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

ETC
great majority of the white population of the
Northern States. When this question OF sut-
frage is settled, he will learn that his best
friends and safest advisers, are those with
whom from childhood ne has ben associa-
Many of the colored people will soon be-
gin to acquire property, and they will at
once appreciate the identity of political and
personal interest between themselves and the
white race. This interest, combined with a
disappearance Of that prejudice and distrust
which now exists, will, if they are kindly and
fairly treated, induce them heartily to CO.
restrictions upon the right of suffrage as will
secure society against tumult, disorder and Vi
cious legisla ion. To the white, and to the in
telligent colored man alone, therefore, and to
no external power, do look for limitation Of
tho right OF suffrage, and it's establishment
qualification. Should they fail, however, they
will control and direct the vote Of the igno-
rant, and thus exert 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, especially LII those districts
Of adventurers of their own race, and the love
of notoriety possessed by many natives, have
induced large numbers of them to become can
didates for Offices Legislative, ministerial and
judicial. When called upon to perform the va
rious duties Of these offices, it will be found
that their lack Of education, information and
training. will utterly disqualfy them from hold
quence, the country will be oyerrun with
inefficient and incompetent officers, and
the public interest and the peace of society
will alike be jeopardiZed by their incapacity.
The meritorious and intelligent of the colored
population, whose interests are identified with
those Of the white race, will themselves soon
appreciate these facts, and realize the grave
mistake that has been made in elevating to po-
sition 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 intelI-
gence sufficient to enable them to judge of the
fitness and capacity Of those who mag aspire
to represent them. Hence this class will be
prepared to unite cheerfu1ly with the white
race in imposing the restriction which expert
ence will demonstrate to be necessary.
A corrupt magistrate, or an ignorant con,
stable, has it in his power sorely to annoy 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 harras-
ses the public by an inefficient discharge Of his
duties. The same remark applies to all other
officers. Experience has demonstrated that
there can be no greater curse inflicted upon
community than incompetent officials, 20
whom is entrusted the expounding and en-.
forcenent OF the law, and the preservation OF
peace. The first and heaviest sufferers under
the existing condition OF affairs are likely to be
the colored people themselves.
The Reconstruction ats have given to the
five military commanders almost absolute pow
er in the Southern States The power to enact
laws by order, to remove all classes Of officers,
and to appoint others, uuquestionably consti-
In performing the duties Of the Executive OF
the State, therefore, have sought TO
avoid collision with this assumed superior
power, and thereby secure the least inter-
ference with the civil administration OF the
government. I have invited no controversy,
and provoked no antagonism, and it is my duty
and pleasure to say that, III the main: the MILL
the State in the performance of their duties;
The present military commander has rarely
interfered with the administration OF the
criminal law, and where appeals have been ad-
dressed to him to interpose his authority,
he has invariably referred them to me for
final decision. The Judges of the Court OF
Appeals, the Circuit Judges, with single ex-
in the views above expressed, have yielded
obedience to such military orders as have
been issued, and similar spirit Of co-opera-
ton has been exhibited BY all other executive,
judicial and ministerial officers. This course;
in my Judgment, has been eminently WISE
It has secured then retention Of the officers
elected by the people themselves, AID the ex.
ecution and enforcement OF their own laws. II
obedience had been refused by any depart
ment, there can be no doubt that removals
would have taken place, and strangers appoint
ed to I'LL the vacancies. Every officer 10 the
State, therefore, who could conscientiously
carry out the military orders, bas rendered an
essential service to the people in that ne has
relieved the citizen fromwhat In oil probability
would have been much more rigorous and
oppressive administration OF military law IN
case Of the exhibition Of any contumacy.
In adopting this general line OF policy, and
ondeavoring TO carr out, in good faith, the
provisions Of the reconstruction Acts, WAS
satisfied that the citiz.ns would be better pro,
tected in person and property than If the civil
structure was overturned, and, in lieu OF it, an
ed. I have found the military o. all t,mes
ready to cooperate, cheerfully and efficiently,
with the civil authority, whenever they have
been called upon 80 to d; md the course OF
concilation pursued 4. Got enabled meto
intervene, for the - - she CITIZEN. in
whose case the .. nGntary authority
might have J.. n.y ,resslTe. By this course
of conciliatioa, Lave been enabled tc effect
notifications OF military. orders sh.t might
have borne heavily upon communities. BY
this course OF corclhation: the taxes imposed
by the military have not only leen materially
reduced, but levied upon more equitable and
acceptable basis than heretofore. BY this
course of con Citation, have benn enabled to
secure the usual support for the public instltu-
sons, and they have been fostered and encoI-
ragged. Public improvements have not been
arrested, but pushed forward 10 state OF
completion. And, finally, harmony and peace
have been preserved, and the great interests
OF the commonwealth been promoted, so that
the people OF the State have not materially ex-
perienced the usual inconyeniences Of military
rule. And I now repeat, what has already
been stated, namely, that the peace of society,
the liberty OF the citizen, the protection Of
person and property, the usual ayocations and
amployments OF the citizen, and the regular
adninistrati N Of justice, have been lnterfered
with and obstructed as little in South Carolina
as in any other OF the ten States under military
rule.
The Executive might have resigned, or nave
refused to recognize the Acts Of Congress. and
the military orders, and have been removed.
The Judges OF the Courts Of Appeal, Ct Tie
Circuit Courts, and Of the Co:-:rt Of Chancery
District officers, tax-collectors: magistrates,
and others, might have adopted SIMILAR pol.
cy. But what would lave been the result I:
Their places would have been fled by stlan-
gers, having neither ln.eTes. Eor sympathy
With CIR pouu,atlou; or there would have been