Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-04-27
The Governors Plea.

The declarations of Governor Scott in
regard 10 The political ANA financial condl-
ton of the State, printed IN The News OF
yesterday, are highly satisfactory as ii.r as
they 90. They announce that the State
debt is only 9S,000000 instead Of Sl6,-
100000; that there will be Lo difficulty
in obtaining an extension OF ,he time al
lowed for paying the tax oflS7l that the
MAY Convention, if steered clear Of poll
tics, is likely TO do far more good than
harm that there is better political feel
ing in the State than at any previous time
since the accomplishment Of Reconstruc-
ton that the representation Of minoritles
IS necessary and right that, in appointing
officials, regard will be had to the fitness
and qualifications OF a man rather than to
his claims rs mere politician This Is
rose-colored view to take of the situation,
and the people would like TO be able to
pin their faith to the statements OF one
who can evidently be Jolly under the most
depressing circumstances But the events
of the past three or four years have made
this sceptical people The act is now the
Interpreter of theword, in the case OF Coy
ernor Scott no less than in that OF Leslie
or Crews or Whittemore How far, then,
are the semi-otiicial declarations of Gov
ernor Scott confirmed by the most trust
worthy information previously III posses
sion of the people?
IN the first place we woul.. correct one
erroneous impression. Governor Scott says
thot he believes that a arec majority OF
the whites are Republicans at heart, ior
the reason very easily understood, that
the chief issues Of the Democratic party,
SO far as the State was concerned, are alb
sorbed in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
amendments to the Constitution, CT are
settled bv the war" We admit that. IN
this State. the negro question is settled Us
a political issue. The amendments TO the
United States Constitution, which give
The colored people their freedom and the
right to vote, are now in operation IN such
form that they cannot be abrogated ex-
cept by another revolution. We hold,
then, that the majority OF the whites II
South Carolina do recognize the civil and
political equality OF the colored race, and
have no THOUGHT Of receding from tie po-
sition. in that regard, which they occupied
during the Reform canvass. But tins does
not make them Republicans, as the words
Ex-Governor Scottappear tosuggest. When
eve there is, in State or Federal affairs, a
political canvass, the whites viii Vote en-
masse against the Republican party. y
purely Reiorm movement ma. be kept
clear Of politics. and in such g movement
Radicals and anti-Radicals may work and
vote together. but wherever politics enter
into the canvass the whites will vote
squarely against Radicalism. And for
obvious reasons. A recognition OF the po-
litical rights OF the negro does not read
man, or any set OF men out OF the Demo-
cratic party. New York stands to-day
where ocuth Carolina stands, ard so do
the g,eat States Of the West The De-
mocracy OF the present-as lar as can be
judged IRON the action OF separate States
arc hatly opposed 10 arraving that party
against nero suffrage. On the other hand
there are important questions on which
the Democratic party will claim the sup
port OF the whites, and of the blacks, in
every other State. We want q sound cur
rency, q reduction Of expenses, an aboll-
ton OF the protective tariff, end Roo-an-
tcJcycnce ritz He rcse,red Rights Of tic
States These we cannot Obtain iroIa the
Radical parry. We agree with Governor
Scott in the belief that ku-kluXisrn would
consolidate Republicanism in the North as
well as the South. But, if he carries out
MS promised reforms. there can be no Ku-
Kluxisln, and the questions Of free trade
and taxation will then lead to the triumph
of the opponents Of Radicalisin here as
throughout the land.
Upon the subject OF the State debt We
can, at this time, say but little Governor
Scott admits that the debt OF the State
(outside OF the railroad guarantees is&b bout
$S,0O0000, and that there are. besides,
S2,200000 OF other bonds in the hands OF
The Fmancia! Agent OF the State This is
all that we have claimed We have said,
and say still, that the $2,200.000 OF bonds
now in New York are part OF the public
debt, and must so remain until the money
borrowed upon their security is repaid,
ard the bonds themselves are cancelled.
Governor Scott SAYS that the Floating
Debt for which the bonds are pawnedl is
only Sl,00000o and that he has half that
sum in cash III the Treasury. We are glad
20 hear it. When the Floating Debt is
paid and the hypothecated bonds are
morn to be cancelled, we will chceriully
put the debt down at Governor Scott's
figures.
We think that the semi-otiicial utter
alces OF Governor Scott will do good. This
is not mulsh people When they are
convinced that the Executive is IN down
right earnest in all that he promises to
perform, be will have no cause to complain
d lack OF appreciation Of his efforts 70