The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-08-24
A Black Mans Views.
Mai. M. R. Delany, a black man of som

A Black Mans Views.
Maj. M. R. Delany, black man of some ed
ucation and considerable independence, who
is now established in Charleston as land agent,
has published letter to Fred Douglass, con-
tanning reriew of the condition of things po-
litical in South Carolina, which, he thinks will
also Justly apply to nearly all, if not all, the
reconstructed States of the South. We make
some noteworthy extracts 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
first Of these were in the persons of various
agencies; as school-teachers, (mostly women, J
the Christian Commission, colporteurs and
agents of the "Freedmen's AFFAIRS" mot the
Bureau,) who aided in directing their social
commenced, political leaders were greatly re-
quired, but few to be had. Southerners (the
old mastersl studiously opposed and refused to
countenance reconstruction, and the freedmen
We're 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
available political element to be had to carry
out the measures of reconstruction. These
were readily accepted by the blacks (by this
include the entire colored people, and the full
est confidence reposed in them Some were or
had been officers in the army, some privates,
some suffers, others peddlers and various trades
men, others gamblers and even pick-pockets,
"hangerson" and "bummers." I am particu-
larly speaking of the whites. Among these
were men of refinement, educated gentlemen,
and some very good men but large part of
those most active were of the lowest grade of
Northern Society-negro-haters at home-who
could not have been elected to any position of
honor or trust Just such men as burnt down ne
gro orphan asylums and hung negro men to
lamp posts in the New York riot of 1863. In
this review intend tospeak plainly; call things
by their right names, and look those OF whom
speak directly in the face: The best and
most competent men were chosen to fill the
most important positions in State and local
governments, while the others readily obtained
such places as required incumbents. Indeed,
there was scarcely one so incompetent as not to
have been assigned some position of trust.
Positioned m places of power, profit and
trust, they soon sought, by that guile and de-
ception known only to demagogues, under ac-
ceptable appellations of Yankee, Republican
and Radical, to intrude themselves into the
confidence of the blacks, and place themselves
ut their head as leaders. So insiduously did
they do this, that it was not discovered by the
few colored men of intelligence who held pla-
ces among them till too late to remedy the fatal
evil.
These demagogues laid the foundation of
their career upon O basis of the most dangerous
political heresy. Deception, lying, cheating,
stealing, whatever can be done in politics is
fair" and "to beat is the duty in political
contest, no matter what means are used to eff
feet it," are among the pernicious precepts of
this moral infdelity.
Jealous of the few intelligent colored men
among them, they studiousy 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 stroye and We'd each with the other,
regardless of consequences, to place himself in
the lead of community of blacks in both
town and country, which in time was reduced
to little else than a rabble mob of disorder and
confusion. Trained in the leagues as serfs to
their masters, it became dangerous to oppose
the teachings of these men of mischief Be-
cause, having been recommended to their con-
fdence at the commencement of reconstruc-
ton, their experience and 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
corruption. Hence, many otherwise good men,
both white and black, from age, inexperience
or weakness, were induced to accept the mon
strous 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 Repub-
1;oon oonca unop ,yb;nh thov bod indppantlv
imposed themselves. This is that which con-
trolled Charleston politics, and brought de-
served defeat 10 the Republicans in the recent
municipal election. 1t was just retribution to
a set of unprincipled miscreants, rioting on the
peoples rights under the name of "Republi-
cans" Honest, upright men of all parties,
white and black, no longer able to bear it, de-
termincd 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 as suffrage was inviolably
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. This
bare faced deception was 80 instilled into them
that it became dangerous, in many instances,
to 70 into the country and speak OF color In
any manner whatever, without the angry re-
ioifnder: ave don't want to hear that; We are
all one color nowp
These ridiculous absurities were fostered by
the demagogucs the better to conceal their own
pcrfidy and keep themselves in the best posti-
tions, as "Republicanism knows no race"
Another imposition was that colored people
did not require intelligent colored leaders that
the constitution had been purged of color by
Radical Congress, and to be Republican was
all that was required to make true representa-
tive. That mental culture and qualifications
we're only required by the proud and arrogant;
that all who requested those accomplishments
were enemies to both black and white; that
race representation was making distinctions on