The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-05-11
From tho Columbia Guardian.1
THE REASON OF IT.


At the mass meeting held to celebrate
the ratification of the fifteenth amend
ment, Senator Rainey made Speech.
He mentioned as great wonder, that
the negroes wcro so quietly and easily
kept in slavery. His words were &C ID
only knows how they kept us in slavery
so long-so many men of intelligence.
1t only goes to show that tho colored
people knew their own minds, and were
determined to wait upon the great God
until those rights should come"
That Senator Rainey is ignorant of
this matter is no great wonder. But
beyond what he knows about it, there
is good deal we'll known outside Of
the counscls of the Omniscient.
The explanation Of the wonder is to
be found in tho fact that the negro in
slavery was, and has always been, bet.
tor of than in freedom. BY better of
wc mean moro healthy in body, more
sane in mind, less criminal, and more
increasing. This fact-ail these facts
were shown by Mr. Calhoun thirty years
ago in report or letter which he wrote
upon the matter, made up Of facts then
just made public in the United States
census Of 1910. There was much and
angry discussion on this paper, because
the question then in the minds Of our
whole people was slavery; and every
thing upon tho status of the negro was
seen through the medium Of an angry
craftsmanship. But the facts we're facts
no less and, now that We have no oc-
casien to lose temper about it since
slavery is dead, We may safely refer to
it in considering Senator Rainey's won.
der.
We of course do not mean to imply
that those facts or the reasoning based
upon them ever influenced the negro 8
judgment, because We are aware that
they never reached that judgement any
more than they have reached Senator
Raincy's.
But our meaning is that the coudi-
tion Of comfort in which the negro has
always lived in the South has resulted
IN making him comparatively content
with his fortunes. The ,nerciful and
Christian administration Of the system
ol slavery in the hands Of al immense
majority Of shareholders in tho South
took from that condition-however
harsh in theory itmay be--so much OF
its bitterness that the slave was well
nigh content with his lot.
This fact it is, and this only, can
explain to Senator RuiDey the reason
for his races remaining SO lcng and so
contentclly in slavery. 1t explains
too-tl,at which astounded the world
aud contounded the wisdom of the
abolitionist-- tho slaves in thc
South remained quiet during tho wal
Of four years.
Senator Raincy IS right when he says
sl'at "it ouly goes to show that the col
orcd people knew their own minds;'--
but not as ho meant it. They knew.
that is, they ioli-that we'll enough
nigh. better be let aloud. They were
therefore, passive. They were not 81
much waiting upon the gycat God, a,
Senator Raiuey seems to think, o.
under the hand Of God they were bcin.
used By Him for his high purposes
They were not controlling 'P.ovideuc
By their superior wisdom bat mos
likely Providence was CONTROLLING then
and their wisdom too.
| Fletcher estimates that orthe $4,000.
! 900 negroes II, Africa. ubout 40, ,0O0, 90
arc held in slavery by shs o,ber ia
millions. DR.. Lpsoabsck and lsands,
Il . !. -.a 4 - 81