The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-05-09

ssiSy .'i'h ~ PEI ipo'H'tiut5 IHctf po"cl. 1AFo"-
ing the most radical and extreme opinions with
regard to the rights of the people, and the
rights of the majority of the people, Of what
ever race or color, to rule, they have not only,
sby dsiranchiscmcnt and test oaths, attempted
.tostifc the white majority and the voice of ul
sIthc whites in this S-atc but they put in their
Constitution two provisions designed to keep
the power in their hands Ono of these is the
test oath which is required of the members
|olectcd 70 any future Constitutional Conven-
ton !; the other is provso that no amend
Incl or revision Ct the Constitution now sub
|sinittcd shall be made which shall deny or in
|any way impair the right of suffrage, or any
civil or political right rs conferred BY this Con-
|stitution, except for causes which apply equally
| 60 all persons and classes without distinction.
They deny the right of the people to change
tthcir Constitution, aud arc legisating for pos
tterity to the rcmotcst generation.
The whites are absolutely eoadcd to excr-
tion, and have no choice but to arise and de-
fcnd their existence as race, The only qucs-
tion is as to the method Of making this oppo-
sition. 1t appears to us, and such is certainly
| the opinion Of nnc-tcnths of the white people
lof the State, that our true course lies in apos-
| tive rejection of the Constitution submitted.
Such baing the case, if there arc few who
have preferred mere passive resistance, VIC
4 trust that, for the sake of unanimty, they will
lend their hearty cooperation to the plan which
has been resolved on. 1T is only by concerted
ard united action that full expression can be
given to the sentiments of the white people
while the absence of few thousand voters
from the polls might give some color to the
aver.ncnt that a portion of the whites were
favorable to the Constitution. 1t is. therefore,
i tho deliberate Judgment Of those Who unite in
[this paper, that it shonld be regarded settled,
4 that all who propose to act with the white
mans party in Virginia, Shall register md vote
;lnnd that no one should feel at liberty, what
lever LIS privatcsopirions to the proprcty of
some other couIae5 to break thosesranks which
|!Sllsala nor present sap in this
4 1t las been said that Congress, if We defeat
it, will put this Constitution OH us. Then lot
Congress be the author of this great wron"
and not Virginia, under any menace OF
violence, weakly be tempted to offer resistance
to lcr raviShcr. The adoption Of the Consti-
tuition by the people Of the State, and the i'm
position of it on them by tue Republican par
ty OF the North, are two very different things
and may be followed by very different results
-Nn acquicsccncc on our part i'll negro suffrage
is surely not the way to arouse the Northcr,
mind against it. Nor does it seem to MS posi-
bic that so monstrous Government can ever
be cicctually fastened on us. if the white pco
pie Of the State will maintain, firm deter.
mined and un!altcrinS attitude.
1t is proper. however, to remark that is by
no means certain nor do We think it probable
that Congress will impose this Constitution on
III. i we shall reject it. The Instrument is
very different in its character fronl that con
templatcd BY the Acts of Congress. These
did not profess more than the purpose to pro
vide for protection to the negro; but the Con
sttution framed leaves it necessary to provil,
fur the protection of the white man. 1t has
been suggested that the political party in pos
session Of the Federal Government prcparato
| ry TO the Presidential election. are anxious t,
have the Southern States in the Union; but
were il admissible to entertain tho hypothesis
that party considerations would influence Con
srcss in this matter, Virginia might well be an
exception to the Southern States in general as
her vote would probably be cast against the
party in question ut the Presidential election
and indeed, must be, if the whites viii only
take care to register, as VIC can command IL
white majority of $4,000
1t is our duty, then, to act together to
avoid ,l divisions; to disregard all cavilline
objections, and to vote down the propo> cd Con
siitution. TO say Of such Constitution that
it would be insupportablc, is language too fec
bic. TO say Gr it could be maintained
twenty years. that would lead to absolute
social death is too obvious to need cmbcllish-
mcnt 1t is an inundatior, cataclysm,
whose black pillows would submcrec, even
i'll that short time, every monument OF
civilzation and leave the white race in hope
les degradation. Judge Snccd, Of Accomac--
ono of the ablcst of his party, a consistent
Union man during the war, elected to the Con-
vcntion as Il radical, and acting with his party