The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-28
WAsHINaToN, june =. 1858.

WASHINGTON, June =, 1858.
deemed by Congress that each Of these States
shall choose new constitution for itself, but
that in choosing it all men, blacks end whites
alike, shall have an equal voice, except that
white men known to have been leading rebels,
and that other white men WHO will not take
test oath so Gorded as to be- utterly nTecon-
cilable to the feelings ofa Southern white man,
shall be debarred from voting at all. The up
shot is, that the framing OF sh d stnto consti-
tutions to be.zsiron 70 the men VINO,
four or FIVE wears since, we're slaves, and who
are still negroes. But it must not be supposed
that these black men have really been asked to
frame their constitutions, or do anything else
Than vote Their constitutions have been sent
To them by post, and consist in an undertaking
on the part OF the State IN question that all
men shall hereafter vote alike. 1t will, there
fore. go forth to the world that Alabama,
Georgia and the others have themselves de-
clared that white men and black men snail be
the same for all political purposes, and that on
this basis the States have been reconstruct
ed" and Stored to the Union. hold that
tyranny never went beyond this. 1t may be as
well al first to point out that in hone OF the
great Western States can negro vote at ali.
In Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri none
but O white man can vote. In Mmnesota, WIS
consn and Michigan white men and Indians
can vote, but never negro. In the great
coils, either practically or by actual rule.
I'm PENNSYLVANIA no black man can vote
In New York negro can vote, but not
without a real property qualification and
three years. resdence.F In the States Of New
England, excepting in Connecticut, negroes
can vote; but their number is SO small as to
make their votes Of no possible value. Yet 1t
has been ordained by these victorious North
ern States that in the conquered Southern
States all political power given the whites shall
be put into the hands of a race OF men who yes
terday we're their slaves. For myself am pre-
pared to argue, if it be needed, that negro ls
not fitted by his gifts and nature to exercise
political power amidst community OF whlte
men. He is go naturally subservient to the
white mans greater power OF mind that, when
passion is over, he will always do as some white
man shall instruct him. But putting aside for
the present a subject which is very vast in IFS
bearings, and in which men have and will dis
pute loudly, here has been made provision for
war of races with the express object OF keeping
down people in order hat that people may be
debarred from all political power in the empire.
1t must be remembered that government In the
United States is State government for the most
part. In Georgia the black man, on these lines
of reconstruction, would have the power OF
making all laws tor the restraint OF the white.
They would be enabled to enact that q man
should be hung for this or that so-caled crime
"a white man, if you will, for not taking Oh
his hat to black man. But it has never been
for a moment intended really to entrust this
power 10 the negroes. The intention iB that,
through the negroes. all political power, both
State power and Federal power, shall be IN the
hands of members Of Congress from the North
that the North shall have Its heels on the
South, and that the conquered shall be subject
to the conquerors. Never has there been more
terrible condition imposed upon o fallen people.
For an Italian to feel an Austrian over him,
for Pole to feel Russian over him, has been
bad indeed; but it has been left for the politi-
cal animosity of Republican from the North
O. man who himself rejects all contact with the
negro-to subject the late Southern slave
owner to dominion from the African, who was
YESTERDAY his slave. The dungeon chains are
knocked off the captive in order that he may
be harnessed as o beast Of burden to the
captors chariot. But it will not be 80. There
! viii in these Southern States be a war OF
races hatred from the white man to the poor,
timid, incapable, unconscious negro; sutterlng
for both, infinite suffering TOR poor Sam DO,
who will gradually begin his appointed task OF
disappearing; there will be rapid death OF
negro children, negro want, and all the fol-
loving of negro vice; but the white man who
lives near him will gradually resume bis power.
There will be an influx OF Northern men into
these States, and they will gradually become
as the white men of the South The scheme
otter q while will fail but in the meantime oil
the hatred of conquering and conquered
people will be maintained. SUCH, sir, are my
ideas OF Reconstruction.