Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-08
VOLUME 1XXIIh-Ne. Is.
How we are 10 be Governed.

We do not think We can gire q better er-
pose Of the negro Constitution, than the fol-
lowing article taken from the Charleston
Mercury: Se,. 60
THE NEGRO CoNsrrrurIcN.-Re spread
before our readers tbiB. morning, in full 1.-The
result, to accomplish which one hundred and
twenty negroes, mulattoes and low whites
have been knocking their skulls together for
two blessed months, ut AN expense to the
State of over 100000. They callthis thing. be
gotten IL illegitimacyy q constitution, and have
heimpudence to ask white men to vote for
it. A. like combination Of folly, fraud land
licentiousness was never before submitted TO
the; Judgment of q civilized people. They
propose to inaugurate & government on tri
angular foundation of ignorance, reputation
end miscegenation. The political power Of
the State is to be thrown iRto the hands of
tho uneducated and, depraved. Bona fde
sales are to be- repudiated, debts denied, and
property stolen is to heproperty lost. White
children, boys and girls, ore to be- hpddled
together in the school room with yonng ne
gr0es, and there is To be no law against the
intermarriage of whites and blacks. The con.
sequences of the adoption and enforcement
of such constitution are inevitable. ALI the
negroes having the power to vote, while many
of the white men are disfranchised, the ne
groes can put whom they please in Office, and
there can be no doubt that their choice will
fall on those of their own race. 1t is true
that the convention, toavoid offending the
preiudices of white Radicals at the North,
has nominated only white men to Congress
and to the principal State offices, but when it
comes to the local Offices il. will betquite
another affair. is not to be supposed that
the Whiie Radicals can humbug 'the.negroes
into giving all of them Offices, and even if
they did, their number is so small thatievery
white Radical in the State might have an
office, and yet there be many places left to be
filled by negroes. There will be negro legis.
lators negro sherifs, negro constables, negro
tax. collectors, negro ordinafies, negro judges,
negro mayors, negro aldermen, negro police.
In short everv petty ofticein the State will
be filled by negroes. And tits just in those
Offices, that they will come most in collision
With the white people. A negro Congress
man, negro legislator may be only good
subject of rjdicule, but negro Judge to de-
cree away life or property, negro policeman
with a club in his hand, and negro mayor,
with the power of fine and imprisonment, are
much more serious affairs. We mistake the
character and temper of our white population,
It they will long submit with patience to the
annoyances, insults ard expressions to which
these things will give rise. In regard to edu-
cation, most white people will keep their chill
dren away from the public schools, but white
people too poor to have their children educa-
ted Otherwise areato be compelled to send
them to the public schools. Will the poor
white men Of this State submit to such COM
| pulsion7 No, indeed. The adoption of this
constitution and the attempt to enforce it.,
| will produce evil, and may end in anarchy.
| In our judgment, the white race in South
Carolina, should have nothing to do with any
of the electors putting such government
over them. They should consider it q rulli-
4 ty, and bide their time to make it SO. 1t is
set up by the sword and it does not become
4 them. to aid the sword, in their own ruin and
degradation. :. ss- = .--s-t;s----