The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-14

conflicting views, to wit: in the pro-
position of qualified suffrage. As q
matter of abstract right-73as q matter
of Justice to say 4 nothing of the
the concessionT-I hold that the State
is in equity bound to give to its
colored citizens qualified suffrage
q suffrage based upon intelligence and
pr0perty---a. suffrage resting on. the
sound basis of merit and material
acquisition. :'h '-'sa'o S'l'e7t ..'
This, sir, in my humble opinion,
is the rock upon which, on this ques-
ton, the South can stand before
Heaven and before men. This is
the rock against which the waves of
radicaiism will be found to break in
vain. This is the rock. upon which,
firmly standing, the Democratic par-
ty will surely prevail. If there be q
peaceful solution of this great ques-
ton of the colored man, now before
the Southern people, I solemnly be-
lieve that this is that solution. For
his sake, rs we'll as our own-for the
sake of our common country-we
must, if possible, move the black
mans case from the political arena.
And L can perceive no surer, fairer
and speedier way, than by making o
generous concession, and a settle
ment of this vexed question upon the
basis of wise and just conservatism.
This, sir, is the proposition of
peace, fairness and good will that I
regard it our duty to extend to the
colored people. That Constitution
which they are called upon to ratify
ut the ballot-boX, violates the com
promises I have suggested, as fit and
becoming for the two races to adopt.
Let them, therefore, pause and think
before they decide to give it the seal
of their appreciation. It is an
lniquitous instrumental foolish and
faulty instrument, and will stand, if
adopted, for time only. It is pos
sible that the bayonet may hold it up
awhile; but, that removed, it must
fall to pieces, and give place to ono
that shall bear the impress of n
sagacious and enlightened and phi
losophical craftsmanship.
If not too late, would suggest to
the colored man, that his interests
are closely bound up with those of
the white man-although he must
bear in mind that we can do without
him far better than he without us. I
would urge him to turn away from
the fatal clutches of the monster of
an insane radicalism. Let him again
put his faith in the Southern people,
whose prejudices against him are not
half as strong as those entertained ut
the North. Let him resist the acts
and disregard the fallacious promises
of those strolling adventurers, who
have come down here to make the
colored people the instrument of
their own elevation to power and
place. Let him scorn the PROPOSE
tions of those recreant whites from
our own ranks, who would basely
barter away the birth-right of their
race for mess of pottage. Let him
no longer hearken to the counsels of
those greedy men of his own color,
who, in claiming too much for their
own people, may make them lose all.
And, above all, let them at once
to-day-leave the ranks Of that Radi-
cal party which, arraying the negro
against the superior strength of the
white man, will surely pave the way
to his ultimate ruin.
If, however, the colored man per-
sists in his mad career, it is proper
for him to understand now and Mt
once, that he can never long rule in
the South. In the conduct of affairs,
we are willing for him to participate
to the extent already plainly indicated
But to his domination, we will never
willingly submit. This land is ours,
and we do not intend to give it up.
This is politics. contest which we
would never abandon. We would
pass it from father to son. It would
go on from generation to generation,
until we had rescued the land be-
queathed to us by heroic ancestry.
This, let it be understood, is the re-
uo1 yn nf Tho GD,,fb T ra,,aot rya 1o NOT