The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-06-11

not entitled to the right OF SuuraBe, We tnouRnt
the utterance OF that resolution unWlse, De
cause calculated to weaken and disarm our
friends at the North, who in the great elections
of the country have been fighting our own
battles.
Believing that this evil might to some extent
be remedied, and the Objectionable features OF
that resolution modified, we suggested that
the present Convention should be assembled.
| Charleston and other districts responded TO the
call Of Edgefeld, and we are here to-day pre-,
| pared-and hope harmoniously- adopt
| such measures as will fairly express and repre-
sent the views Of the people Of the State.
Now, while had the honor Of moving the re-
solution in Edge6eld which has eyentuated In
this meeting, twas not my purpose to pro-
duce any disturbance in the ranks OF the Demo
cratic party OF this State.
| No one is more anxious for unity Of action
than myself, but do not think it is thu correct
policy for any man to pin his faith to the ques-
tion Of negro suffrage at this time, or to pledge
his support, even as matter OF expectancy. TO
those who entertain such belief. In my judg-
ment, it will damage the Democratic party
both in this State and in the United States.
UpoE this subject my opinions are fixed and
unalterable. can be in favor OF nothing less
than pure white mans government. 1t was
the one was born and reared under, and by
no act Of mine will ever seek to change it.
Great applause.}
This is not mere question Of poicy-not
mere ephemeral proposition that will pass
away after o time. It is one Of the most vital
issues OF the day-and if there be question
which requires far-seeing craftsmanship and
great wisdom, it is this grave, portentous sub
iect of suffrage. It is the principle which lies
at the very foundation Of the government, and
when you yield the question whether this shall !
be white mans government or not, you ylelda oa
the entire point at issue. The question is not
whether the negro can read the constitution or
write his name, or is worth two hundred and
Fifty dollars clear of debt, but whether you
are willing to disregard the fundamental prln-
ciples laid down in the constitution, which e4-
clude from the elective franchise both the
| Indian and the negro. The great intellects
who formed that instrument went even fur
ther, and declared that none but white alien
should be allowed to become citizen Of tho
United States. This fixed policy OF the gov
ernment, from its formation to the present
time, has been disregarded by Radica! Con-
gress in the passage Of the Civil Rights Dill
stitutional, and believe that the Democratic
| party will obliterate it and the Reconstruction
acts from he statute books Of the country.
These are sufficient reasons why the subject
of negro suffrage should receive careful con-
sideration, not by apart, but by oil the people
of the State.
You may, If you please, yield point as to
pr1Qe OF race anu Jake tne cInioPoau ih'o VIZ
great Caucasian brotherhood, which, from
time immemorial, has had dominion over the
world. Identified with all that eleyates and
adorns mankind, the white race will still be
true to itself. This is an entirely new issue,
and the people Of the North--of Connecticut,
Ohio, Pennsylvania apd Michigan-haVe de-
clared their opinion upon it, namely, that the
politic. Shall it be said that the Demo-
Gratis Of South Carolina are willing to
| to take lower position than the Radicals OF
the North? Every day am more and more
convinced that God Almighty created the ne
| gro at o different time from the white man and
| for different purpose. The negro has black
skin and another nature, and you cannot change
either by extending to him the elective fran
chise. If you do, you place your carriage driver
and your bootblack upon an equality with your
SELF. You take the initial step to social equality
the moment you make this amongrel govern,
ment, composed OF negroes, mulattoes aud
| everything else that can spring from the lower
race. claim, therefore, that this is not the
| time to express the sentiments contained IL
the resolution Of the April Convention, and re-
gret that there is occasion to refer to the sub
iect here. The Chairman Of the Executive
Committee is one whom I honor and este EN-.
No man has exhibited more devotion to his
people than himself. It was my fortune TO follow
him through battle, and to succeed him in com-
.mand Of the Hampton Legion and l know that
Whatever may be an error Of Judgment, his
motives are beyond question. Good intentions,
however, will not save us from the fate OF Mex.
leo, South America, or any other mongrelzed
government. r..
I have thus given expression to the views
| which induced me to offer the resolutions at
| Edgefeld calling this Convention, and the res
olution which I have read here. Governed by
these reasons, urge upon this body the
propriety Of taking no action whatever with
reference to the question Of negro suffrage.
think 80 grave subject should be controlled
by beardless, inexperienced men. It belongs to
| those who have made the matter the study OF q
| life time to meet calmly and decide what
shall be the political action Of the State: am,
therefore, in favor OF harmonious action be-
tween this Convention and that OF April. Our
proud old State has been trampled under foot
by cruel and unrelenting foe, but trust in
God that her people are composed of such ma
| terial that nothing can crush or dishearten
them in the shape Of persecution. When mis-:
| fortune crowds upon them, let them stand
shoulder to shoulder. with an unbroken front,
| and South Carolina will yet see the time when
s'well done" Of all true lovers Of constitutional
liberty in our great country. tApplause.l
Mr.. Rhett offered the following:
,"Resoiued, That q committee Of - be ap.
pointed by the chair to draft platform OF prln.
ciples for the consideration Of this Convention
Mr.. Gayer, of Charleston. object to that
resolution, Mr.. President, because deem il
unwise to draft any resolution whatever.
MIR. Rhett. AS far as the question Of suffrage
is concerned, We have already agreed to re-
solution that has been introduced. If there is
any firebrand in thai, we certainly have extin.
guished it. With this basis to work upon, it is
not probable that there will be any difference
of opinion.
Mr.. Spain. think, Mr.. President, that thai
resolution should pass. Every gentleman
here knows that a platform of principles has
been adopted by one wing Of the Democracy
and how would it appear under these circum'
stances if we were to go before the country
without platform? We can, If it be deemed
advisable, adopt the resolutions of the April
Convention without the objectionable feature
and it is due to ourselves that something oi
the sort should be done. 1t is for this reason
that favor the proposition.
Colonel Zimmerman Davis, of Charleston.
offered the following substitute:
ResoIped, That Committee on Resolutions
consisting Of -, be appointed, to whom al
resolutions not ordered for Immediate consld-
Grafton be referred.
We have already, said Mr.. D., adopted Q
platform. The report O. the Committee Of Con
ference is platform enough for all Of us, and
for the PURPOSE of preventing useless discus