The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-03-04
farmer's department.
The Condition of the Southern People.

Southern States, including the progress
of internal improvements; the increase
of shipping in the maritime ports; the
increase in the extent Of land planted,
and in the aggregate and quality of the
crops; the introduction OF large and
valuable class of immigrants; the influx
of capital from the North, and to less
extont from Europe; the rise in the val
Nc of Southern securities, and the gen
erol development OF the resources of the
country.
This prosperous state Of affairs, al
though as yet but comparative, it must
be remembered has obtained in conse-
quence of the natural resources and at
tractivencss of the country, and in the
face of political and governmental diff
culties and distractions such as we have
rarely been imposed on people. A mil
itary satrapy, sustaining a Freedmen's
Bureau used as political and partisan
machine in the interests Of Northern car
pet-baggers; denial of representation,
and of political rights to the property
owners, the only legitimate and represen-
tative men of the South; a dlatory and
constantly tinkered and changed enact
ment for the political reconstruction of
the Southern States, and for their recog-
milton as such by Congress, have not been
such influences as would attract capital
or timil and peaceful immigrants; and
vet in spite of all this there is a manifest
and gratifying evidence Of progress in
the right direction, encouraging the be-
lief that if the Southern people will con-
tinue quietly to pursue their avocatons,
offer inducements to capital and immgra-
ton, and leave quarreling and fighting TO
Congress, it will continue increasing eve
ry year, and soon place that section in its
relative position previous to the war, so
far as agricultural and commercial pros
perity are considered. All that the South
ern people have to do now is to study
how to develop the resources Of their Sec
tion, how to improve its reputation in the
North and abroad, and 10 assure those
who choose to go and settle upon her
soil, To till her fields, TO work her mines,
or to put her immense water power into
use, that they will be cordially welcomed
and protected in their persons and in
their property.
We have no idea that, under the ad.
m;nistration of General Grant, this delay
ing and confusing matters by constantly
reconstructing reconstruction will be toll
Grated or continued He undoubtedly
meant to convey his determination in this
matter to the people, North and South,
when he announced his platform as
"pcace.' The work of the last three
years will not be gone over again. A
sufficient number Of those elected with
him will undoubtedly sustain his wishes
He will probably not surround himself
with troublesome and quarrclsome spirits,
unfavorable to anything that savors of
settlement and quiet, and these are strong
indications that in many important par
ticulars the Southern people will be agree
ably disappointed in him. The matter of
universal negro suffrage-lhe worst The
South has to fear politically--is in less
danger of being legislated upon them by
Congress at the present time than at any
previous time since the war. 1t may be
enforced by constitutional amendment. in
which case all of the States wo' ID suffer
in proportion to the extent of their negro
population, and of course it would bear
hardest on the South in some respects.
But after all we doubt if it would be Il bil
worse than in those States of the North
where, The vote of each party being near
ly equal, tho balance of political power
may be held by this ignorant and impe-
eunious race The white property hold.
ers of the South will always exercise Il
more powerful influence over their sable
fellow-citzens than is possible elsewhere,
from the very fact that they raised and
once owned them.
In addition to this, there is ample room
to doubt whether the proposed amend
yacnt to the Constitution providing for in
discriminate suffrage and otfice-l lolding
will ever be adopted by the required con.
stitutional ma ajority-threc-tou OF all
the States 1t is undoubtedly unpopular
in the West. 1t has been voted down by
large majorities when proposed iE - mod
fled form in six or seven OF the States.
The West does not seem to bow down to
negro equality. 1t has ineftaceablc pre-
judices against it; and its only chance is
submission to the Legislatures now in
session, in order to prevent the voice of
the people from being heard. The delay
in submitting it, if continued but short
time longer will prevent these Legisla-
lures from acting on it, or receiving it
before their adjournment, and then the
vote of the West, combined with that OF
the South and such of the Northern States
as will also oppose negro equality, will be
all.suffioent to prevent the ratification of
the proposed amendment. Let it come
before the people fairly and squarcly, and
upon the question of negro suffrage or no
negro suffrage. We are firm in our con
viction that negro suffrage will be voted
down by an overwhelming majority. The
sentiment of our people is undoubtedly in
favor Of reserYinn to the Scveral Statcs