Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-05-07
NEW FREE SOUTH CAROLINA,
Reconstruction Of the p Palmetto stale.
---
Complete History OF ths Gress work.
pondence of the Cincinnati Gazstte.

Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Gazstte.
CHARLESTON, s. c., April 20.
The close ofan exciting political can
vass, resulting in the adoption Of the new
Consultation and the election of the full
Republican ticket by q probable majority
of 10000. affords a fitting occasion for a
brief review Of the several steps which
have led to so marvellous o change in the
political position and destiny Of South
Carolina. A peculiar interest attaches
to this State in the question of recon-
struction for number of reasons. South
Carolina was the original home of seces-
sion. Latent secession, eliminating
thirty years ago In the mild fern Of null
lification; open secession, striking boldly
at the life OF the natien, both found here
their earliest champions and ablest sup
porters. 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 whosecentral feature
is universal negro suffrage. This arises
from the fact that of 10000 registered
voters in the State to-day, 1000 are
colored men. Here then, on soil hitherto
sacred, / might almost say, to nullifica-
tion, slavery and secession, the new, an
tipodal problem of unrestricted negro
which will make this State the center of
intense interest to every thoughtful mind
for years to come.
POLICY OF UNIVERSAL NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
AS an original question 1 am free to
confess, 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 difficulties. 1t was felt to be too
hazerdOus a step 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 un-
educated voters, withthe einevitable..vices
and habits of slavery still clinging to
them, was thought to be something
more than "bold statesmanship," and
| bordering very closely on recklessness
The plan proposed by those who distrust-
! ed 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 moro
nor less;" but it was felt that many dan
gers might be avoided, and every good
secured by disfranchising more largely
the old white voters, and enfranchising
less extensively of 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 adopt
ed and announced, and at once all dis
cussion of other plans ceased, and with
one mind and one soul, the little band of
Republicans, on whose shoulders fell the
whole work of organizing and develop
ing the Republican party of South Caro-
lima, addressed themselves to their ardu-
Gus task. And, in estimating the sig
nificance of our victory now, let it be 70.
membered that it has been won almost
without aid from aboad, and without the
aidof asi ngle enewspaperon ourside, or one
that would consnt 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 single
lie or expose a single fallacy; with nc
funds to canvass the State properly, q
thing needed here not SO much for max
ing converts as for awakening and in
strueting the colored people; with q
swarm of Johnson's miniens devourine
the land and endeavoring to thwart re.
construction; when, say, all this is re-
membered, it may be seen that while ouI
numerical majority was large in the reg
istration, our actual available strength
for the canvass was very small and that
of our opponents very great.
TIE CONSTITUTION CONVENTION.
The Reconstruction Constitutions
Convention assembled in this city on the
18th of March. Ofthe LA members com
pesing this body "a were colored. 1t!
action, therefore, may be set down to the
credit or discredit of the colored voters o
South Carolina. Looking back over tht
history of this Convention, two most for
tunate circumstances are apparent whicl
explain adequately the moderation, gooC
sense and snti-proscriptive spirit which
believe, are generally accorded to tn
South Carolina Convention, and hav,
given IL an enviable prominence owe
| certain characterization conventions
; The two features to which allude are
the moderation and liberality Of TIN
white leaders of the Convention, and tn
coed sense, fairness and ability OF th'
colored leaders. The Convention wa
: not afflicted among its white members
with any Hunnicuts or Binghams, o
any who attempted that role, or amon
ITS colored members by any A. A. Brad
leys or other firebrands- If one sucl
: man of ability had been in our Convsn
ton, it is more than possible that tn
good and fair work of the Convention
would have been sadly marred. For tn
colored mind and nature is here, as every
where, susceptive, receptive, passionate
infiamable, clay in the hands of the
potter, ready to be used for honor o
: dishonor. But, God be thanked
4 no colored man wished, or If h
n wished, dared 10 attempt such
!, task. venture to say that those VIII
/. think most highly of negro intellectua
,, capacity would still have been surprise,
to have witnessed not only the eloqusnc
: and oratorical power Of the oolered lead
ers, but their broad, catholic, statesman
like views Of all questions which cam
before them. In fact, the only fear o
the part of the white leaders at last wa
that the colored men would act too hast
, lily and too lenlsntly In the great matte
!. Of suffrage, and throw down the barrier
+ altogether and at once. DeLarge, Cal
and Cardozo, of Charleston, Whippe
). and Wright, of Beaufort, Nash, (ths cels
q bratsd Beverly Nash) of Richlsnd, an
d Cook, of Greenville, deserve the mos
% honorable mention as men who lsi
g aside prejudice and passion and though
% only of the welfare of the whole State
d AS debaters and parliamentsrians the
o would to-day do credit to any legislativ
~ ~ body in the country. g.tgs
% THE NEW BILL OF RIGHTS.
The most prominent and radical chal