The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-10-12

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On Wednesday next, the peofle
Of the State, white and .colorsd,
will 80 to the polls and declare either
for or against an honest government in,
South Garohaa. ;; The question hss been
iairly:aad, fully put before -thsn, from,
she press and the. .fprauf, ,apd tha,,jsese
| is in ia SiKhauas.s. Wpsawsit calmly tho
rsau,. i,'<s -: As4is' SAss4s A'aahisiisi 10 J
II h., ,besn .;ddets.naipad +. not, isiI u.s. bai
forth saSntyi asnipatioppf ,tors Sumter
County ~. s5::v.. .s4',,xa.s y. <.,4.
We do not propc,e TO ,lispass or state
at length the reasons which led to this
determination.
Efforts have been made TO-. distract
and divide the white peopleof thecoun.
ty; and whilst we believe that 'th6rs are
but few who do not now SEQ and ack6ow.
ledge the necessity which exists for
full and free acceptance of accomplished
facts, those efforts have otbsstn With
out their sffeots in producing f6diffcr:
enoe AMI RhAkvyans of'unity aud, Of Wig.
orous aaasAeerted action which are
always necSssary to success. Without
proper organization, but little can be
accomplished, especially whero SUCCESS
is to bo attained: only wien united
strength is brought to bear.
With proper Organization, and with
earnest aud combined effort, there is
scarcely room to doubt that dclivcrance
would have come to Us. Frora .hti sides
tho information has reached us that the
light of truth has at length found. .its way
to the mind of considerable portion Of
the colored people, and that they were
giving unmistakable signs of u purpose
to unite with tho honest whito men of
the county in the work of Reform.
We feel TINT We have discharged our
duty to tho country, honestly and in. the
fear of God, aud that the responsibility
rests not with us, DO the results what
:hcy may.
When two years moro shall have roIlod
around-two moro years Of degradation
and misrule-it may bo that tho mass
of our people will have sufficiently real
lied tho changes which have taken place
in tho relationship Of tho two races, to
be prepared to movo together for tho
common veal. This, OF course, rclers
only to our local affairs.
That good must result to the State
iiom the movement as whole, We have
never entertained dou5t.
Tho declaration Of the Press Rcsolu.
tions VIC regard the wiscst step which
has been taken in this Stato since the
war. It is the first practical step which
has been taken to lii; our noble old con.
monwcalth from the dust and ashes in.
to which sho had fallen, and to restore
to her tolcrable government. The
fruits of this step will be seen mainly
in the future. It. has already at least
partially broken down the political wall
Of partition between the whito and col
orcd men Of the State, and prepared tho
way for the coming of better state Of
things.
And then, the people hayS been
aroused to tho truth of tho shocking
corruptions which have stalkcd abroad
10 thoir councils Of State. The veil
has been stripped of, aud the hilaous
deformity of these things has been cx.
posed to the eye of the world. This
must aud will result, at least, iu mca
surablo reform.
The pcxt Legislature, too, will cm.
brace at least considerable conservative
minority-meu of houe'ty and of abili.
ty, whose voice and influence will work
together in u;.hcrancc Of tho samo
good purpose. And thus again will
good havo been accomplished.
This much VIC regard as beyond
doubt. But VIC have candidates in tho
field, who represent the integrity and
intelligence Of the State, and in this
connection thoro is solemn aud wcishty
responsibility resting upon our people,.
Let them rally to the polls and deposit
their ballots, side by sido with their
brethren all ovor tho State, and thus
swell the vote which is to be oast as q
protest against tho disgraceful state Of
affairs now existing. This they owo to
themselves, to thor children, to their
country, and to their God, lot tho re-
suit bc what it may.