New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-03
-NEW FREE sOUTH CGROIINA.
reconstruction of the Palmetto State.
Complete History of the Great Work
Ispeoial oErsspondsnee q tha oinoinna,i garstts

| publican ticket by a probable majority of
20 600, affords fitting occasion for q brief
review of the several steps which have led
to so marvellous change In the political
position and destiny of South Carolina. A
peculiar interest attaches to this State in
the question of reconstruction for a mum.
Der of reasons. South Carolina was the
original home Of secession. Latent seces
sion, eliminating thirty years ago in the
mild form of notification, open secession,
striking boldly at the life Of the nation,
both found here their earliest champions
aud ablest supporters. And now, under the
new order Of things, South Carolina is to
furnish the finest field for the most ample
| and unfettered experiment of the wisdom
or folly of that policy whose central feature
| is universal negro suffrage. This arises
from the fact that of l26, 900 registered
voters in the State to-day, 81 900 are colored
men. Here then, on soil hitherto sacred, /
might almost say, to notification, slavery,
| and secession, the new, antipodal problem
| of unrestricted negro suffrage is to be
solved under conditions which will make
/ this State the centre of intense interest 70
every thoughtful mind for years to come.
POLICY OF UNIVERSAL NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
As an original question am free to con-
fess, and speak the voice of many of our
! wisest friends here, the policy of unlimited
negro suffrage did not present itself as the
wisest possible solution Of existing difficult
ties. It was felt to be too hazardous g stem
to admit at once to the exercise of political
rights those who but yesterday knew the
meaning Of personal freedom. To at once
| throw State into the hands of an immense
majority of une6ucated voters. with the
inevitable vices and habits of slavery still
clingiag to them, was thought to be some,
| thing more than "bold craftsmanship"
and bordering very closely on recklessness,
The plan proposed by those who distrusted
the Congressional scheme started of course
from the same premises and aimed at the
same results. 1t declared that the new
State must be planted on the firm granite of
loyalty and justice, 'nor more nor less;n but
it was felt that many dangers might be avoid
ed, and every good secured by disfranchis-
ing more largely the old white voters, and
entranchising less extensively the colored
men; leaving both doors wide open for
accretions from either side; from the
whites by evidences of loyalty, from the
blacks by evidences of competency.
But the Congressional plan was adopted
and announced, and at once all discussion
Of other plans ceased, and with one mind
and one soul the little band Of Republicans,
on whose shoulders fell the whole work of
organizingland developing the Republican
party of South Carolina, addressed them.
selves TO their arduous task. And in esti
let it be remembered that it has been won
almsst without aid from abroad, and with
out the aid of single newspaper on our
side, or one that would consent to publish
our notices even as paid advertisements,
When 1t is remembered that some twenty
five newspapers in the State have pursued
us with every conceivable weapon known
to reckless and exasperated politicians,
without single press TO answer a single lie
or expose single fallacy, with no funds to
canvass the State properly, thing needed
here not so much for making converts as for
awakening and instructing the cOlored peo-
pie; with aswarm Of Johnson's minions de-
Vouring the land and eldeavOring to thwart
reconstruction; when, / say all this is re-
membered it may be seen that while our
numerical majority was large in the regis.
tration, our actual available strength for
the canvass was very small, and that Of our |
opponents very great.
oUR MILITARY COMMANDERS.
South Carolina has been extremely for |
tunate as regards reconstruction in the Off |
GERS in command Of the second district. |
During the early days, and in the work of |
registration, General Siclzles laid the foun-
dations sure and strong for a faithful exc.
cutien of the designs of Congress in the |
reconstruction acts. A word in passing is |
due to that gallant officer and accomplished /
statesman. All Republicans, and all honest, |
patriotic men, owe heavy debt Of gratitude |
to Major General Sickles for his eminent and |
most er1uous services in the Carolinas. /
The country is not yet aware of the value of /
his labors, and of the complete mastery of |
plans and details which made General
siekles so beloved by Republicans here, and
made his removal so bitter grief and so
threatening disaster. Neither, in nv
Judgment, is the country generally aware
how thorough and able astatesman General
all 49, A. /
of requirements and information. and even |
more in prompt, wise, and cOmprehensi
plans Of action, in skill, IN choice of agents
and modes Of action, / do not think to-day
General 9ickles has a superior among all
our public men of his years. 51
Upon the renewal of General Sickles il
was expected that a successor would be
Ient, ready and pledged to do the base work
II his Presidential master. When General
Janby's name was announced, all who knew
lis war record at snce said that he would
10 40 tool f5I any man, though i i Fas, per
laps, feared that he would lack sympathy
With the laws he had come to execute All
uch possible fears quickly vanished, and
rom his advent till to-day no single order,
word, or act has given evidence of anything
ess than cordial and earnest purpose to
execute the laws according to their spirit
4nd intent. +osl Nsa7sltetdas oafrF III
General Candy is a man Of exact, method.
cal routine, acte slowly and deliberately,
out takes no steps backward. He has Won
he implicit and almost affectionate con-
ldence Of Republicans here while all PARTIES
accord him the praise of firmness. fairness
md Judicial impaftiality. .gllasaaH "a /
Under General Sickles' command q very
iull and complete registration was effected, 7
md among the first acts of General Candy
vas the order for the election for DELEGATES /
o the Convention to frame Constitution.
That election resulted in the calling Of a
Convention by about seven thousand ma.
ority, and the election of Republicans as
delegates In every instance. At this cleo.
ION the policy OF the native whites was 70
abstain rom voting entirely. 4 8W.gR II
3 THE coNsTIrUuoNAL cONvRNTloE. 3
The ReconstrHction Constitutional Con.
Tention assembled Ia this city on the 18th
4 January, and adjourned on the 18th Of
darch. OF the 12l members composing
his body ~ were colored. It's action
therefore, may be set down to the credit or
lscredit Of the colored voters Of South
iarolina. Looking back over the history
4 this convention, two most fortunate
ireumstances are apparent which explniH
deqnately the moderation, good sense, aud
spirit which, believe, are
enerally accorded TO the South Carolina
ienYentions and have given II an enyiab1e
Prominence over certain other reconstruct
lon cQnvenfionB. The two features 70
Thich 7 Eilnde are the moderation and Ifb-
Eallig pi me white leaders Of the convea- L
or, and The good Henae, fairness, and ability
g nc c2lpfeQ leaders. The convention
laa not aHlicted among Its white members
rita epy Hun4lcutts 81 Binfhams, or any
fho attempted that role, nor auong fts cot
Eed members ~ apy "A. a. Bradlebs or / !
ther nrebrhnqs. ia enc such man Of I 4
hility had been "a ouf ecnvtatIon. It 81 Il I
bore than pesHihle that the good ana feIr