The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-17
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning, April II, 1868.
Our POLICY ms Regarded North.

guage of the New York Heral0 ana
the Irmes-two of the most inhuen
tial papers North. The remarks of
the Times, which we first give, are
particularly significant. The fact of
tho matter is, that the settlement of
this everlasting negro question is on
the basis of q qualified suffrage. 1t
puts the South rectus in curia before
the country and the world. Let the
National Democratic party, when it
meets in New York, in July next,
tako this position, and it takes the
wind out of the radical sails, and
sweeps the country, North and South,
as with the powerful blast of truth
and justice. The Times says, in
reference to that article adopted at
the late Convention on the subject of
suffrage:
ssThis declaration of the South
Carolina Democrats strikes US rs hav-.
ing decided interest and Importance
beyond its party relations. Are the
people of the Southern States in
general prepared to take the same
ground? Will the whites of the
South agree to embody in their State
Constitutions provision giving suf-
frage to blacks, when found duly
qualified, and to exact from them
precisely the same qualifications 'as
to property and intelligence as are
exacted from the withstand no
others? If they are, would it not be
wise for Congress to accept this as
substantial basis Of reconstruction?
Would it motif thus accepted by
Congress and assented to by the
South-form q much better basis
than the one now laid down by exist
ing laws-better in itself, as likely to
secure better laws and better admi-
nistration of them, and better espe-
cially as matter of mutual agree
ment-as one to which both parties
give their voluntary assent, and with
which both are substantially satisfied?
"We suggest this inquiry, respect
fully and solely with view to prac-
tical results. to the Tribune"
But the Times must observe that
we are not ready to advocate at this
time the depriving of any white man
of his present right to vote, under
our Constitution and laws. When SO
many Of our fellow citizens are dis
franchised by the laws of Congress,
it would be political suicide for us to
cut off our white votes. Besides, to
vote is the white mans inheritance:
to the colored man, it is q newly ac
quircd possession. Hereafter the
State may, in its discretion, decide
as q matter of governmental conser-
yatism, to have qualified suffrage
for all men of all classes. In similar
connection, the Herald says:
''It only remains, then, for the
conservatives to adopt policy of
moderation towards the blacks, in
order to carry the whole Southern
country like whirlwind over the
radicals. The white conservatives
the natives of the soil, those to tho
uuhOr DOTu-udFo ho0 Coino otto III
their strength upon any political
contest yet had at the polls since the
beginning of the rebellion. The
blacks have not yet seen their old
masters going in q body to deposit
their votes. Instead, they have fol-
lowed tho lead, or have been led by
the arm by some Northern rapscal-
lion, who had been expelled from his
own region because he would no
longer be tolerated therein, and fled
South to benefit his fortunes and
humbug the poor blacks. Now, when
the Southern whites conclude to
vote-a conclusion they should not
hesitate to arrive at promptly-the
blacks will naturally naturally &c inclined 10
think twice before they shacllle them
IT