The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1867-07-31
For the Eewberry Herald
What is Our Dutye

What is Our Duty!
MEssRs ED1roRs: Good and true men
differ widely in opinion-what is our
duty in relation to the registration and
Convention which have been provided
for by the late acts of Congress. On the
one side, Gov. Perry and his followers
advise the people to reject with scorn
and indignation the terms which have
been offered to them. On the other side,
Gov. Orr, and those who think with him,
advise them to accept, these terms as the
best that they can get, and perhaps as
the Only terms upon which the State can
be restored to the Union. Both sides
have been we'll argued. and the people
will soon be called on 10 decide between
them,-to act for themselves upon this
important question. And must say,
that | feel alarmed at the indifference
which is shown by, many of our citizensr
and by men, too, in position, upon a
question Of such magnitude. Never
since South Carolina has been a political
community, has so vital an issue, been
submitted 10 the people for their decision.
How comes. it, then, that many. Of our
leading men, those who heretofore have
been most demonstrative on. political
questions, .and-most active in their efforts
to control public opinion. are now as
dumb as "stocks and stones2"' I.donot
understand; such conduct. = At such, q:
time as this, it seems to. me; tl:at al, >:
who are capable of thinking, should feel
alive to, the great matter now in hand.
More especially, should. prominent men,
men of intelligence and Influence those
who-have been looked to as leaders here,
tofo-e-giye: the people the benefit Of
their counsel and direction, and not put
their candles under bushel in the midst
Of the darkness that hangs like a pail
over the land. / aspire not to the posi-
ton off political leader, nor dol hope
to enlighten the minds Of Others, but I
propose to give, in rs few words as pos
sible, my opinion as to- the duty of the
people in relation to the matters referred
to. It may have:the effect, perhaps, to
induce others to reflect npon what: they
are about to.do, toat:is anthat expect.
: That a convention viii be calleaa in
pursuance Of the acts Of Congress, 10.
.adopta new constitution, and reo,ganize
the State Government, a reasonable:
doubt, do not think, can for q, moment
be entertained. The majority Of: the.
voting population hold, this. question in,
their hands, apa any. one who has iu-
formed himself as to what has been done,
and is now being done, in this State
and elsewhere, ] cannot avoid the con-
ciusion, that = the majority will be,
largely 10 favor Of convention, ANY
one who will aetupon the contrary sup:
position, will be the victim Of the sheer
est folly or self,delusien: Who so san
guinc as to hope that any motive can be.
presented 10 the newly enfranchised class,
stimulated as they wili,be, not only by
the novelty yof>the proceeding, but by the
zeal of converts amongst Us and Of pro-
pagandists from abroad, sufficiently pow
erful to prevent them from either. regis.
tering or voting for convention? II
there be, any suchnin our midst, / would
merely point them to t,e course WHICH
things have taken in this respect in
Louisiana; -aad even in Virginia and
Georgia. Even Coy Perry, who is the
Acknowledged leader of those who advise
the people ,to:reject the reconstruction
speasul es, has sl,own BY FIGURES Qho,'
that was not his ehject} J that conven:
ton will be held. :. He shows where the
tnaiority lies, and sliscIoses what he be-
lic7cs to be the purpose ofthat majority,
that is,zfo degrade and ruin the white
population of the State. , His whole arr
gament (what there is of argument, in
the letters which be has published pro
ceeds upon the assumption, that the ne
gro population of the State have the
power to do what they please in The ex-
ercise Of the elective franchise. IF this
P1be, so ifihere be a party in tine State
which -has,the object IN syie~. which he
attributes to it.. and wbich has the pow
er to carry it into effect, has not that
party also the power to call a convention
in-spite OF all efforts to the contrary?
The power which he says, cau- and will
control the convention, can and viii eaH
the convention. If: the proposition for
a eonvcntien- could be with -held-not
presented to the people to be voted
upon, then there might not be a conyen-
tien. But the act Of Congress expressly
provides that, after the registration. Of
voters has been completed, the question
oftssConvention,'" ofs'sno Convention.
shall be. submitted to the voters. 1t
seems to ME, therefore, that all these ap.
peals to the spirit Of OUT people, sll the
highhown rhetoric which has been ex-
pended in calling upon them, to reject
with patriotic indignation, the terms
which hare been offered them, is mere
Observation-Disclosures PRAETEREA NJ
Hill. Why invoke the people to do: that
which they have no power to do? why
call upon them to reject measures which
| they have, no power to reject-.where
the only alternative is to submit to them
They have no volition 10 deciding this
question-no will-no election-no pow
Ito choose.