The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-10-02
AFmiy Paper, Devoted Science, Art, Inquiry Industry
WINNSBORO S. c., WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOB
The Real Meaning of the Reconstruction
Acts Of Congress.

Tho Round Table, an able and vigorous
weekly journal, which has been steady
supporter Of conservative rcpubicanism. is
painting in dark colors tho effects Of Nadi-
Cal rule. 1t says:
The plain moaning Of the pseudo Recon-
strucIion Acts of Congress, now being push.
cd to their most merciless consummatiOn, is
simply this First TO register in the South
the entire negro population and such whites
as may unite with them in supporting the
Radical party in Congress. Second TO
prohibit tho registration OF tic vast NaiOri
ty Of The whites who have Il real interest in
the quiet aud prosperity Of The country
Thiru--To submit 10 the voters Of the
Stntes thus registered the question whether
they will or will not hold IL convention for
the reconstruction of their States under lhc
Congressional plan. Under this mode Of
procedure it may be seen what n hopeful fu-
turo lies before the South and the whole
country. Either the States will vote for
convention or no convention. Tho white
vote will be largely cast against convention;
for the present military rule. with nll its
disadvantages, at least affords protection,
while rccons, ,ruction such Ms has been per-
petrated in the State Of Tennessee give lit.
tlo protection but to negro brignnds. Tho
Radical whites and the negro vote,s who
and authority will Of course unite in favor
Of convention. Now uppnsc-nlhough the
case is hardly possible tho co:.venlion
is by such mockcry of suffrage rejected.
Then the Radicals will avail themselves Of
the cry Of Southern coutumncy: Mr. Stc-
vens' "mild coniiscation" is brought into
play; the South is wholly ruined by this
villanous ntrocily for merely saying rs our
generous Congress has invited her to sny,
that the prefers the rule Of military satraps
TO the harder rule Of unrccoustruclcd ne
grocs and white braves Ga the othco hand,
supposc--and this is tho only supposition
justified by the registration which is hcing
made--that n convention is desired Then
it is practically q negro convention. 1t will
frame constitution that will throw the
whole power Of the State into the hands IF
the negroes aud white men who hope to pro-
fit by Inc suilrnges of the negroes. The
prescription Of white men will bc moro
sweeping than Congressional prescription.
Confiscation of the property of white men
by their negro rulers will be sure TO fellow;
and the indirect confiscation will be moro
destructive than contiscniion outright. The
ruling class, having no property themselves
will look upon the transfer Of their sub
jcots' property into their own possession as
tho one great end OF government. With
pennilesa negro Legislature to tax, and dc.
lencclcas white mcn 10 DC taxed, tho issue
cannot lorg bo doubtful. In every county
taxes will be laid in the saiAo way by ne
groes upon the white men. In tho towns
md cities negro counoilmcn will vote them
selves large salaries, create unnecessary
Offices for purposes of piundcr, and for like
ends undertake enormous jobs of fnnciful
public improvement. Justice administered
by negro magistrates will he n farce; re-
dress Of wrongs will DO impossible. Libor-
liberty of death will be the only liberty sc-
cured to men whose crime is that they were
born white.