The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-20
try, that is is time for prescription and ami
mostly to cease.
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.

UNIVER9AL SUFFRAGE.
tits evident that the tone and temper Of th
convention is opposed to any backward step
on the grave issue. Whether white man b.
q born fool, or negro be mere machine
sense enough to drop ballot into the election
box is to be sufficient qualification, for th
endowment of the elective franchise. A per
son with no more training than learned pig
but who will respond automatically to the wir
pulled by his party leader, whatever be hi
principles, is to be permitted to affect the vot'
of the President Of the convention or an,
other intelligent member Of the body. Th,
demagopue is thus to rule the mass, and vic,
and ignorance control the vast interests a
stake.
There are but few in the convention wht
will vote for qualified suffrage. These ar,
among the Southern white men, except one o.
two whose names are unworthy Of notice
Some Of the colored delegates are also com
mitted 10 this conservative course. Among
these is Beverly Nash, who publicly proclaimed
at meeting in Columbia, addressed Likewise
by General Wade Hampton, Hon. W. F. De-
Saussure, Hon. E. J. Arthur and others, thai
he was uneciivocally opposed to conferrine
suffrage on any man, black or white, who could
not write or read. If Nash has the frmness
to re-assert these views in the convention, he
may ralIy others around him and create party
but as one of the colored delegates tWhipper)
observed the other day, much to the disgrun-
Element of the Richland member, Nash has
made some of the most extraordinary ground
and lofty tumbles ever witnessed in political
ring. The fact is, like the sss between two
bundles Of hay, he has hesitated and banked
until nobody believes in anything but his ef-
frontery. His head is turned in one direction
and his legs in another, and he always takes
to water in time of trouble. To set himself
right, delegates may expect to see NASH 'out-
Herod Herod," and Whipper, Langley and
Wright should see 10 it that, in his ''cuteness,
he finally does not damage the race and party.
THE BILLS RECEIVABLE AND STATE BONDS.
The pay of the convention is serious SUBJ
iect of consideration. The treasury is empty,
and money sufficient for the expenses of the
body cannot be had except by a loan or by
making good the issue Of the State known as
receivable bills" that are now used for the
payment Of salaries and accounts, and OF which
only about one hundred thousand dollars are
in circulation. II these are taken by the dele
gates without other endorsement than the two
acts of the legislature upon the subject, they
will depreciate in value fifty or seventy-ive
per cent. IF on the other hand, confidence in
the determination OF the State to redeem them
is re-established by the passage OF proper ordi-
nances, the value OF the bills will in thirty days
be very greatly increased.
According to the Reconstruction act OF
March, however, section 8, the convention has
nothing whatever to do with the State treasury
or its issues In any manner, shape or form.
The Law states positively that for the purpose
of paying the compensation Of delegates the
convention "shall provide for the levy and COL
lection Of such taxes on the property in such
State as may be necessary to pay the same"
There ere no indications that any Of the
bonds or obligations Of the State, except
those contracted for war purposes will be re-
pudiated. Some wild visionary, like the white
youth Mackey, who does so much to bring the
convention into ridicule, may possibly intro
duce proposition to this end, but We feel con-
fident that it would be promptly voted down.
THE HOMESTEAD Law.
A resolution favoring this measure has al
ready been introduced and referred. There is
no doubt that it will be adopted. The number
Of acres to be exempted in the country, and the
value Of property to be exempted in the city,
will probably be the same as in other liberal
States.
THE JUDICIARY.
Nothing has yet been said on the floor con-
cerning the future of this grave body OF jurists.
But there is no question that the rejecting
men Of the convention anticipate no little diff
GUILTY in preserving the civil tribunals Of the
country untarnished in the future as they have
ever been in the past, by political influences.
Against the Judges Of the Superior and Appeal
Courts. and Chancellors Of the State, not one
word Of complaint has been uttered; yet'there
NAV be a demand that these Offices shall be
vacated. Hthat demand prevails, how and by
whom will their places be suppiedP To what
class of men are the weighty decisions OF tho
Law to be committed.
THE UPsHoT.
Whatever may be the result Of this conven-
ton, the people Of the country cannot lose
sight of the fact that Like other assemblages OF
a similar character in the South, proceeding
from the Reconstruction acts, it is the repre-
sentative Of only o class, and the vast majority
of that class is OF another race. White men
even of Northern birth absented themselves
from the polls, and the white delegates there
fore represent minority unequivocaiy insig-
ni6cant.
The action of the body, then, whatever 1t
may be, will be ever regarded as the action OF
the negro. He, and he alone, will be held re-
sponsible for the veal or woe that may result
to the State which, for season at least, has
passed completely into his control.
The cloud that impends ID dark and threat
ening. Is it surcharged with the elements OF
destruction, or hidden froDl our view does the
silver lining CLEAN, which God, in His own
good time and way, will reveal to our expec-
tant eyes2 Quien sabe'