The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-28
THE ISSUE BEFORE Us.

THE ISSUE BEFORE Us.
July is coming on apace; and with it will
come registration, the first great practical step
toward political reconstruction. The election
that is to follow, and likewise also the Conven-
tion that is to give us new State Constitution
will be very much Influenced by the course and
conduct of our people in the discharge Of this
first prescribed duty, viz: Registration. True,
the present moment is critical Complications
not anticipated few weeks ago, have arisen
within the past few days, which may result in
seriously retarding the PEACEFUL speedy, and at
least moderately satisfactory solution Of the
ve1ed question that has been throwing blight
ing influence upon our industry and aotivi-
ty, our private and our social life, and all but
threatened the very extinction Of our future po-
litical existence. Reconstruction was going on
smoothly, all over the South, in accordance
with the programme laid down by Congress;
when suddenly we find marked difference of
opinion as to the meaning of this Act, in the
construction of the President, and the several
officers to whom he had delegated its execution.
This difference is in itself perhaps scarcely suf
fcient to cause irreconcilable rlienation; but,
unfortunately, it comes close the time set
apart for an extra session of Cong, sunder GER
tain contingencies. Congress, it il VOW all but
certain, will meet in the course oI 1t month;
and once this question Of recons iction is
again before them it is impossible t. ywhat
further experiments they may be in.- led to
make, what pains and penalties to inaict, nor
when we shall be emancpated from our pres
ent disabilities.
This last mentioned difficulty between Con-
gress and the President has arisen through no
fault of ours; and in order to avoid the conse-
quences we 30 much deprecate, we should ad-
dress ourselves earnestly and with full purpose
to proper discharge of the duties assigned us;
and we cannot but hope and believe that if
Congress shall find US in good faith carrying
out the programme they marked out for US at
their last session, they will carefully consider,
and be slow to undo their own handiwork that
is found to fulfil the purpose intended. There
is the more reason, therefore now, for our
taking an active part in this great drama.
From what we have heard, we believe there
are few who openly profess that they do not
intend to register. But we fear there are
many who, from various motives, will fail to
avail themselves of this privilege. There con
be no serious argument adduced in favor of
non-registration, There is not single news
paper in all the South, as far as we know,
land we exchange with nearly the entire
Southern press) that counsels such course.
Ex- Governor PERRY, who ranks with the fore
most of those who are opposed to the Military
Reconstruction Act, nevertheless strenuously
advises registration by all who are not disfran-
chised. Still there are many who will not reg
lister from mere apathy. They may be persons
who never took much interest in political mat
ters, and thus will be at no loss to find excuses
for their conduct, satisfactory to themselves at
least Some disingenuously will plead want
of time, and 80 there will be excuses Of every
grade and character. One reason for nom
compliance, we fear, although perhaps not
often expressed, is olinging to old prejudices.
"What! shall bemean myself, 60 to register
with negro to sit in judgment over my quail
fcations, then go the polls and cast my vote
alongside of my late slave, and then perhaps
sit in the Convention and the Legislature side
by side with these negroes? No. would
rather have nothing more to do with politics
as long as l live"
This is all wrong, Such language is not in
dicative of an absence of ambition, as we are
speciously asked to believe. 1t is morbid dis
content, rebellion against fate, and therefore
unmanly. The example of General LONG,
STREET and of many of his fellow soldiers,
shows more of true manhood. To face danger
at the cannon's mouth, bravely, and with SOL
dierly fortitude, is much less difficult, than to
bear defeat with dignity and heroic resigna-
ton. Ignorant and uneducated soldiers are
found in every nation and in every army who
will stand bayonet charge, while nor HANNI-
BAL nor NAPOLEON were equal to the last
named ordeal. Far greater moral courage was
REQUIRED to take the course of General LONG
STREET, than that taken by Mcssrs B. II. HILL,
B. F. PERRY, and others who advocate con-
tinued resistance to the DEGREES Of fate.
Again, no one has o right wilfully to forfeit
his franchise, simply because he is himself de-
void of political ambition. Voting is duty
no less than privilege. "No man liveth to
himself" However great his own personal
Indifference, no man has a right to endanger
the interests of society; and this he can be
shown to be guilty of, at this time by falling to
avail himself of every political right or privi-
lege within his reach. Most of our citizens,
especially the more intelligent and educated,
have already divested themselves of prejudice
against the colored race, and are fully pre-
pared by State enactments, to accord them all
those civil and political rights, already theirs
by virtue of Congressional legislation.
There are some among US, whose course, We
confess, is not clear to us. There can, in re-
ality, here in the South, be only choice be-
tween two parties, those who accept the Con-
pressional Reconstruction Act, and will CO.
operate in its execution, and those who, from