The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-04-10
LETTER FROM. THE HON. w. D.
PORTER.

Hon. .4rn.istead Burt:
SR-In the proceedings of the State Demo-
cratic Convention at Columbia, over which you
presided, my name is presented to the people
of the State for the Office of governor. The
Office is not one to which have aspired at any
time; less than ever would it be desirable now.
Nor, in my judgment, was it necessary or e1-
pedient to name candidates for State officers at
this election. By the second section, eighth
article Of the proposed constitution, am dis
qualified from holding Office under it, and al
though am not insensible to the compliment
of the no mination, I cannot properly consent
tobe candidate. But this is OF little real
consequence, for if you can elect your candi-
date, you can defeat the constitution, which,
after all, is your great object. a vote against
the constitution" in the form proposed in that
instrument, will answer all your purposes, and
satisfy your whole political duty under exist
ing circumstances.
Let me not be inexperienced. Iconcur
entirely in what is understood to be the princi-
pal object of the convention, namely, formal
and solemn expression Of opposition to the
constitution about to be submitted for ratifca-
ton. Among the many objections to it, this
one ought to be conclusive, that its practical
operation, and might add it's design and pur-
pose, ID to subvert and reverse the relations
heretofore existing between the two classes
that constitute the population of the State,
taking the political power out Of the hands Of
the educated white class, and placing it in the
hands of the uneducated colored class. Against
this enormity it is our duty to protest. Our
past history, our own sef-respect, and the
characters and fortunes Of those who shall sue
ceed to our places, demand this much at our
hands.
The colored population in this State is per-
haps one-ffth in excess Of the whites. The
excess of registered voters is $4,000 in favor of
the colored population. In view of these facts
this constitution IN point Of fac. confers uni
versal suffrage upon the colored population,
while it disfranchises considerable portion Of
the white population; thereby seeking to in
sure the possession of political power, or, in
other words, the political ascendancy, to the
former. It may be safely affirmed that this is
the first instance in the history of republican
government and enlightened legislation in
which intelligence, education and property
have, by the fundamental law, been bound and
laid prostrate at the feet of mere numbers.
/ know that entertain kinder feelings to-
wards our colored people than many of those
who are now using them for selfish or party
purposes. But it is no SANDER upon them to
say that they are not fit Repositories of the cor-
trolling political power of State like this.
Their traits-intellectu and moral-their re-
centconditlon Of ignorance and servitude, their
credulous natures, so open to the practices of
the crafty and designing, all combine to pro-
duce this incapacity. They have kindly and
generous qualities, but not the qualities Of
rule.
Numbers, intelligence and property are each
and all entitled to consideration in the aistri-
button of political power. One would suppose
it was hardly necessary, in this age and coun-
try, to plead for the prepondeIating influences
of education and wealth, and to contend that
where numbers are nearly balanced, these
should turn the scale. Every man in the State
represents life and personal liberty; but he
who has property represents, in addition, that
which in society is entitled to like protection
with life and liberty; and he who represents in