The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-08-18
HoYT & CO., Proprietors
The Sagacity and Credulity Of the Negro Race.

The Sagacity and Credulity Of the Negro Race.
The correspondent of the Charleston Courier,
accompanying the Reform candidates on their
canyassing tour throughout the up-country,
has had abundant opportunity to study "the
situation" and in one of his recent letters, he
gives the result of his impressions, concluding
with earnest words of advice to the white peo-
pie as to the necessity for personal explanation
and solicitation. Is every white man discharg-
ing this duty? Here is what the correspon-
dent says of the sagacity of the negro in one
instance and his unaccountable credulity In
the other:
The history of every newly enfranchised
race exhibits some peculiar circumstances, but
think there cannot be found on record an in
stance of people more easily duped than that
of the colored race in South Carolina. That
the colored man should turn his back upon the
Democratic Platform of 1868 is most natural.
One of its main features was declaration OF
the illegality of the very Act which gave to
him the right of suffrage, and whatever may
have been the opinion of the wise statesmen OF
the country as to the fitness of the newly en-
franchised African race for the suffrage, it was
quite natural that they should fight to the
death against such party platform. In this
respect think they exhibited wonderful po-
be understood when their attitude in the polit-
ical arena for the past twelve months is con-
sidered. I cannot easily conceive how people
who gave evidence of such shrewdness in 1868,
can be SO easily duped in 1870; how fellow
like Whittemore, accused and convicted by a.
Republican Congress of disgraceful conduct,
virtually expelled from the seat in the national
legislature which he had disgraced, can delude
them into re-electing him, and even after being
again refused admittance to Congress, can re-
turn to his constituents with so black record
end assume at once prominent place in the
councils of what is called the Republican par
ty. Nor is this delusion of the colored people
confined to Whittemore's district. During the
past ten days / have visited every principal
town in the mountain regions of South Carroll
ma, and observe the same system of delusion
kept up by the Scott Ring.
For instance, at Abbeville Court House there
are several idle mulattoes, engaged in no appa-
rent avocation, loungers about the streets from
day to day, and two or three worthless, BRAIN
less white men, doubtless in the pay OF Scott,
who exercise a wonderful influence over the
colored people of the whole District.
In Oconee County this Scott worship is, or
was, kept up (for believe that great rcvolu-
ton is about to take place in the politica: his
tory of South Carolina) by dirty, thriftless,
weazen-faced white man.
In Greenville, fellow who bears the brand
of the Penitentiary upon his face, rules these
people, and in other places the same curious
anomaly is apparent. These men, who are by
no means representative class, are given office
or paid by the Scott Ring, for the purpose OF
keeping the c9iored people bound down to
their interest, and right successful has been
their efforts. Their whole argument is, "be-
ware of the white man. He will reduce you
to slavery again if you allow him to get in
power" and this specious argument, acting
upon naturally jealous mind produces the
fruits to which I have alluded
Now this is the feeling that the friends of
Reform have to counteract. The colored man
must be made to understand, thoroughly, that
the whites of the State, who have hitherto, in
one sense of the term, at least, been their
political enemies, extend now the olive branch
of peace. That recognizing, in its fullest sense
and in good faith, all the rights guaranteed
them by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
,ments, and pledging themselves to protect them
in the enjoyment of these rights, the white
people ask them not to abandon the ranks of
the Republican party; not to vote against any
man who is Republican; not to give up any
of their political or civil rights but to join
with them OIL common platform of equal
rights to all men, and help rescue the State
from the hands of the corrupt Ring who now
misrule and misgovern. Let them understand
that they are asked to help depose Scott and
Neagle and Parker and Whittemore, and the
rest of this Ring, not because they are Radi-
Gals, but because they have, during nearly two
years of misrule proved themselves totally un-
worthy of the solemn responsibilities entrusted
to them because they have well nigh plunged
the State into inextricable ruin. That the col
ored people are gradually awakening to these
great truths / do not doubt, but there are pow
erful influences brought to bear upon them,
and although they invariably attend the Union
Reform meetings in this section in large num-
bers, there are many who are kept away by the
threats and persuasions of Scotts agents.
Hence, as I have already stated in a previous
letter, exists the necessity for active local can
vassing. Those men who are kept away from
hearing the truth at the public meetings,
should be talked to and reasoned with by the
more intelligent people in their vicinity.
have 50 much faith in the good sense of the
colored man, and in the justice of our cause,
that l do not hesitate to predict the most graf
flying results.
KEEPING ACCOUNTS WITH FREEDMEN.-On
of the most fruitful sources of trouble with the
employer of freedmen, says the Rural Caro-
Hnian, is the want of understanding on the
part of the latter of book accounts. The freed
man sets in on the 1st of January, for theyear,
at so much per month. The employer must
necessarily open running account with him,
in which he charges him a stipulated amount
for every day, or fraction of day, lost, as
we'll as goods, supplies and cash advanced
giving him credit with the stipulated amount