The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-03-30

11l3vss lse J.io. I'aes.1

~ 91UI4kObS8l P1eSS ~ Uute, SuO
6te one bold, uhbl oxen, defiant
gsths corruption, venslity and
s2ls yhick now governs this State,
- Sbtch Il fast dsfyipg the honest and
from. tho ranks oftae Radical
We most cordially endorse the
liSbS Of tHs Press Conference, and
s6sc' resolutions we shall fght
6ulipg bsktle for the redemption Of
n atste. We have no sympathy with
tSsn or pArty who would deal dis
Sstly with any class for the purpose
4& 4schri6g their votes or influence
y fought boldly against the recon.
IatfIttion sots, becaufe we believed thoae
Sta would bring about just such
corrupt, cStTavagant and malicious
sisySrcise Of power a. now exists, and We
I sSst not ashamed Of the fight. We were
ssdsfeated, and the result OF that defeat is
khsfore the people-in our opinion fully
s Sustaining US in our efforts to prevent
sit That is passed-those issues are
dead, aud We have no nere to do with
them. We have now to deal with live
ssisspes--issucs that will affect the future
s--9hd it behooves US to look the matter
ssanasely, practically and honestly in the
s,3aoe, and 50 trim our sails as to steer the
5ship Of State clear Of the maelstrom into
which her piratioal officers are de.
ss,tcrr,ined to carry her. The negro is
.ipvestcd with oil political rights, to vote
.ssAnd hold Office. That is now engrafted
I upon the fundamental law of tho land,
and we believe it will never be removed.
sHo is an Integral part Of our body
polite. His vote counts equal with
!. eprs at the ballot box. His vote, obtained
by fraud, threats, lies aud bribery, has
heretofore been concentrated to foist the
present corrupt State officials upon the
8 people. What, then, is oyn duty? Is
?it the part Of wisdom, by persisting in
sfghtiua dead issucs,-to drive him from
2nsS@ Certainly not. We honestly nc.
s,Itnowiedge the rights guaranteed to him,
5ttindcr tho law, therefore we acknowledge
q him our equal at the ballot box, and
entitled to all tho rights which flow
from tho elective franchise; consequently
IN 10 our duty to defend him in those
rights, encourage him to exercise them,
and restore that natural attachment
which has been maliciously torn assundor
by the enomies of our common section,
and the greater eucmics of the negro.
Yes, the colorcd man is entitled to
vote and hold Office, aud ho will cxcr-
cise those rights. Now, the practical
question is, shall we degsedly persist
in" allowing tho "carpet baggcr" and
7ascallawag" to lnonopoIize the colored
vote, to perpctuate the infamous rule
whioh is DOW running and disgra cling
the State and Southern people Of both
races, or shall we invite aud encourage
the colored men to "come over and
help us" hurl from tho throne of venal
power those who have deceived them,
ruined us all, and will if permitted to
control public affairs much longer, swal-
bw up every political position and iuakc
honesty a disgrace, and virtue by
word /?
lffom the EQgefetd A1rcrtiss, ]
The principles here enunciated arc
: liberal, progressive and comprehensive F;
sufficiently 80, we think, to meet the
approval and secure the support of all
classes of citizens. The Edge6eld Ael-
vertiser endorses ,l>om will, unfeigned
good will. In fact Edgefield has al.
ready acted practically upon these self
sauie principles. In her late Munich
pal Election, both parties, Democratic
and Republican, met in friendly cons
ference, and agreed upon ono aud the
same ticket. We thought, and still
think, that, under existing laws and cir
cumstances, this was wise proceeding.
The present Intendant Of Edgefield is a
white Republican. Two Of the War
I dcns arc white aud Democratic the re-
naming two arc colorcd aud Rcpubli.
can.
y. The resolutions ofthc Press Confer
ence assures tho colorcd voters that
their rights are in no jeopardy, and that
their common and true Interests will be
promoted aud secured by union with
. the honest Of our people against the cor.
rupt and tho ignorant. This is wise and
sincere, and we earnestly hope the COLI
cred voters will realize it as such.
And now let us go to work, to fight
in the coming campaign, not rs demo-
gratis against Republicans for the
triumph OF party, but together, with
one accord, to get capable and honest men
into ofdco.
As. regards the proposed Convention,
We think it of the highest Importance
that a State Convention, representing
all tho clements of oppos,f;nn to tic pre-
sent corrupt Radical Administrations,
should be held in time to organize and
prepare for the Summer and fall cam
paign. AS to the time of holding the
Convention, We think it would perhaps
be better to defer action nmsil after the
assembling Of the Radical Convention.
IN this matter, however, we chcerfully
defer to the voice of the majority.
y And when our convention is authoris
tatively called, let it be called by the
united voice Of all South Carolnians
who are opposed to the party now in
power in our State, whether they term
themselves Liberals, Conservatives,
Democrats, Republicans, or Citizens,