The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-03-27
The Ono Issue Of the Present,

section.
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The Ono Issue Of the Present.
We lave heretofore expressed the
; view that, under the Military Recon
sirnciion Bill, already announced ns !.p
law for or guidance. and Inc Supple
mental Bill now pending before Connrcs
all questions Of choice are removed from
the people Of the South. Under these
cnactmcn's it is no longer subject OF
debate. However diverse the opinion
of the South may have been on tnS
subject. if left to a free and un,rammoi!.
Cd expression of sentiment, The only
privilege now left IS that Of each indi-
vidnal in determining whether, at the
ensuing ciectioE he will cast or withhold
his vote.
It, is two patent n fact 10 ho c3iSre.
gardru. that inaction can be oi no Garth.
ly avail. Upon the Constitutional
Amendment, when submitted, the ,S0nt!.
had the option of its chUice. Thri.
Legislature exercised The Judgment
permitted to them against its aiop.
ton.
Now, however the case is widely
d''irrcnt. Congress in whom. BY what
evrv tenure, The nowcr Of The country is
vested, has declared these .;talrs to have
passed out oi the Union, and ,p have
been brought back by tho force Of
arms.
Acting upon this theory. they have
passed law. stating the above ,ondi
'ions upon which these commonwealth
shall be entitled to restoration. and ,!.eir
citizens TO legal protection Tor their
rights oi personal property ard measure.
bic liberty.
These conditions arc to be fulfilled
under Their direction. The onvcu,;on
is 10 be called universal suffrage is TO
take place; the delegates arl TO be
elected: a new Constitution IN conlor.n-
i'y to the provisions declared BY Con
gres2 is TO be formed. These are the
iacts by which we arc surrcundel.-
These are not matters submitted 10 our
jud"or.rrt Thry ir~s,r 80 i,....a: .:s:c.
bate, because they are dccrcrl by tho 80
who WELD to all practical purposes ,hc
supreme power. They arc in .hcr ia.
turc OF tho inevitable, and it is therefore
useless either to discuss or differ upon
|, that whch is already ordained
The question therefore IS, not ono G.
approval or d;sarproyal, al cou4ena q,
rejection, bus s!!ipIv whciior tnaan who
have been the heretofore Voters ana
who arc not Inhibited by Che ncw GUI
shall cast their ballots for those wau
will best promote tho cause OF order;
and lessen tic chances OF anarchy sid
misrulc, or whcthr; they shall vrmaiy,
passive and permit the State to pass
into the hands OF those wEo lave ia
appreciation Of a well regulated Govern
mont, CT hut li,lo rc2au, for Tic care al
oar industrial pursuits, an3 The fostering
, Of those arts o! li.e 5y which alone y
material prosperity can be secured iu
the future. 1t is question neither Q,
, advocacy or rcjeclion but simply oi
common sense
The National EateNigcnccris is one oi
Of the stannchcst of,hose journals which
when the war was over, pointed ont
! tho evident path Of peace in the iu,ncdi
ate admission OF the South to its consti-
tutionalrghls and representation in tic
Union. This we then believed, and
still conclude to have been the course o
n true craftsmanship and Of wise pol
cy in preserving intact q constitutions
Government. But those who posses.
the control ofevenis have decided o.her
/ WISE. And the only iss,,c that remains
is, what is the wiscst and best course
in full Wow Of impending events, &c
pursue? And upon this poi;t the re-
marks OF the latcNycncr' arc practical
and worthy Of consideration. 1t is moi
a time for excitement or haste, but oi
the judgment, and that after calm and
careful reflection. The following arc
!; the remarks Of tho Mtthgcncer:
"Whatever force there may have
been in the argument that the South
could take no action under the Sherman
I, Slellabcrgcr Fill without voluntary
participation in its own degradation, is
nov destroyed by The Bill which pass
cd tho, House Of Representatives. Tml
takcs Tic Qu stion Of holding q Conven.
ltion out Of tho realm Of popular consent
ndconforsis upon tho Military Com.
!, mnnder. Flo is cn;Dined to make Il
registration and to order an election
Whatever may be done, therefore, is
done uudormilitay duress, aud it IS the
hart of wise menIto Accommodate thom-
selves to circumstances. Thc rcgistra
Ition will be made. The election will be
Ihela. The negroes will vote. Shall
the .wbilessabstam2 Ifinaction accom-.
| plished .aughb we might understand
why men Should advise it; but when
the practical effect Of inaction will be to
secure the adoption Of a State Constitu
ton by those who do act and .applica.
| tion:for admission into the Unoin from
[smon who have voted, while thisiractlon
will put arguments in the mouths o.
linen @ho have already too much control
Ecftbe Government, we cannot exactly
Isee tho wisdom Of hesitation. Those
who abstain now from choice will abstain
/ hereafter from necessity. No ono up
4 tpfeeiates moro fiiily.tbe inequity Of tl}ia