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

| almost exclusively, the SELECTION or delegates
to the Convention. If, therefore, the Const-
telligent white voters 'of the State must feel
that the fault is their own. Their action, per-
haps, has been wiser than my advice. Time
alone must decide.
AS has been stated in February, 1867, Iavow-
ed myself favorable to the ide OF comforting
was manifest that to that extent, OF least, suf-
frage would be enforced. But higher motive
moved me to make the enunciation.
| The colored population in South Carolina out.
numbered the whites by 100000. Many Of the
colored men enjoyed some educational advan-
tages, and others had accumulated property.
| In making laws which vera to operate upon
this entire class as well as upon the whites
laws affecting the life, liberty, property and
pursuit of happiness Of so considerable ma
| jority of the population-was it just or right
that this class should be excluded from any
voice in choosing the representatives to enact
those laws? Would they have patiently and
tamely submitted to system of laws which
they had agency R m14R,hg; OF to tsssson sss1
open combinations to resist and defeat such
legislation could secret societies, conspiracies,
perjuries and assassinations have been pre-
vented? Would single individual Of that
class--be his intelligence and virtue what IL
may-have had any inducement to cooperate
In IQ6 eQlOICeulGuG VI lhMb illus pdS6cu!
These views which we're regarded with so
much odium only brief year ago, when was
franz enough to make them public, are now
accepted By large and respectable organiza-
tions Of the white people in every section Of
the State, and on that basis earnest efforts are
being made to obtain the support OF the col
ored race.
Looking even to the interest Of that race
Congress, in my judgment, committed q
grieyous mistake in bestowing upon it aniver-
sal suffrage. Il may secure a temporary party
triumph, but it will inevitably lay the founda-
ton of corrupt government-of corruption
among voters and corruption among legiela-
tors and ministerial officers.
Can it be expected that whole laws will ema-
nate from legislators whose constituents may
be ignorant and vicious ?? Again, where the
large majority OF voters are ignorant, do they
not thus become the instruments Of corrupt
men. in elevating to power those who are ut
terly unworthy Of their sufrage2 How can
voter, whose mind is unenlightened by expe-
rience or intelligence, protect himself from
fraud or imposition unable, as he will be, to
discriminate between that which 10 false and
that which is true-that which is upright and
that which is depraved 2?
Universal suffrage is an evil which has been
appre ciated for many years, and the evil re-
suits from the fact that the ignorant voter en-
ables the corrupt asprant for Office by bribery.
psrsuasio or opportunity, to foist himself
into position and then protect himself IN ms
honorable. It is for these reasons that uniyer..
sal suffrage has been repudiated La several OF
the Northern States.
To confer the right, therefore, upon the CO.
lored people of the South-the large majority
Of whom have just emerged from condition
of slavery, and who have not intelligence to
exercise the privileges a wrong done TO So
,,a o,,d m I'm cO10rnd man himpelf which
must retard the ci7Hizaton Of this section for
many years to come. It has, however, been
imposed upon the South, and in my Judgment
the evil will not he ameliorated except through
our own exertions, aided by the efforts and in.
fuences OF the more intelligent of the colored
race.
1t is very apparent that the Republican, par
ty, so long as they may retain power. will ad,
here to universal suffrage. With their plao OF
restoration carried into effect as it has been,
the Republican party are now willing TO leave
the question Of suffrage to the States them
selves, their policy having placed the party IN
power, and it is vain to expect any restriction
while they remain in power. 1t is equally ldle
to anticipat. relief from the Democratic party.
The Republicans will have theYndisput"d con-
troll of the government until the 4th OF !Iarch,
1869. Even though the Democrats succeed in
the fall elections, and secure their President
and the House Of Representatives, there will
still be Republican majority Of more than
two-thirds in the Senate, and that majority
must continue il the present party divisions
are maintaine |, ntil the 4th Of March, 1871.
Assuming. thecafore, that all the intermediate
elections shall be favorable to the Democratic
party, not until the 4th Of March, 1871, can
they obtain control of the Legislative and ex.
ecutiye departments of the Government; and
moi until then, whatever may be their disposi-
tion, will they possess'the strength necessary
to limit this right Of suffrage. When in pow:
er, however, how are they to proceed in re-
moving the evil-what remedy can they apply?
Will they repeal the Reconstruction acts OF
The Convention in New York has ayowed the
doctrine that the right Of regulating suffrage
belongs exclusively to the States. Upon that
issue, mainly within the last elk months, the
party have achieved. their successes over the
Republicans in the North and West.
In1871 the Southern State governments will
have been in operation under these acts for
three wears, and, to g certain extent. So
ciety will have adapted .itself to their
laws and requirements. Should the Demo-
Gratis, under these. circumstances, repeal
the Reconstruction acts, or should the
Supreme Court pronounce them uncon-
stitutional and declare the State organiza-
lions then existing void. We shall be left IN
a condition of anarchy: II, on the other hand,
they declare them to be simply provisional,
what authority will then determine the ques
tion of suffrage? The theory of the Democratic
party will De that the States themselves must
do 30. Will the party 70 direct opposition to
that theory, when they pass new Reconstruc-
lion acts, ignore the Southern Constitutions OF
1868, and Dy their act declare against the sut-
frage OF the colored man, either universal or
qualified? Will not such action upon their
part be directly in antagonlsm TO their profess
ed principles and their legislation be following
directly in the footsteps OF the Republicans
whom they censure SO grayely LOT regulating
suffrage in the States?
Should the Supreme Court. declare the acts
unconditional, and the State government void.
what government will be in existence? Can
anarchy then be avoided without the interven-
ton Of Congress, and an invasion OF the
right of the State 10 regulate this Dues
ton Will the Constitutions of 1860, or 1859,
be declared in force; and will the officers IN OF
fee, when those Constitutions were superce.
ded in 1865 be reinstated d? Il so, which set
of off ,ers !? The terms of all OF them will have
expired. How will elections be ordered to ill
their vacancies.
Upon neither OF the foregoing theories can
the right of suffrage in the States be regulated
otherwise than BY Congress. Does any renect-
ing man believe for o moment that congress,
in 1871. will remit these States to territorial
through q new process of restoration ? The
Southern people need not delude themselves
with false expectations. When the time ar
riyes, if ths Democratic party are IN power,
and the regulation OF suffrage IN the States is
the recognized principle, depend upon Il, the
s,atu uuo then existing will not be disturbed
bv COurresS