The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-26
VINO Shall be Senator!

There is unusual activity In Columbia.
The frantic spectators in questionable
claims against the State busy their brains
| with devlsiug means Of influencing the
Legislature in the dark ways which, last
session, were never known to fail. Aspi-
rants for places on the House and Senate
Committees are engaged in securing the ear
OF the probable Speaker, and OF the Lieu
tenant-Governor elect. Shoals OF cousins
and brothers -in-law, who drew six dollars
day last. winter for doing nothing az COM
| mittee clerks and as messengers, propose to
continue to feed at the public crib. But
the striking sensation OF the hour is the
bitter contest for the seat 10 the United
States Senate, to be made vacant by the ex-
piration OF the term OF Senator Sawyer, who,
being repudiated by the Regular Radicals,
and disliked and distrusted by the OonserVa'
tiyes, has not ghost OF a chance OF re.
election. The Conservatives have no candi-
date In the field. The strongest Radical
candidates are Governor Scott, Mr.. J. J.
Patterson and R. B. Elliott, the colored
Congressman from the third district.
In the public career OF Governor Scott, in
the connection OF Mr.. Patterson with the
scandalous Blue Ridge jobbery, and In the
past record OF Elliott abundant reason is
found for putting these men aside But this
is nothing in comparison with the fact that
the white candidates put their trust 10
money, while the black candidate relies on
the color OF his skin. Which OF the candl.
dates has informed the people what his SEN
atorial course would be in relation to the
Ku.Klux law, the tariff, Internal improve
ments, Federal appointments, and the other
questions OF importance to the State which
come before Congress? No word is said OF
these things. The candidates tell the Leg
islature plainly thstthey do not pretend that
they will worthily wear the senatorial robe.
BY openly putting their faith in corruption
and 10 race, they confess that they have no
other qualification than length OF purse or
the accident OF birth.
Congressman Elliott should have known
better. For seven years 1t has been tho aim
OF his party to wipe out distinctions OF color,
30 that every citizen may stand on bis own
merits; yet this black demagogue makes bis
color the grounds Of his candidature, and
encourages the black members Of the Legis.
lature to array themselves against the whites,
This is the consequence Of the position he
holds. Does Congressman Elliott forget that
the whites, in the United States, overwhelm.
ingly outnumber the blacks, and that II the
conflict come the weaker race must go down?
The real friends OF the freedmen, those who
desire to see them rise in intelligence and in
prosperity always eudeavor to avoid the
issue which Congressman Elliott makes.
They do not accept or reject any man be-
cause OF his color, and this is the policy
which, 1t is presumed, the Conservative
members will pursue.
THE NEWS does not expect that any COM
bination OF circumstances will lead to the
election OF Conservative senator, but the
Conservative members and the well-meaning
Radicals can give the people liberal-mind-
ed Republican whose sympathies and inter-
ests are with the people OF South Carolina,
who does not regard this as mere tarrying
place, who will not narrow his lsbors within
the lines Of party or Of color. Afew such men
may be found among South Carolina Repub-
lcans, and II the Legislature are bent on
securing the right man they assuredly will
find him. 4, Nor should they close their eyes
to the certainty that, IL Governor Scott or
MFR. Patterson be successful, the whole coun-
try will assume that our lawmakers can be
bought by the string, like fish in thenarket,
and that IL Congressman Elliott should win,
his choice will be received as evidence that
the South Carolina Legislature look upon
color as Of more Importance than honesty,
knowledge, and personal worth. Then,
Look out! y