The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-04-04
ron THE oRANaEBuRa. NEWS I
Our Policy.

course the South should have pursued during
the last two or three years, with regard TO the
political measures before tho country. It was
generally conceded that the State, indeed tho
Southern States, should do something to ward
off tho ruin which threatened them--to adopt
such policy by which they could successfully
oppose the measures they thought unconstitu-
tional; and at the same time prove to the gov
;ernment their loyalty and readiness to nc
|quiesce in any course founded upon reason,
|justice, aud the constitution. ..,,
II Our people, from the very best Of motives
|they thought, decided to pursue no particular
icourse: butto remain comparatively inactive, be-
lieving that the justice of the cause would work
out their salvation. Itwas especially advised that
| they should do nothing to shape their destiny,
rather than do too much to provoke the dis
Ilpleasure Of the party in power,-that there
was wisdom in inactivity. It was alleged that
we had just emerged from most disastrou,
war in which the brightest hopes had been
disappointed, and the noblest enthusiasm that
ever animated the heart of patriots had been
destroyed and utterly shipwrecked. We wore
told that our homes had been plundcred, our
fields bightcd, our property destroyed and that
the position of our people was thnt of the con-
quered. Such was the argument used and the
influence which induced the State to adopt the
present policy. The history of the past three
years and the experience of today testify that
any other policy would have brought us to an
adjustment of our difficulties as soon, if not in
shorter time. To persist in it now can have
no other effect than to prolong our troubles
Iiuntil it shall culminatc in negro rule or militia
fry dcspotism over the South Faith simply in
the justice of u cause cannot save us-with
faith we must couple works in ordcr'to succeed
iInactvty can gain us no advantages. but on
tho other hand it will encourage tho radicals
in their acts of usurpation and efforts to over
| throw the present government of the country
Whilst we have been quietly looking on, great
changes have been effected in tho organic law
of the land. Not satisfied with falsifying the
promise made at the Inauguration of the war
against the South, that so soon rs the States
in rebellion should lay down their arms and
return to their allegiance under the Constitu-
tion, the war should cease they proceeded to
disregard the stipulations of peace between
our commanding generals. They have stulti-
fed the meaning Of the term peace by keeping
large standing army, Mt n great expense, in
tho South; and that too in the face of the
President Proclamation declaring peace was re-
established They have driven the Southern
States out of the Union, instead of drawing
them into it and established over thcm a
military dcspotism, with the promise of better
government under negro rule. They have
trampled under foot tho Constitution, and pro-
claimed tho will Of Congress the organic Law
of the land. They have dared to cripple the
Executive, to gag the Judiciary, and to subject
them all to the Legislative Department Of the
government. And now whilst we are looking
on, their design regarding the South has rer d
its height when they submit to the people the
backest and most disgraoeful instrument ever
honored by the name of Constitution.
Now ask what are the advantages of inac-
tivity? Wuigh them against the incaoulable
wretohedness to be indured by Negro-radical
rule under tho very worst type of savage cruel
ty, even though it be for short time. Who
can imagine the tide of decentralization, which
will require but few years to wash out every
noble and honorable mark that remain to us
now of our happier days. The condition of
the white race hero will be more deplorable
than that of any people known in history. In
all other revolutions there was feeling of
sympathy to temper the conqueror's rule; but
hero the superior race in the scale of human
beings is placed under tho entire control Of the