The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-12-11

1t cannot be presumed, from their plevi-
Gus condition of servitudc, that. as class,
they are as well informed as to the nature
of onr Government as the intelligentfor-
eigncr who makes our land the home OF
his choice. In the case of the latter.
neither a residence of five years, and the
knowledge Of our institutions which II
gives, nor attachment to principles of the
are the onl y conditions upon
which he can be admitted to citizenship.
He must prove, in addition, q good moral
character, and thus give reasonable
ground for the belief that he will be faith
ful to the obligations which he assumes
as q citizen Of the Republic. Where Il
people-the source nf all political power
speak, by their suffragcs, through the in
sirumcnfality of the balot-box, it must
be carefully guarded against the control
of those who are corrupt in prncir irlc and
enemies of free institutions, for it can
only become to our political and social
system u safe conductor of healthy popu-
lar sentiment when kept free from DC
moralizing Influences Controlled through
fraud and usurpaton by the designing,
anarchy, and despotism must inevitably
follow. In the hands of the patriotic and
worthy, our Government will be pre-
served upon the principles of the Constl-
tuition Inherited from our fathers. 1t fol
lows, therefore, that in admitting to the
balot-boX u new class of voters not quail
fed Ior the exercise OF the elective fran
chise, we weaken our system Of govern
mcnt, instead of aiding to its strength
and durability" II yield to no one in
attachment to that rule of general sui
frage which distinguishes our policy as a
nation. But there is limit, wisely OBJ
served hitherto, which makes the ballot
u privilege and Il trust, and which re-
ouires of some classes q time suitable for
probation and preparation. To give it
indiscrininatcly to a new class, wholly
unprepared, by previous habits and op-
portunities, to perform the trust which it
demands, is TO degrade it, and finally to
destroy it's power; for it may be safely
assumed that no political truth is better
established than that such indiscriminate
and embracing extension Of popular
suffrage must end at last III its overthrow
and destruction"
] repeat the expression of my willing.
ness to Join in any plan within the scope
of our constitutional authority which
promises to better the condition of the
negroes in the South, by encouraging
them in industry, cnlightcnng their
minds, improving their morals and giving
protection 10 all their just rights as freed
men. But the transfer of our political in:
hcritance to them would, in my opinion,
be an abandonment of duty which we
owe alike to the memory of our fathers
and the rights OF our children.
The plan of putting the Southern States
wholly. and the General Government
partially, into the hands of negroes, is
proposed at Il time pecuIiary y unpropltlous.
The foundations of society have been
broken up by civil war Industry must
be recognized, justice rc-cstablshcd, pub.
lie credit maintained, and order brought
out of confusion. TO accomplish these
ends would require all the wisdom and
virtue of the great men who formed our
institutions originally. | confidently be-
lcve that their descendants will be equal
10 the arduous task before them, but it is
worse than madness TO expect that ne
nroes will perform it for us. Ccrtairly
we ought not to ask their assistance until
we despair of our own competency.
The great difference between the two
races in physical, mental and moral char
actcristics will pre2ent an malgamation
or fusion of them together in one homo
ocncous mass If the inferior obtains tho
asccndcncy over the other, it will govern
with reference only to its own Interests
for it will recognize no common inter
cst-and create such tyranny as tl(
continent has never yet witnessed. al
rcody the negroes are influenced by prom
is,s of conliscaton and plunder They
are taught TO regard rs an enemy every
white man who has any respect Tor the
RIGHTS of his own race. Ii this continues
Il mnst become worse and worse, until al
order will be subvcrtcd all industry
cease and the fertile fields Of the Soutl
crow nm into wilderness. OF all tlt
dangers which our nation has yet encoun
tered. none arc equal to those which must
making to Africanlzc the half OF ou'
country.
| would not put considerations of money
in competition with justice and right
But the expenses incident to ''rcconslrnc
ton" under the system adopted by Con
grcss asyravatc what | regard the lntrin
Sic wrong of tic measure itself. 1t ha'
cost uncountcd millions already. and i
persisted in will add largely TO the weigh
of taxation, already too oppressive to o'
borne without just complaint, and may
finally reduce the Treasury of the nation
to il condition of bankruptcy We mus
not dcludc ourselves. 1t will require {;
strong standing army: and probably more
than two hundred millions Of dollars PEI
annum, to maintain the supremacy ol or; nc t
,,,o roycrnmcnts aflc, they are establish