The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-16
A BLACK MANS VIEWS.
PAIN Talk FROM MAJOR DELASH
TO FRED. DOUGLASS.
The White PolitlcaI Leaders Of the
Southern BlaclSs-WhatH Has Been the
Result OF their Teachings.

|
Major N. r. Delany, black man OF some
education and considerable independence,
who Is now established In Charleston as a
land agent, has published a letter to Fred
Douglass, containing a review Of the condi-
ton of things political In South Carolina,
which, he, thinks, will also Justly apply to
nearly all, If not all, the reconstructed States
ofthe South. We make some noteworthy ex-
| tracts from the letter:
When the war ended the colored people of
| the South had little knowledge OF social and
political affairs, and had of necessity. to accept
such leaders as presented themselves. The
| hrst of theseiwere In, the persons Of various
agencies; as school teachers (mostly women
| the Christian Commission, colporteurs and
agents of the stFreedmen's Affairs" mot the
Bureau,) who aided in directing their social
and domestic relations.
When reconstruction commenced, political
| leaders were greatly required, but few TO be
had. Southerners (the old masters) studious.
| ly opposed and refused to countenance recon.
| struction, and the freedmen were fearful and
would not have trusted them If they could have
| obtained their aid.
Those who came with or followed the army,
| with very few native whites, were the only
|
| out the measures of reconstruction.
These were readily accepted by the blacks
| (by this Include the entire colored people,
and the fullest confidence reposed In them.
Some were or had been officers 10 tile army,
some privates, some suffers, others ,peddlers
and various tradesmen, others gamblers, and
even pickpockets, Hangers on" aud toum-
mers." I am particularly speaking OF the
whites. Among these were men OF refine
ment. educated gentlemen, and some very
good men; but o large. part OF those most ac-
tive were of the lowest grade Of Northern So
clety, negro-haters at home, who could not
have been elected to any position of honor or
trust. Just such men as burnt down negro
orphan asylums and hung negro men TO lamp
posts in the New York riot of 1868. In this
review Intend to speak plainly; call things by
their right names, aud look rhose Of whom [
sneak directly In the lace.
The best and most competent men were
chosen to I'll the most important positions I'M
State and local governments, while the others;
readily obtained such places as required In
cumbents. Indeed, there was scarcely one SO
incompetent as not to have been assigned
some position Of trust.
> Posilioned In places of power, profit and
| trust, they soon sought by that guile and de-
ception known only to deWagogues. under under
can and Radical, to iutrude themselves Into
the confidence OF the blacks, and place them
selves aC their head as leaders. 80 inslduous.
| ly did they do this that 1t was not discovered
| by the few colored men of intelligence who
| held places among them till too late to reme-
| dy the fatal evil.
their career upon basis of the most DANCE
ro,ls political heresy. Deception, lying, cheat
| ing, stealing. 'swhaterer can be done IN poll
tics s fair" and to 'beat Ia the duty In poltt-
| ical contest, no matter what means are used
to effect it,n are among the perniclous pre-
cepts OF this moral infldellty.
Jealous of the few Intelligent colored men
among them, they studlously sought to divide
/ the blacks, by sowing the seeds of discord
among them. This was facilitated by preju.
| dIcIng the Ignorant against the intelligent.
These men strove and vled each with the
| other, regardless Of consequences, to place
| himself In the lead OF o community OF blacks
| In both town and country. which IN time Wns
reduced to little else than rabble mob OF dis
order and confusion. Trained In the leagues
as serfsto their masters, 1t became dangerous
! to oppose the teachings of these men OF mis-
chief. Because, having been recommended to
their confidence at the commencement OF re-
construction, their experience ana knowledge
| In public men and matters were too limited to
believe anything against them.
A knowledge of this emboldened these men
| to persistence In their course of crime and
| corruptiOu. Hence, many otherwise good
| men, both white and black. from age, inexpe-
| rience or weakness were induced to accept the
monstrous teachings and join With or follow
the lead OF these wretched imposters. Their
sole object being personal gain, they cared
| little or nothing for public veal, the interest
of the State or people, black or white, nor the
Republican cause, upon which they had lnde.
Gently imposed themselves. This is that which
controlled Charleston politics and brought
deserved defeat to the Republicans IN me re-
cent municipal election. It was just retribu-
tlon to set ofunprincipled miscreants, riotlnS
on the peoples rights under the name OF RE
publ!cans" Honest, upright men OF all par.
ties, white and black, no longer able to bear 1t,
determined TO put down the abominable thing;
leading Republicans, who had been standing
aloof. taking an active part.
Among other things they taught the simple.
minded people that suffrage was lnViolaoly
secure, the blacks being in the majority, would
always control the affairs OF State IN the south;
that The fifteenth amendment had abolished
color and complexion in The United States,
| and the people were now all OF one race. Tn1s
baretaced deception was 80 instilled INTO them
that 1t became dangerous In many Instances tq
20 into the country and speak OF color tn any
| manner whatever, without the angry rejoind-
er: "We don't want to hear that; we are all
| one color now ]"
These ridiculous absurdlties were fostered
BY the demagogues the better to conceal their
| own perfdy and keep themselves IN tne Oesl
positions, as "Republcanism knows no race, u
they Taught.
Another imposition was that colored people
| did not require intelligent colored leaders;
that the constitution had been purged of eoor
| by Radical Congress, and to be Republican
\ was all that was required to make true rep
resentatve. That mental culture and qua!if.
cations were only required by the proud and
arrogant; that all who requested those ac-
ccmplishments were enemies to botn black
and white; that race representation was
making distinctions on account OF race and
color. By this means they opposed the quail
! lied men among the blacks, encouraged the
Ignorant and less qualified that they might OF
necessity take the lead and occupy the best
places In the party. These are plain, indispu.
| table truths, which will not be denied by any
upright intelligent Republican, black or white.
Before the Introduction of these men among
! them, there never was better populaCon;
rural or town, out Of which to shape q useful
political element. Good-hearted, simpie,mlLa,
ed, mostly uneducated, they. were ready ana
wiilihg to receive any instruction supposed
| for their own good, which they anxlousiy
awaited and as eagerly sought. AND could
| they have had the advice OF the maturely In
! tellioeut, good and virtuous friends OF human-
| itv. such as was received and given by US du-
ring more than thirty years tollsome battle
| for liberty and right, there never could nave
| been the cause tor the complaint against Us as
race, now in aimeasure Jnstifable.
One most fruitful cause OF mischief In the
| -, ,,o,, fror, tho aop and want of eyOeri.