The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-26
THEW .ATCHMAN
sWEDNEsDAY.JCLY 26.
WHITE AND BLACK POPULATION.

WHITE AND BLACK POPULATION,
The Co:umbia Union publishes the
population figures as shown by the
United States census tables. The total
population is put down at 3S,549,9S7.
OF this bat 4,s79,S23 are colored! The
Union says that this is "fOod for reaeo-
ton to these who would 60 too fast in
these parts" A timely reminder, we
would say.
1t has seemed to us, all the time, that
the more sensible and better educated
colored men, who have figured and con-
tinue to figure, in the direction ofpublic
affairs, have acted Immediately under
the adventitious circumstances present,
and entirely without reference to the
future--exhibitipg that "haud to mouth"
practice which is seen though we'll nigh
the whole colored mass. They have
not only sought equality of rights and
privileges with the whites but have gone
forward and occupied positions which
they we're enabled t. obtaiu only because
Of the color of their skin. White men,
Of similar education AID general fitness,
at 30 period Of the country's history,
could have sought aud obtained any
sach positions. They have not only
not been content With equality, according
to fitness, in the rights and privileges
of citizenship, but they have sought
rule-to govern, both their own people
and the whites. White mer of iu-
telligeuce, Of learning, of experience in
governmental affairs, have been rudely
thrust aside, and counted as Of no in
auence or rights, whilst the ignorant
black msu-entirely unit for directing
public affairs, from the irresistible cir
cumstanees attendant-has been put
into their places. Venerable and
learned Judges, who shed lustre upon
the Jurisprudence Of the State, were
silenced in q mass and black man has
even aseended the Supreme Bench, only
because he was black man-himself
admitting bis want Of ability for the
position.
We write these things not because We
are uufrieudly to the colored man, or
because We would restrict him in any Of
his rights Of citizenship; bat because
they must aud will be considered, and
because the leaders of his own race seem
to have forgotten them. With popula
tion of but 4,879,323 against white
population of more than thirty millions,
and with all the deep rooted and We may
say inefacable prejudices against his
race, North and South, East and West,
he has rot only sought the fullest civil
but actually to trample upon
the rights of the whites and to rule the
Southern country.
With this overwhelming display Of
plumbers, how long can they hold the
unnatural position they have attained,
only BY the power Of fauaticsl aud
corrupt party, ruling the Government
We put this question to the sensible
colored men Of the country. And We
do so in the interest Of their own race,
for the time to come. The white race,
with all their immense advantages in
in education, in morality,
in the arts and sciences. aud the great
aud powerful machinery Of their civiIi-
cation combined-can and viii take care
Of themselves. We have never felt
anxiety or doubt in regard to their
position as considered, relatively, 10 the
colored race. But what i. 10 become OF
The latter, if there be persistence in the
present course ?