The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-07-22

Deen pfeFenIcu W o.tio u ei io A'iA''
ual of that class-be his intelligence and
virtue what it may-have had any induce,
ment to cooperate in the enforcement OF
laws thus passed2
These views which were regarded with
SO much odium only brief year ago,
when / was frank enough to make them
public, are now accepted by large and re-
spectacle organizations OF the white ,peo-
pie in every section of the State, and on
that basis earnest efforts are being made
to obtain the support OF the colored race.
Looking even to the interest OF that
race, Congress in, my judgment, CON-
ted grievous mistake in bestowlng upon
it univeral suffrage. 1t may secure tenn
porary party triumph, but it will inevita-
bly lay the foundation of corrupt gov
ernment-of corruption among voters and
corruption among Legislators and ministe-
rial officers.
Can it be expected that wholesome laws
Will emanate from Legislators whose con-
stiuents may be ignorant and vicious p
Again, where the large majority of voters
are ignorant, do they thus become the III
struments of corrupt men, in elevating TO
mower those who are utterly unworthy of
their suffrage? How can voter, whose
mind is unenlightened by experience or
intelligence, protect himself from fraud or
mposition-unable. as he will be, to dis
criminate between that which is upright
and that which is depraved? !?
Universal suffrage is all evil which has
been appreciated for many yeals; and the
evil results from the fact that the ignorant
voter enables the corrupt aspirant for
office by bribery, persuasion orimportuni-
tv TO foist himself into position, and then
protect himself in his tenure by means at
once illegitimate and dishoDorable. 1t is
for this reason that universal Suffrage has
been repudiated in several of the North
ern States.
To confer the right, therefore, upon the
colored people of the South-the majorl-
.ty of whom have just emerged from con.
dition of slavery, and who have not intel
ligence to exercise the privilege, is wrong
done to society and to the colored man
himself, which must retard the civilization
of this section for many years to come
1t has, however, been imposed upon the
South, and in my judgment the evil will
not be ameliorated except through our
own exertions, aided by the efforts and
influences of the moro intelligent of the
colored race.
1t is very apparent that the Republican
party, 80 long as they may retain power,
will adhere to universal suffrage. With
their plan of restoration carried into effect
as it has been, the Republican party are
now willing to leave the question of suf-
frage TO .he States themselves, their poll
cy having placed the party in power; and
it is vain to expect any restriction whlle
they remain in power. 1t is equally idle
to anticipate relief from the Democratic
party. The Republicans will have the
undisputed control of the government I'LL
the 4th of March, 1869. Even though the
Democrats succeed in the Fall elections,
and secure their President. and the House
of Representatives, there will still be Il
Republican majority of more than two
thirds in the Senate, and that majority
must continue if the present party divls-
ions are maintained, until the 4th Of March,
1870. Assuming. therefore, that all the
intermediate elections shall be favorable
to the Democratic party, not until the 4th
March. 1871, can they obtain control of
the Legislative and executive departments
of the Government; and not unit. then.
whatever may be their disposition, will
they possess the strength necessary to
limit this right CT suffrage When in
power, however, how are they to proceed
in removing the evil-what remedy can
they apply? Will they repeallhe Recon
struction acts of 1867
The Convention in New y ork has avow-
ed the doctrine that the right OF regulating
suffrage belongs exclusively to the States.
Upon that issue, mainly within the last
six months, the party have achieved their
success over The Republicans i'll the North
and West.
In 1871, the Southern State governments
will have been in operations under these
Acts for three years. and, to Il certain en-
tent, society will have adapted itself to
their laws and requirements. Should the
Democrats, under these circumstances, re-
peal the Reconstruction Acts, or should
the Supreme Court pronounce them un-
constitutional and declare the State organ
izations 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 de-
iermne the question of suffrage? The
theory of the Democratic party will be
that the States themselves must do So
Will the party in direct opposition to that
theory, when they pass new Reconstrnc-
ton Acts, ignore the Southern Constitu-
tons of 1865, and by their act declare
against the suffrage of the colored man,
either universal or qualified? Will not
such action upon their part be directly in
antagonism to their protessed principles,
and their legislation be following directly
in the footsteps of the Republicans whom