The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-04-15

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HON. ". D. PORTER DECLINES THE EoMIHA-
TIoE FOB GOVERNOR.
Tho following communication will be peruuod
with great interest:
HoE. ARM1srrAD BUET-Sr: In the proceedings
of the State Democratic Convention at Columb ba,
over which you presided, my name is presented to
the people Of the State for the Office Of Governor.
The Office is not one to which have aspired at any
time; less than ever would it be desirable now.
Nor in my judgment was it necessary or e1pedient
to name candidates for State officers at this elec-
tion. BY the I'd Section, Sth Article of the pro-
posed Constitution, am disqualified from holding
Office under it, and although am not insensible TO
the compliment Of the nomination cannot proper
ly consent to be candidate. But this is Of little
real consequence, for if you can elect your candl-
date you can defeat the Constitution. which, after
all, is your great object. vote .'AGArNsT THE
CONSTITUTION" in the form proposed lin that in
strum ent, will answer all your purposes and sat
isfy your whole political duty under existing Cir
cumsances.
Let mo not be Inexperienced. concur entirely
in what ia understood to be the principal object OF
the Convention, namely, a formal and solemn e1-
prssSon of opposition to the Constitution about to-
be submitted for ratification Among the many
objections to it, this one ought 10 be conclusive;
that the practical operation and l might add, its
design and purpose, is to subvert and reverse the
relations heretofore existing between the two
clnsscs that constitute the population of the State
taking the political power out of the hands of the
educated white class, and placing it in the hands
of the uneducated colored class. Against this
enormity it is our duty to protest. Our past his
tory, our own sef-respect, and the characters and
fortunes of those who shall succeed to our places,
demand this much ut our hands.
The colored population in this State, IS, perhaps,
one-ifth in excess of the whites. The excess of
registered voters is $4,000 in favor of the colored
population In view of these facts, this Constitu-
ton, in point of fact confers universal suffrage
upon the colored population, whlo it disfranchises
considerable portion of the white population ;
thereby seeking to ensure The possession of politi-
cal power or in other words, the political ascen-
dancy, TO the former. 1t may be safely affirmed
that this is the first instance in the history of Re-
publican government and enlightened legislation
in which intelligence education and property have
by the fundamental law, been bound and laid pros
trate at the feet of mere numbers.
/ know that entertain kinder feelings towards
our colored people than many OF those who are
now using them for selfish or party purposes. But
it is no sander upon them TO say that they are not
fit depositnres of the controlling political power
of Slate like this. Their traits intellectual and
moral; their recent condition of Ignorance and ser
vitudc; their credulous natures. so open 10 the
practices of the crafty and designing, all combine
to produce this incapacty. They have kindly and
generous qualities but not the qualities of rule.
Numbers, intelligence and property are each and all
entitled to consideration in the distribution of po-
litical power One would suppose it was hardly
necessary in this age and country plead for the
preporderatng influences OF educliion and wealth,
and TO contend that where numbers are nearly
balanced, these should turn the scale. Every man
in the State represents life and personal liberty,
but he who Las property represents in addition
that which in society is entitled 10 like protection
with life and liberty, and he who represents intel
ligence and education has still another, and by
general concession, the highest title 10 the posses
sion of political power. What shall be said of that
scheme of government which ignores or SETS at de-
fance these plain principles Of justice, and which,
by its natural and necessary working, places the
masses who have education and property under the
dominion of the masses who have neither education
nor property? The best that can he said of such
system is that it has its very foundation in in
iustic, and can only be maintained in pcrrnanence
by force II is against nature, and cannot come TO
good.
I forbear TO discuss other parts OF the Consitu-
tion because Of my desire 10 be brief, and because
this one grand objection ought to be sufficient with
al those who have heretofore held the suffrage of
the Stute. Even low the people Of the Northern
States. after another, are rejecting partial co..
orcd suffrage for themselves, when 1t IS only SEN
timcnt or abstraction, while their representatives
in Congress arc forcing wholesale colored suffrage,
when that suffrage carries with it the dominion in
tho State upon their countrymen in the South.
Reaction must come; moral laws will vindicae
themselves, and although repressed for time by
force will work out the proper results. The white
men Of the country will feel. and acknowledge the
tie of blood. and assert their common, natural and
ndefeasible right to he rulers of the land. see
no occasion for dependency. The process may
be painful one and Of longer duration than We
could desire, butthings will assuredlv right them
selves. This Constitution. mnnstr0us rs it is. nny
he put upon us. If so, must organize Under il
and make earnest, united and persistent strug-
gle for The political control Of the State. ] have
faith in our people, in their patience and dsposi
ton TO do what il right in their hopeful and en-
during courage, in their instinct anil capacity of
rule, and in the history and destiny of the race
race Intelligence and property must and will
prevail against numbers: Let them be Of
good temper and of good cheer. Let them do what
they believe TO be their duty in the future they
have done in the past and whatever may be the
results, they will have the consciousness and the
praise of having acquitted themselves like men.
| am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
W. D. PORTER.
CHARLESTON, April 9th, 1868.