The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-05-04
WEDN EsDAY, MAY A.

far tile largest circulation (espe-
csolly IN the sa,rouaadiny count,y)
@any paper published IN Sumter,
and scas established Sa 1850.
THE PRESS AESOLUTIONs.-THE
PROPOSED CONVENTION.
Tho propriety and wisdom Of the "press
resolutions" in 80 far as the ackuowledg.
ment Of the political, legal and
civil rights Of the colorcd man, under
che laws Of the country are concerned,
are so manifest to the mass Of the intelli.
gent people Of the State, and have been
so generally admitted, and so universal
ly endorsed by this class, that anything
like on elaborate discussion Of the sub
jcct, principles aud policy therein sug-
gested would seem to be unnecessary
and out of place. And the plain truth
is, that every motive Of interest and
sound policy would indicate the putting
Of this matter forever ut rest, by its
Acknowledgements and recognition as IN
accomplished fact That it is an ac.
complished fact-accompGshed above
and beyond our ability to change, alter,
modify or amend, is fact equally
apparent to all, that the laws of the
land has conferred upon the colorcd man
the right to vote, which at once lifts him
up to the standard ofa citizen, carrying
with it the uudoubted and ipdisputable
right to hold office, that the law protects
him i'll all his rights-his natural right,
his legal and civil rights, his moral and
religious rights, his absolute and rela-
tive rights, and in all aud every par
ticular he stands as the equal of the
white man before the law; except in
social equality, which is not, never has
been and never will be the subject Of
legislation, matter which has for ages
past, and ever will govern itself upon
the principle, that "water seeks its own
Lowell" The thirteenth Amendment
abolished slavery. The Fourteenth
Amendment made the col)rcd men citi-
zens. The fifteenth Amendment made
them voters. These are parts of the
Constitution Of the United States, the
supreme law of the land, as such we
must deal with them. We need not,
neither would it be wise in us to stop
here aud inquire by what means these
Amendments were ratified, whether by
fair and honest, or by corrupt means, or
by what authority they were declared
to be parts aud parcels of the constitu-
ton. 1t is eaough for US to know that
they are the supreme law Of the land,
and as to US, US interchangeable and uu.
altcrable as the laws of the "NIcdes aud
Persians." Under the provisions of
these Amendments, the colorcd race at
once assumes powerful and controlling
influence in the administration of the
affairs Of State, holding with firm grasp
the balance of power in the Southern
States, and especially in South Carolina.
They are the dupes, and the instruments
by, and through which the sneakiny
carpet Jagysr, the sco'med and hated
scalaway, and the corrupt radical are
placed, aud held in power, to the ruin
and destruction of the best interest Of
the people of the State. Then, taking
retrospective view Of the past, in con-
ncction with the circumstances which
now surround US, the stubborn facts now
staring us in the face, with view to
future results, wo can see no reason why
we should abandon our position. We
shall "trcad no step backward" we shall
adhere to, and rc-affirm the principles
and policy suggested in the "prcss
Resolutions" Upon this broad, liberal
and comprehensive platform, we feel
that the people can safely stand and
successfully battle for the cause of
reform and honesty in the atlministra.
tion of the government The day has
been when the negro was the exception
and not the rule, to day he constitutes
the rule and not the exception.
He votes for, upholds, protects and
maintains corrupt radicalism in power,
who, while the poor negro, dcludcd aud
deceived rs to his true friends, do the
voting, while they hold the Offices and
pocket the money. And to day, we are
governed by the most ignorant aud un-
scrupulous villains that ever disgraccd
state or Iishoncrcd the name and fair
fame OF any peop!c-who rule US with
an iron rod, aud wicll the rotten sceptrc
to the utmost bounds Of the State, while
h0nesfv md fl,c ntnll;vnyoo n, tJ,o Ga.