Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-03-18
Tbe Dutv of White People.

1no DuLy OIL hultc cUplcs
Nocr.yer question, or one fraught with
more important interests to the welfare Of
mankind has ever been presented for the con.
sidcration of free people, than that which
the people of Georgia will be called to pass
upon within tie next few days. A so called
State Convention, convened by order Of Con-
gress through military satrap, and chosen
by the suffrage Of our late slaves, many Of
whom were themselves elected to seats in that
body, has prepared the draft OF constitution
for the organization Of State government,
which, in few days, or, at most, weeks, will
be submitted to th' people Of the State for
ratification or rejection. Upon the decision
which the white people may make upon the
question of ratification hangs all that an hon
CRADLE, brave, and virtuouS people hold most
dear in the system of free government which
was first brought into practicable shape, and
established upon broad and sure foundations
by the fathers Of the Republic.
There can be little or no division among
the more intelligent and thoughtful of our
citizens, as to the duty of rejecting the con-
stitution proposed, even though there was
nothing in the instrument itself oGjectiona-
bic. a ratification of the constitution would
be tacit, though strong, endorsement of the
consttutionaity Of the action which called
the Convention into existence. Oar people
could never be guilty Of the despicab!e mean
ness Of endorsing and approving their own
wrongs and humilations, They lave been
compelled, by force Of arms 10 submit TO
wrongs and gross cutrngeS which would have
caused the blush of shame 10 tinglc the cheek
of wild Camanche on our western plaiHs,
and brought remorse TO tue heart Of Tim.
bucsoo cLieftain; but we thank Heaven that
as yet the white people Of the South, with
few exceptions, have preserved their honor
and their manhood. They must, then, prepare
to defeat the cousummatiou of Radical hate
and negro domination which has been so art
fully devised, and adroitly concealed in their
so called constitution. How this desirable
and most necessary end can be best accom-.
plished, is the great and 7ital question Which
we are called upon to decide.
As the Reconstruction Acts stood, until re.
Gently, we think that there could lave been
little or no Givsion of sentiment amongst us
rs to our tue line Of conduct. So long as
those acts required that a majority Of the reg.
stered votes should be cast upon the question
of ratification, our policy was that Of abstain
ing from the polls and refusing to take part
in the election farce. Now, however, since
au amendment to the Military Bills has passed
both Houses Of Congress altering this prov-
sion in the Supplemental Sherman Bill, and
declaring that majority Of the votes cast
shall decide the question of ratification, we
have come tc the conclusion that the white
people of the State Should take immediate
steps to insure full and complete vote of
every true man in the country, in order to
defeat the negro morstrosity upon a direct
vote on its ratification.
To fail to 10 this, would be a complete and
b>olute surrender OF the State Government
into the hands of the negroes aud scllawegs
We cannot afford to permit this class Of per-
sons to take possession OF the whole civil and
political machinery of the State. 1t would
be death blow To all our interests, social, III
lustria!, and political. The people would
soon lind themselves ground TO powder be-
tween the upper and neither lniStoucs OF
mean white, acting upon the ignorance aud
crcdu!ity Of dcLased negroes. Under such q
government, Loaos: aGd respectable white
people would be robbed Of iL'ir property,
in>ultcd in their p:rsons and outraged in
their social relations. 1t would be condi-
ton Of degradation and bondage 10 ignorant
negroes, far worse in its effects, AMI more
grinding in its humiliation, than that OF the
children Of Israel undcr,he yoke Of tie Egyp'
tianS. The bare thought Of such a condition
is sufficient to nerve every honest mar in the
land to all active, untirng, vigilant. and sue
ccssful canvass against such iniquitous and
infamous form cf government. The Consti-
tuition must be defeated, or the white people
OF the State must prepare for immediate en-
igralion. 1t can be defeated, if .he people d9
their duty.