The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-07-20
THE WATCHMAM

THE Sumter Ra,c1Ianan las Sy
far the largest circulation (espe-
csally 1.-THE s,t,Tou,,dsng: :osouna,y)
Of any paper published IN Sumter,
and scas established IN 1860.
THE PLArroRm o. rzsn nnvos1ss
MOvEMRNEs
F Objection is still urged, by some, to
the resolutions Of the Press Cor ference,
and tho platform Of the juno Convention
put forth in pursuance thereof, because,
it is said, the position thereby assumed
the acknowledgment Of tho provisions
of the Fifteenth Amendment of the
Federal Constitution and the accordance, o,
as therein established, of full and exact
justice and equality, civil and political,
to all citizens, white aud black-in.
wolves sacrifice Of principle, aud leads to
social equality and miscegeuation. A
receding sentiment, in the face Of the
advance Of events, and the irresistible
logic of accomplished facts," has fallen
back from point to point, and now
makes still another feeble stand behind
those positions. We believe them to be as
uoteuable as any Of the ground we have
attempted to hold, and been forced to
yield, in this general issue, s:nce the
overthrow VI the Southern armies and
the final fact Of emancipation. Aud We
tell the people, with all the earnestness
ofwhich we are capable, to heed not the
voice that would still keep alive the
hope, that, by some sweeping counter
revolution, some extraordinary influence
some, Owe would say) miracle of
Divine interpositiou-tho ballot is to be
wrestcd from tho hands of the black
man, aud power, in that way, restored
to the intelligent and respectable white
men of the country. It is a delusion-
fatal delusion-a dclusion which tends
directly to protract the evils from. which
we now suffer, to lead us Deeper aad
and deeper into'the. shades of obscurity
and humiliation, andto make us more
thoroughly the prey of the corrupt men
now ruling the State.
But. we contend, that we do not sac
ri6ce principle in the platform alluded
to. If there was sacrifice of principle,
when Generals Leo aud johnson sur:
rendered their swords to overwhelming
numbers, instead of protracting the
struggle until the last man was disabled
If there was sacrifice of principle
when We admitted that our effort to
establish Southern independence was
failure, and the-abolition of slavery a
reality, then is there sacrifice of princi-
pie now, when We admit tho political
and civil equality of the black man.
They ore all equally and alike the rc-
suits Of the enforced by tho Same
power, and the same extent of power.
And it is equally as futile for us to at
tempt to ignore or resist one of these,
as either Of them, or all of them. If it
was tho part Of wisdom--thc dictate Of
sclf.prcsorvation and iutcrest-to admit
the existence of one of these, and act
in accordance Herewith, it is equally
so with reference to all of them, for
each is part and parcel ofthe other.
And We contend that neither social
equality or miscegeuation follow as
consequence. These are exclusively mat
tcrs Of tastc-above and beyond all
application Of force or legislative enact~
ment, be it ever so arbitrary. And,
paredoxioal as it may seem, it is never
.theless admissible Of logical demonstra.
,fiou, aud the assumption is borne out
in the philosophy of human nature,
that continued refusal to admit the
equal political and civil rights of the
colored man, under existing circum-
stances, tends more to produce those
results than would quiet knowledge
ment Of those rights.
The solution and successful maintain
ance Of the position is found 10 that
and governing clement of
nuns nature that seeks the possession
and employment Of that, the righ, to, or
of, which, is disputed or do
MED. And the ground assumed is but
stronger, because wc find tho attendants
circumstances peculiarly adapted to the
development of the element involvcd.-
For example: The supreme law Of the
|and aceords equal political and civil
rights TO- tie oolorcd man. Tho right
10 their enjoyment by him, or tho prin-
'iple or a'AhoriAy by which those privi-
|eges arc conferred, is questioned, ig !
norol 1seo,,kol An