Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-08-24
A Black Mans Views,

Major M. R. Delany, a black mai
Eof some education and considerabl,
independence, who is now establish
| ed in Charleston as a land agent
has published letter to Fred Doug
lass, containing a review of the con
dition of things political 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 knowl.
edge 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 the Christian Com
mission, colporteurs and agents Of the
Freedmen's Affairs" "j(not- the Bu-
reau,) who aided in directing their
social and domestic relations.
When reconstruction commenced,
political leaders were greatly requir-
ed, but few to be had. Southerners
(the old masters) studiously 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 available pollt-
ical element to be had to carry out
the measures of reconstruction.
These were really accepted by the
blacks (by this / include the entire r
colored peopTe) and the fullest conf
dence reposed in them. Some were
or had been officers in the army, some
privates, some suffers, others ped
oilers and various tradesmen, others
gamblers, and even pickpockets, hang
ers on and bummers. I am par
ticularly speaking Of the whites.
Among these were men of refine
ment, educated gentlemen, and some
very good men but a large part Of
those most active were of the lowest
grade of Northern society, negro-ha-
ters 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 neg
men to lampposts in the New YORK
riot of 1868. In this review | intend
to speak plainly; call things by their
right names, and look those OF whom
I Speak directly in the face:
The best and most competent men
were chosen to fill the most impor.
tant positions in State and local gov
ernments, while the others readily
obtained such places as required In
cumbents. Indeed, there was scarce.
/ ly one so incompetent as not to have
been assigned some position Of trust
Positioned in places OF power
profit and trust, they soon sought by
that guile and deception known only
to demagogues, under acceptable ap,,
pellations Of Yankee, Republican and
Radical, to intrude themselves into
the confidence of the blacks, and
place themselves at their head as
leaders. So insiduously did they dc
this that it was not discovered by the
few colored men of intelligence who
held places among them till too late
to remedy the fatal evil.
tion of their career upon basis O.
the most dangerous political heresy
Deception, lying, cheating, stealing
whatever can be done in politics il
fair, and to "beat is the duty in 6
political contest, no matter what
means are used to effect it" are
among the pernicious precepts of this
moral infdelity.
Jealous of the few intelligent col
| .l ,o, or,ono +hem fhey studlOus
" sought to divide the blacks, by
sowing the seeds Of discord among
them. This was facilitated by pre-
iudicing the ignorant against the in
telligent. These men strove and wee
each with the other, regardless 0
consequences, to place himself in th'
lead Of a community of blacks IL
both town and country, which in time
was reduced to little else than rab
BILE mob of disorder and confusion
Trained in the leagues as serfs to thel
masters it became dangerous to op
bose the teachings of these men o
mischief. Because, having been re
commended to their confidence a
the commencement Of reconstruction
their experience and knowledge il
public men and matters were to-
limited to believe anything agains
them.
A knowledge of this emboldene'
these men to a persistence in thel
| course of crime and corruption. Henc
many otherwise good men, both whit
and black, from age, inexperience o
weakness were induced to accept tn
monstrous teachings and join witt
or follow the lead of these wretchet
imposters. Their sole object bein!
personal gain, they cared little o
nothing for public veal, the interes
Of the State or people, black or white
nor the Republican cause, upon whicl
they had indecently imposed them
selves. This is that which CONTROLLED
Charleston politics and brought de
served defeat to the Republicans il
the recent municipal election. 1t wa
lust retribution to set of unprinci
p,led miscreants, rioting on the pee
ple's rights under the name Of " Re
Ipublicans. Honest, upright men c
all parties, white and black, no long
er able to bear it, determined to pu
aorun 4ho obominable thing. leadin