The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-07-11

what, then, are we to rely upon to 10, .,
Iieve the body politic from the serious
injury which is 70 result from the con tinu-
ance of universal suffrage, with SO much
IN my Judgment, the remedy is excinsiye-
ly with ourselves. 8 1t will prove illusory to
rely upon help emanating from any other
source. Intelligence and wealth have
heretofore, in all sections of the Union,
sooner or later, controlled the votes of the
ignorant and the dependent, and in time
the same result will follow here. t.,f.s.
: That the colored vote should have sus-
tanned the Republican party, in the recent
elections, is not surprising, especially
when it is remembered that the party was
solidified by the organization OF another
party, whose principles, as avowed, looked
abridgemept. al de- Of the " elective ct "fs franchise,
which Congress has granted to the colored
man. When he was called upon to cast
his ballot, and the issue presented was to
sustain the party which had first pro-
claimed his freedom, enacted the Freed
mans Bureau and Civil Rights Bill, which
suffrage, and was then struggling to main
tain it's existence against the party, which
in Congress and elsewhere had opposed
all these privileges-when to vote in oppo-
sition TO Republican ideas, was to voiun-
tarily renounce tho elective franchise, so
much esteemed as O public boon-it was
not at all surprising that the ballot Of the
colored man was cast, nearly as q unit,
against the advice and influence of the
great maj ority of the white population of
the Northern States. When this question
of suffrage is settled, he will learn that
his best friends and safest advisers, are
those with whom from childhood he has
been associated i'll the various relations OF
life. Many of the colored people will soon
begin to acquire property, and they will at
once appreciate tho identity of political
and personal interest between themselves
and the white race. This interest, COM
JUDGE and distrust Which now oe exists % viii Viii
II they are kindly and fairly treated, in
duce them heartily to cooperate with the
whites, in imposing such restrictions upon
the right of suffrage, as will secure socic-
ty against tumult, disorder and vicious
legislation. To the white, and to the in
and to no external power, do l look for q
limitation of the right of suffrage, and its
establishment upon the basis of an educa-
they fail, however, tGey will control and
direct the vote of the ignorant, and thus
exert q conservative influence upon the
welfare of the State.
The evils of universal suffrage, which
have already largely developed themselves,
will in q few months teach the colored
race the most instructive lessons, espe-
cially in those Districts in which they have
a majority. The ambition of adventurers
of their own race, and the love of notorie-
ty possessed by many natives, have in
duced large numbers of them to become
candidates for offices, Legislative, ministe-
rial and judicial. When called upon to
perform the various duties Of these offices,
it will be found that their lack of educa-
tion, information, experience and training
will utterly disqualify them from holding
positions 80 responsible. As a conse-
quence, tho country will be over-run with
inefficient and incompetent officers, and
the public interest aud the peace of society
will alike be jeopardized by their incapaci-
ty: The meritorious and intelligent OF the
colored populatio ., whose interests are
identified with those of the white race,
facts, and realize the grave mistake that
has been made in elevating to position q
class OF persons untitled therefor. They
will likewise perceive that the evil can only
be corrected by restricting the privilege Of
the ballot-box to those who have intelli-
gence sufficient to enable them to Judge of
the fitness and capacity of those who may
aspire to represent them. Hence this
class will be prepared to unite cheerfully
with the white race in imposing the re-
striction which experience will demon
strate to be necessary.
A corrupt magistrate, or an ignorant
constable, has it in his power sorely to an
noy and oppress the poor those whose
contracts are limited to small sums, and
upon whom mainly the Jurisdiction of
officers Of this grade will be exercised. An
incompetent Sheriff involves his sureties
in ruin, entails loss upon parties who have
executions in his hands, and harasses the
public by an inefficient discharge Of his
duties. The Same remark applies to all
other officers. Experience has demon
inflicted upon q community than incompe-
tent officials, to whom is entrusted the ex-
pounding and enforcement Of the law, and
the preservation OF peace. The first and
heaviest sufferers under the existing con-
dltion OF affairs are likely to be the CO.
lored people themselves.
The reconstruction Acts have given to
the five Military Commanders almost alb
solute power in the Southern States. The
power to enact laws by order, to remove
all classes Of officers, and to appoint
others, unquestionably constituted the
military superior to civil authority. In
performing the duties Of the Executive Of
the State, therefore, I have sought to
avoid collision with this assumed superior
power, and thereby secure the least inter
ference with the civil administration of the
Government. 1 have invited no contro-
versy, and provoked no antagonism, and
1T ID my duty and pleasure to say that, in
the main, the military have rarely inter
fered with the officers of the State in the
performance of their duties. The present
Military Commander has rarely interfered
o. dy,s ,ts,A n