The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-11

| Justice, equity or moranty Wlcn Woulorequ1rt
that the note or bondholder, brior to the war
should not suffer at least pro rata with the
debtor whose property was rulneds by the ca
lamities and disasters of the same period.
The present is also fitting opportunity fol
brief review Of my course since the passage
of the Reconstruction acts of Congress-, and O.
the reasons influencing my conduct with refer.
ence to them-the same not haEing before
been presented.
In January, 1867, at the instance Of severa
of the leading citizens of the State, I visited
Washington, and after full conference with
| leading eenators and representative OF the Re
publican party, became satisfied that Iuder nc
circumstances would they recognize the Presi-
dents plan OF restoration, and that in the plar
which Congress intended, to adopt, the alter
native presented was either qualified or uni
| yersal suffrage to the colored race. In view
of this fact, the text Of o constitutional
amendment was prepared by seferal lead.
ing Southern statesmen then Ing Washing
ton. approved by many ,Republicaas, and sub
mitted to the Legislature of North Carolia in
the hope that that body would accep$ the same,
and request Congress to adopt In inalieu OF the
fourteenth article, or Howard amendment. 1t,
however, failed in the North Carolina. On my
return to the City. Of Charleston, early in
February, in an address delivered to the col
ored people, stated that was inaavor OF ad-
mitting the colored man to the Fight of suf-
frage who was able to read and write, or who
possessed property to the value OF $3.50. Early
in March, the first Reconstructio sact of Con-
gress was passed, and on the 22d of the same
month it was followed by supplemental act,
giving to the colored race universaE suffrage,
and dividing the ten Southern States into
iiye military districts. These governments,
which had been brought into existence by
the plan of the President, were declared to be
only provisional. The District Commanders
were vested with such absolute power as made
the civil authority subservient to, and depend-
ent upon, the military. In april following, in
an address made before the Charleston Board
of Trade, among other things, said: THE
vital question now presented to the people of
South Carolina, as well as to the people Of the
Southern States, is whether We shall accept
the terms of these bills and endeavor earnestly
and in good faith to carry out their provisions,
ior fold our arms in silence, apathyS lndiher-
no step.n Again: s'While the Constitutional
Amendment was proposed to South Carolina
as State and our own rolition in that capa-
city could be exercised, I opposed its adoption;
but the act OF Congress- recently pas led, has
assumed that this country is q conquered
territory and We conquered people, and con-
sequentlY that thab body has Alright to dictate
body 70 dictate those terms; it is secure for the
next two years.. and when they place them
selves sauareiy and broadly upon that plat
form, Ifor one do not propose to go TO the Su-
preme Court or anywhere else for thepurpose
Of disputing that power; but in good faith
will accept the terms, humiiating as they may
be, and openly, fairly and honestly 1rge their
adoption before our people" Again, remark.
ed n wonld, therefore, say to ey%y man nam IN
ed. that as soon as the proper order has been
issued, he should proceed toregisterIhis name,
and 90 to the polls to vote for .th@best man
who can be selected to form q Constitution
under which we and our posterity can i've"
Congress had taken the position that the
right belonged to that body rathertfan to the
President, to fix the conditions upon which
the Southern States should be reaamitted 70
the Union. Hence the pertinacity with which
they adhered to. the Congressional Elan, and
hence the passage of the act OF July, imposing
still more stringent conditions than existed IN.
the preceding law. Hence, also, the long,
naGry and unfortunate CONTROVERSY between
the President and ConGress-a quarrel IN
which We nave. been the sufferers. For three
long wears readmission into the Union and
the right OF representation has been denied
us. AND Congress having the power to en-
force their views, and the President being
impotent to execute his own plan, was 1t
not wise for the South 10 accept that which
promised the speedicst restoration to
representation in Congress-? Although many
Of our citizens we're disfranchised, sufficient
number still were entitled to go to the ballot
boz and being eligible 70 .5 onelal posson Sley
tellicence. and virtue, and moulded constitu-
tions in all of the Southern States under Which
both races might have lived in harmony.
was satisfied that our material prosperity, the
development OF our resources, and the restora-
ton of confidence and credit, could not be se-
cured until the political issues involved in the
question Of re re:onstruction were settled, and
Congress could make known her wants and
protest against her wrongs. Our capital had
been swept away By hundreds OF millions;
large number of our young men-the flower OF
the population-had been killed in the waI:
al industrial employments were either crippled
or broken up, and tie widespread rum
could only repaired BY inducing eapl,
locate in our midst, and bring with them their
artisans, merchants, mechanics, shipbuilders,
and others whose labor is wealth itself. The
struggle which impoverished us made the
NORTH rich; and since the formation Of the
government, capital has never been 30 abun-
dant or SO ready to embark in safe Investments.
Yet. for three long years, both capital and emf
grants have been Geter1 ed from seeking rest
ing place in the South. Partisans, using
partisan press for partisan purposes, have rep
resented the South as being still in q condi-
tion of quasi rebellion. Life has been de-
clared to be insecure and property .uncer-
tam. It was said thM Northern men,
who had the temerity to seek homes in the
South, we're SET upon by ruthless mobs
and murdered. Every specles Of enormity
was attributed to the Southern people to
subserve political and partisan ends. The
effect Of such Misrepresentation upon US ha:
been most disastrous. A few tourists have
come to the State-a few adventurers, looking
comparatively small number have brought
their capital and located with the bona Itde
purpose of identifying themselves with the
State and aiding her people to rebuild their
broken fortunes. The appreciation in the
value OF the stocks and bonds Of the State
within few months past, furnishes con-
elusive evidence of the correctness OF the opin.
ion that n Northern capital would not be trusted
in the SoulL until representation In Congress
Was consummated. In January last, South
Carolina State stocks and bonds were selling
at twenty-five and twenty-five cents on the
dollar. Now, with restoration insured, they
are worth from sizty-two to sixty-six cents on
the dollar. In the spring and summer Of 1867.
money readily commanded from two and half
to three per cent. per month. In the same mar
ket it is now readily borrowed at from three
quarters to one per cent. per month:
Objectionable as the Reconstruction acts, or
the new constitutions, or the privilege of uni
yersal suffrage to the colored race, may have
been, was it not the part OF wisdom looking at
the condition of affairs in the material sense
to which I have referred, and to The fact that
The domination Of the bayonet could not be
superceded by the Judge and the jury box, to
have accepted these obnoxious measures, con-