The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-08-19
golitits and a1elr5.
Washington News and Gossip.

Baltimore Gazette gives tho following in
sight into new theory of the Radicals;
1t has been observed that, since :hc
Virginia election "universal'' suffrage has
become surprisingly less popular with the
mass of Radical newspapers, North and
South. But il could not have been sur.
missed that at so early day, Il journal
known to possess the confidence of the
extreme portion of the present Cabinet,
would "go back" upon the very shibboleth
of the Radical party. Yet such is the case.
In an elaborate article, evidently written
under the inspiration of authority, and by
another hand than the regular editor pro-
poses to disfranchise nincty-nine out of
every hundred negroes now entitled to
vote l quote rerbatim from the Repub-
lcan Of this city:
"rhe aystem of putting the ballot-box
into the hands of the ignorant masses
no matter OF what origin-if continued
cannot fail to lead to very serious, if not
disastrous results. Congress will be re-
miss in It's duty to the country if carly
action on the subject is neglected. 1t is
contcrdcd by many Of our ablest men,
and with great force of argument, that
the best suffrage publication would be
liability to read and write the English
language correctly" With this rs is uni
vcrsal qualification test in all Federal and
State elections, the ballot-box would be
protected against Ignorance and, to a
very large extent, against the possibility
of corruption
The brazen impudence of this sugges-
tion (from such source) cannot be sufi-
cicnty admired. Who put "the ballot
box"-Q suppose the author meant the
ballot, but his phrase is literally correct)
-"into the hands of the ignorant mas
ses?" But let that pass. The remedy
preferred as sufficient to correct the evil
is can act of Congress" But fearing
some little difficulty in that way, "six-
tccnth amendment Is proposed as a
means of undoing the mischief accom-
plished by the Reconstruction acts at the
South; and threatened by the fifteenth
amendment to the North The PROPOSE
ton is as follows:
"It is objected that VIC cannot deprive
any portion of our citizens of the right
of suffrage already granted to them.
There is no ground upon which to base
such u conclusion but if even the argu-
ment was sound it would afford no plea
against the proposed change in the laws
governing the right Of suffrage. Suppose
Congress, during the next session, enac-
ted a Sixteenth amendment to the const-
tuition, requiring the qualification of ''abll-
itv to read and write the English Ian
suago correctly" as the condition of
right of suffrage, to take effect in one,
two. or any certain number of years
hence that might be agreed upon, and
called upon the different States to ratify
their act, what State or class of intelli-
gent citizens would object TO the PROPOSE
ton? None whatever. The measure
woald be universally popular, as affording
a check against that control of the ballot
box by ignorance and corruption now
dreaded in the future by our wiscst states
men,"
The confession by an organ of the ad-
ministration that the fundamental action
of the Radical organization, "lf continued
cannot fail to lead to very serious, if not
disastrous results" is important, and will
be hailed us "ths ring of true metal"
Yet the remedy suggested (beyond look
ing to the disfranchisemcnt OF some white
voters,) is a mere "running around Robin
Hoods barn." Why not repeal the Re-
construction laws-allow the Southern
States TO alter their constitutions, enforc-
ed upon them at the point Of the bayonet,
and reject the Fifteenth amendment!
Those measures, (f coupled withprudent
alterations of our naturalization laws ap-
nlicable 10 tho Chinese and other Pagan
immigrants,) would effectually afford "a
check against that control OF the ballot
box by ignorance and corrupton,' which
has been inaugurated by Radical rascality,
and now bitterly complained of BY their
leading presses.
Another correspondent discloses the
manner and form of an impending dis
turbance among the leading lights of the
Radical party:
rke indications are by no means few OF
n Identified row in the Radical party be-
fore the Inauguration Of the new year.
r,isaffectcd Republicans in the camp pro-
claim without hesitation their intention
to have certain sights suffered by them
since tho present Administration came
into Office remedicd and promise no end
of war whom Congress meets unless am
nlo satisfaction is obtained tor their grfev-
;nccs. Several prominent members OF
tho House of Representatives are enlisted
in this fight, and from their known SCI
fshness and constitutional tendencies to
wrangle it may we'll be imagined that war
has bcon determined upon.
But this is only one of the minor de-
tails necessarily consequent upon the dis,
rnsitjon Of patronage. Matters OF inf
htey greater moment nave .n1;t lTa"'a ard up 40 10
give tone TO the coming. split ana al
q n rn or,rouiZiup for the tr;lE.