Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-12-24
Editorial Correspondence.

AOOo'
Dear Courier: have been mapping to-
night and your readers must excuse any va
garcs in this communication from the beaten
track. 1 have been dreaming of the future,
It's hopes and disappointments. | am aware,
that to many, there is nothing before us but
the blackncss Of despair aud ruin. This is
nosth case with me. have hope | feel
there is "life in tho old land yet" | always
nturn the picture" aud will not look upon
its dark side It is true the buchanan con-
stitulion is dead, and.I have no hope Of rcsur
rectngi it. It's true the darling features of
our Government have goue down forever, and
Sute's rights arc numbered among the things
that were 1t is true, ihstehdsaf u group of
equal aud independently sovercigntics, united
under common consultation, ,-wo now have n
great centralized Government, composed OF
territorial areas, designated by mere names (;
that tho ccntripetal power which first showed
itself III 1908, has culuinutcd in success, and
our Ropublic has Income apation, but is it the
:%ssr ;sssr fYr utter despair? Ilave we not still
the riyht $50 aslegt st our repre1snta'ycs and tax
law and justice, administered wv JUICES ;g ,,I Of
our own choosing? Have ne not ';,rv y"'
great s5munncnts Of freomen, trial by :,
compulsory process for witnesses, &c. L.
its essential features the present differs mate.
rally, from our former system Of government,
Tut may VIC not prosper iii this soil Prob
ably the change WHICH hus been effected, is
designed to, and wifi iPerpctaptc u dccaying
Govurnlnent Perfect freedom is consistent
only with perfect virtuc, and us the lattoryis
lost the former must diminish. livery one is
aware, it takes II stronger Government to re.
claim man from, state of barbarism and school
him to virtue, thulTto control him afterwards.
1t is equally clear, that to restrain his degen-
tracy, thcssame is true. No one would claim,
that .veu among the most gifted of our land,
there is that 'unselfsl, Roman virtue, which
characterized oursanccstors and led them to
success In its loss, astronger Government
may prove beneficial rather than injurious to
our interests. But some one says "Nigger,"
aud everybody echoes ruin. Now my friends,
tho question 0f universal suffrage is settled.
While it was left to tho States, there was
hope Of clanging or modifying the right OF
suffrage, but now virtually it has become
part of the Constitution of tho United States,
and is the organic law Of the land. Whether
twill yield good or evil fruit, time will show,
andGif evil, the amount of the evil will dcpend
much on the people. apprehend more
danger from the eupinenoss of oroaking in.
telligcnce, than from any roal defect in the
Government. II our people take counsel of
their passions and prejudiccs and refuse to
exert themselves, to reclaim or better their
condition, then they cannot oomplain at the
consequences of&their own folly, g If on the
contrary, they will accept the present state oe
things, and put their shoulders to the wheel,
in short time, much that is Objectionable
will disappear 1t cannot bo denied that
mo,.sof our evils are Imaginary, and proceed
from p,SjGdice and habit. Itwas this which
icd our people to reject the wise oounsels
Of Governor Orr and follow the leadership Of
violent partizanship and disappointed }hopea.
Had we not stood aloof from the polls, as if
they were prisons, how different the result
might have been. a man may vote and hold
Office and yet be good democrat in faot we
believe sat tho next election, tho extremes
will mcet,in tho seeking offices, by those who
once thought ofieeta Disgrace under the pres.
ont reg iDies want to ask our pepplelone
question IsSthe virtue and into elligence of
South Carolina afraid to contend with tho ig-
norance Of the negroY Butyou say passion
and prejudice blind tho negro to any argq.
.ment in favor Of right and Justice. y a deHy
the proposition. The negro deserves credit,
not 3only for his good conduct during thew
but for his forbearanco Bihoo, Has any one
tried 10 conciallate him 7 IIaslany one offer
:aa % Qtect his rights, provided hes will vote
Tor mon Of Jintelli ligehee;2 Give Tho devil his
due Place yonfselves In his ssitgatiop SS;and
,inob on np2i d cone .hanared can be- efouiidj who
'woyl1 hot not us iIe Idoos. Show to him, that
good laws and d oheap government iss what
you van, end he will SshsHd I'M hand with
s6olntsl ligod 4 poop Act 10 good iaith
safdsS him, md tllcn your intelli 40 md