The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-12-02
The Present Legislature.
AN ANALYSIS.

This body assembled on yesterday.
We propose to engage in brief ANA
lysis of it-an analysis concelvedin in no
spiri: of4nere prejudice, but in the splr-
it of truth and soberness. This assem-
bly,, like the existing State regime, is
the fruit Of the reconstruction scheme
of radical Congress. It was imposed
upon the white people Of the State, and
naturally it was accepted by the'colored
people. With the exception Of the few
Democratic numbers from Anderson,
Lancaster, Lexington, Oconee, Pickens,
Spartanburg and Horny, the Legislature
is composed Of persons elected exclusive
ly in the interest of the free linen Of the
State. What, now, are the elements
that'compose this body? First, we have
the Democratic element, without
strength stpresent. Secondly, We have
the white 0native) radical eltmedt.-
Thirdly, We have the white advcnturer.
FOarthly, wo have the colored ad7en-
turcr. Filthy, We have the native
South Carolina colored man. These are
.lso-a,i#eJ elements that make up this
.b,gisaidsyk aariuage Gearing in u,ind
that the intelligent men, composing the
Democratic vanguard, having no In
auence in the body, the question arises,
what infacncc controls in this dody !
The answer is plain 1t isrhe white ad-
ENTHUSIASTICALLY known as the car
pct!bagger. He it is that has the lcgis-
lativc tact aud the necessary sharpness
to wicld the sccptrc, and lie sways it
with gentle power over the less inform.
ed and the con6ding colored men. Un-
der the pretence of advancing the in
terest of the colored people, the keen
and astute politicians from the North,
aud especially from New EnglaI.d, are
fast makiugthcir fortune by sucking the
blood from our people. So far as the
Legislature is concerned, We look with
hope only to the Democratic members
and the native South Carolina colored
men. Those members of the present
Legislature who are here for time
white and black birds of prey and of
passagc-thesc, VIC deem especially hos
tile to our int.rcsts. With violent pre-
judices against everything connected with
South Carolina as she was, they will use
their power TO the detrimcnt Of the State
until they are driven from their places
But Of the colored members of the lie
gislature, we expect something more.
They are natives here. Here, they ex-
pcct to live and die. They must know
that the present order of things cannot
long last. Knowing this, it becomes
them so t, legi>late, as not to SOW now
the seeds of future retaliation. The
solid interests of the State concern them.
The future of thoir race should suggest
to them the policy of conciliating those
elements in this State, which, though
in abeyapcc now, must ultimately have a
controlling inauenccf.u South Carolina.
The present Lesislature-th' whole
State Govcrnment-rests upon a pecu'
liar basis. But it is the Government
Ss facto of the State. AS such, VIC do
not desire to embarrass it in its impartial
and legislative operations. When it
does what is right, we shall chronicle
its action with pleasure. When # does
what is wrong and unfairand oppressive,
we shall attack it with all the weapons
that independent journalism afford tc
men, yet free enough to say what they
think of public afairs.-cOlumDia Pho
air 24h ul.
It is greatly wise to talk with ou'
past hours, aud ask them what report
they bear to heaven. .- ~.