfortunate latter clause of this third section which
empowers Congress By two thirds vote 70 remove the
disability 70 hold ofioe We should nov have dnculiy
IN recrsAnzing our STATE government on new and al
together sounder basis than the with here
toore But with this loophole in prospect every Of
the politicians viii a once set out 70 run race more
into the good gracos Of this constitutional majority
Already numerous Indications Of this tendency
70 save them from the crime and sin Of perjury which
can only be done by repeal Of the test osthf0r the
oath remains 61ed LEST. e Al present. many Of these
The defrAnchsed are few, a. We have said In our pre-
vous letter. or forty thousand white voters in this
from once by the provisions Of section 3 article OF
the United States constitution, ~ amended There 10
stil enough manhood intelligence and honesty left 10
The state after This subtraction has been made organ
ise snd conduct . republican government We are
anxious 70 see tired and the temper Of our people
generally, We believe Is In favor OF making tho esper
nent
A. regards negro suffrage. fossed upon By the Mi
wise stl many Of have mot been unprepared for
IT, The objection TO the enfranchsement q negroes
by nearly every intelligent negro with whom NO have
converted on the subject We and they are agreed on
hs psopy Of sa.sd, sSss ss. R Or s9s n': M
white would seem safe IL certainly would be Just
Much Of our past trouble, much Of hasty and
inconsderae Legislation would have been avoided had
this been the rule II would be deathblow 70 dema
goguism, . select constituency could be depended
upon n the main 10 vote for the beet men However,
s bootless now to pursue this argument Congress
has decrecd universal suffrage and for the hrt time N
the history Of society, believe the experiment 70
be tried OF allowing 100000 ignorant semcavized be-
ings 70 take charge Of the government OF highly civi-
sed STATE and egislse for themselves and for Their
experiment may be successful: we earnestly hope II
will be. But will require much and caution, for
bearance and Eentencss the part OF our white CIT.
zena and an entire abstinence from mschevous nterfer
mems Bureau and the Northern teachers and preachers
many Of whom. the two latter classes more especially
enjoy large share Of the confidence OF the colored
people u they will act fairly honorably and Justly
they ell beet sueerve the interests OF both parties ana
avert all mischief But We are sorry 10 zee signs OF
infction OF Hunnicutt We do not believe there is
here who or set aborp TO ALLEVIATE the
confidence Of the negroes from their white friends and
former masters IL there such they arc less bold
machnaiions dead secret We been getting along
very quietly here, on the whole the close OF
the In the fret flush or freedom some cf the
negroes in the low country were perhaps, Disposed 70
be somewhat awess encouraged thercunto by coicred
troops and checked with sufficient energy by General
saxton our nrst Freedmene Bureau agent still had
few collisions and no serious riots such have cc-
euned nj New Orleans, Memphis Norfolk, Alexandra
aud other places Under the administration OF General
Shras the department. commander, and General Scott,
enjoyed entire immunity from serious brois Of this
character; and ia earpesly hoped thss This sssfac0ry
state OF the9ublc peace will continue
We have reason however, 70 bseve that there are