The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-03-31
For the Aaderson htelligencer-

experience is the only efectual teacher. By
the experience of the past, those who have no
ticed closely the presenb political condition OF
our State will acknowledge that We have COM
mitted q great blunder in the course we have
been led into. mean that course which has
produced in the minds of the colored people OF
this State the idea that the carpet baggers ana
scalawags are the only true friends OF system
of education for their benefit. This is really an
error-an error which seriously affects the best
interests of both races. am satisfied that the
whites of this State are, generally, favorable to
and really desire system of general education
for the colored people And this desire, in
addition to the philanthropy of the question,
springs from full examination of the facts
that all must see. The prominent facts are,
that all the colosed people are made citizens
consequently have equal right of suffrage and
holding Offices and in law, having all the rights
to its protection that the whites have. And
this condition of things is likely to last. OF
course they are free to go away or stay with us.
We need their labor, and they are our best la
borers, accustomed as they have been to our
farm productions. But few have shown any
desire to leave u.s.. Their interest, as well as
ours, is for us to work together. Their labor
on our farms supports them and their families,
and makes support for the whites. If these
be facts, is it not our interest to adopt system
of education for them? And when we remem-
Der their fidelity to their owners while slaves
during the entire Confederate war, and partlc-
ularly their peaceful and faithful protection
lis not too strong word) to their mistresses
and their children while their master was in the
army contendIng for his liberty and their slave
~, do we not owe them debt of gratitude that
demands from us to do them all the good we
can? Many of them knew, too, that by our
final defeat their liberty would be secured
Can the history of all nations and races pro-
duce an analogous case to this? In this too,
our interest and duty run together.
Besides, it takes wise men to make wise laws.
Ignorance, when led and deceived by carpet
baggers, who are working like wreckers on a
stranded ship, for their own gain, are quite
likely to be imposed upon themselves and i'm
pose on others. They have the majority In our
State They have the power to put themselves
into the Legislature to make the laws. They
have done this, as well as Judge on the Su-
preme Bench, and an officer at the head of the
military. Oppressive laws make an oppressed
people. All must see if they are to make our
laws and rule our State, that we must be the
bindcst of the blind not to sincerely desire that
they should be educated and made capable to
do it wisely. The wisdom of Legislators, up to
this time, has devised but two plans by which
to lessen vice and diminish pauperism. The
one is, to punish crime by jails, penitentiaries
and fines; the other is, to keep off crime by
instilling moral principles and scholastic learn
ing The enlightened nations of the world
have become satisfied that by the latter course
crime is diminished and honesty improved; !;
| and special endeavors are now being made in
European nations to spread education for the
young broadcaae and even to make it obligato-
~ on every youth to so to school so many
years of his minority.
Now. shall we continue to use jails, peniten-
tiaries and fines to eradicate crime and pauper-
ism among the colored people, or by pursuing
our true interest endeavor to carry out the same
end by inculcating morality and virtue, and to
increase their thrift by lessons of the value and
importance of industry?
I feel satisfied that the general current of
thought, if not so generally spoken out, of a
large portion of the white population has been,
and is now, in favor of adopting generous
and liberal system of education for the colored
people of this State. 1t is true, when the war
was brought to a close, the suddenness of the
change from slavery to freedom, the owners
were not at once able to realize the new position
in which we were placed nor so suddenly to
realize the true interest either of ourselves or
the colored people. Consequently, the excita-
BILE and inconsiderate among us have put it into
the minds of the colored people that their for
mer owners were opposed to their education
The same idea was carefully inculcated by car
pet-baggers through their leagues. In this
way we have not only lost their confidence, but
in many cases their friendship.
If the people shall choose to have conven-
vention and lay down 9 platform, cannot the
truth be brought to light and justice be done
by putting it prominently in that platform,
that the education of the colorcd people and
the children made orphans by the war shall be
among our prime concerns when in our power
| to effect it.
A moral and virtuous population are alone
capable of sustaining free government; and
if we look forward to prosperity and peace,
this standard for those who rule must be gained.
If these views shall gain general concurrence,
another truth will be made apparent and felt
by the colored people-that their former mas
| 44.. af.a. oil nro thnir host friends