The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-08-25
For the anderson. .Intelzigencer.
The Union Reform.

MR.. EDITOR. 1--WE are no pOllGiclau, ueiCnoi
are we the son of politician; but notwith-
standing this, we have always had political
opinions. We have ever beenra believer in the
doctrine of State Sovereignty, in a strict adhe-
renee TO the Constitution as interpreted by the
immortal Calhoun ; in short, we have ever
been a States Rights Democrat. But this
doctrine, those long cherished principles, as
set forth in the Calhoun theory of interpreta-
tion, have been ruthlessly swept away-are
numbered with the things that were-and the
sooner We as a. people and State, recognize
this fact, the better it will be for us for we
may accept it as an inevitable fixed fact that
the arbitrament of the sword has settled the
distinctive features of Southern Democracy
against us, and we are necessarily compelled
to accede to this settlement whether we will
or not. We are we'll convinced now that it
would have been infinitely better for us had
we taken this view of the situation Immediate
ly after Gen. Lees surrender. But permit us
to remark that the human mind is so peculiar
ly constituted that it cannot possibly give up
old and long cherished opinions and princi-
ples-prejudices, if you please-without long
and desperate struggle, especially if these opin-
ions are strengthened by that great motive
power, self-interest. To expect man to act
otherwise, is to expect him to act in opposition
to the laws which govern his mental being
But Mr.. Editor, judging from the signs of the
times, the aspect of the political sky, as enun-
ciated by the Union Reform movement, in our
old Palmetto State, we are inclined to believe
that our probationary state in this case IS al
most over; for of late "there has great change
come over the spirit of our dream" The scales
of old and exploded dogmas, of long cherished
opinions, principles and prejudices have COM
menced falling from our mental optics, and we
are beginning to perceive that in deed and in
truth there has been war-a great revolution,
which has upheaved the very foundation of our
fabric, changing in great measure our politi-
cal and social status; that this war has culmi-
mated in the emancipation of the slaves of the
South and that Congress has, by the enact
ment of the Fifteenth amendment to the Fede-
raj Constitution, made the colored man, to all
intents and purposes, our political copartner in
all that pertains to the administrative functions
of government, Legislative, executive and judi
cial But there are two classes of men that
are opposed to the Union Reform. One class
is composed of those who belong to the "Scott
Dynasty" and of all those who are outside of
the 'Ring," but who look with pleasing antici-
patton upon fat ofices-who are sanguine in
the hope of being participants of the loaves
and fishes of future administration. They
act upon the principle that money can do any
thing, and therefore they are ready to do any
thing for money. They are 'Joined to their
idols, let them CO." The other class is COM
posed of men who have always belonged to the
Democratic party. These men are actuated by
principle-by patriotic motives. if you please.
They tell us that they are opposed to the
Union Reform because its platform of princi-
pies accepts the Fifteenth Amendment, and
therefore acknowledges the right of negro po-
litcal equality, which is a violation of the
Constitution usurpation of State sovereign
ty. Now, sir, we very cordially agree with
these gentlemen, that the Fifteenth Amend
ment is an infracton of the Federal compact
between the States as it came forth from the
hands of its trainers. But is it a greater yio-
lation than was the manumission of the negro
by the General Government? We cannot see
that it is, and yet in most cases these very
men took an oath to abide by it in good faith.
In our Judgment the first Act rendered the
second necessary, and Congress by enacting the
Fifteenth Amendment has only done what the
first Convention of the State, after the cessa-
ton of hostilities, should have done for GER
tain it is, if the negro is to remain free-which
is fixed fact-then it will be to our interest
no less than to his, that he be made to under
stand and feel that his interest and ours are
identical. This cannot be accomplished in
any other way save that of comforting upon
him equal political rights and privileges with
ourselves. We here wish it distinctly under
stood that we are not arguing the abstract prn-
ciple whether or not the negro was in posses
sion of an inherent, inalienable right to free
dom at or before his emancipation. With this
we have nothing to do. We are only contend
ing that as he is free, that therefore he is enti-
tied to the privileges of a freeman-not upon
the ground of an innate right, but upon that
of a political necessity, which grew out of his
emancipation. Hence, we should no longer
contend for exploded ideas defunct dogmss
and dead issues, but every honest man, whether
Democrat or Republican, who is not encircled
within the "Ring" of enchantment, should
place himself under the banner of the Union
Reform, saying to all scallawags and carpet
baggers, -philanthropsts and political
Adventures, give place for honest men This
should be the policy of every honest, consci-
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