The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-06-12

black vote. 1t Will not be so IN announcer
election.
In the last State Convention, which as
sembled in Columbia, in 1865, there were
gathered together all the illustrious men
Of the State. 1t was body of men un-
surpassed for their wisdom, virtue and
talents Not one of them can be mem
ber of the proposed convention. They
are all excluded by the military bill, and
deprived even Of voting for members OF
the convention. The proposed assem-
blage will be composed of negroes, North
ern men, traitors to the State, and few
gallant and honorable young men, who
may possibly consent to become candi-
dates and be elected, in some OF the up
per Districts. 1t will be a motley, hete-
rrogcnous collection Of whitc, grey and
black spirits around thepolitica! cauldron,
into which is to be thrown the honor, con-
stitutional rights, republican principles
and departing glory of South Carolina.
TO the few young men in that conven-
tion, there will be something ineffably
mean in knowing that they have obtained
seats there by DISTINGUISHING and dishon-
oring those whom they have loved and
honorcd through life. But this disgrace
ful sacrifice does not stop with the con-
vention. 1t must be continued in the
Government of the State. and in filling all
the Offices in the State. Every Judge on
the Bench from the venerable Chief JUS
tice down to the youngest member of the
Judiciary, must throw aside his gown, and
will no longer be permitted to admins
ter Justice in South Carolina All who
have served in the Legislature, or filled
the Office of Justice of the Peace, are en-
cluded from any participation in the ad
ministration Of the Government. In the
place OF those Judges, Governors, Legis-
lators and distinguished men, who are
dstranchised and declared unworthy Of
holding office, the negroes are substituted
1t is not surprising that the radcal
members of Congress should wish to ex-
clude from the councils OF the nation all
representatives who are worthy of being
regarded rs Southern men. They have
so long INDUCED in vulgar and malignant
abuse of the South, that they would nat
urally feel unpleasant in having true
Southern man listening to their billings
gate. 1t is very likely, too, that Mr..
Sumner and others might not, from old
associations and remembrances, feel eX-
actly safe in uttcring their calumnies.
But that any honorable and spirited
Southern man should consent to vote for
such exclusion, is to me most passing
strange.
South Carolina and the whole South,
with one voice, rejected Indignantly, last
fall, the constitutional amendment which
only excludes from office the leading men
of the Southern States, and reduces our
representation in Congress. 1t did not
disfranchise any one or establish negro
suffrage But now, both these dishonor-
ing and fatally ruinous principles are cs-
tablished by the military bill. and the
the people are ready to adopt them !?
What has produced this seeming craven
and covering spirit?
1t is urged that unless we vote for
convention, establish negro suffrage, and
disfranchise our prominent men, confsca-
ton will be adopted by Congress. A
friend said, the other day, that this ought
not to scare us, for we were all broke and
ruined pecuniariiy, and had nothing left
to confscate He thought it was too late
in the day to dishonor ourselves in order
to save the remnant of our property.
think if any one will read the speech of
Horace Greeley, in Richmond, on confis-
cation, he will see, as have always con-
tended, that there is no danger on this
subject from Congress. Mr. Greeley says
that Thaddcus Stevens is the only promi-
nent member of Congress who has ever
suggested such scheme, and that he has
never with all his ability and Influence,
been able to persuade others to adopt it.
He then goes on to show that such
policy would not benefit the freedmen,
whilstit would entail ruin and starvation
on the Southern States.
But we are told that if we do not adopt
the military bill and vote for conven-
tion, something worse will be imposed on
the Southern States Inmy opinion. moth
ing worse than negro suffrage and negro
government can be forced upon u.s. 1t
would be n thousand times preferable to
remain under military rule and submit to
all the exactions of military authority.
The officers Of the army are generally
honorable mcn-mcn of our own race, and
intelligent men, who have some regard for
the opinion Of the world and their own
reputation. They are acting, too, under
the direction of the President and his
Cabinet, who arc wise and enlightened
statesmen, and will have some regard for
Justice aud ,humanity-which the stupid
nero will not have, when his seishness
and passions are aroused.
There are some who advocate the voting
for convention as q means OF controlling
the negro vote. They seem to forget that
the convention is bound to establish negro
suffrage, aud that no discretion is allowed
on this subject. In my Judgment, negro negro