The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-10-29
C',O|sILl..,UMll!B||I[.A e "a M]ll!::l 3 .Al, s. G.
"wednesday Morning, October %. 1873.
The Old Question in . New Form.
The position oi thesblsck man in th

------.--E.Il. -LfiIt-ai..----I- z.
The Old Qusstion I'm . New Form.
The position d the;bisck man in the
United States Government has been
considered by statesmen OF all the era,
Of our history as abnormal and threat.
ening. Those OF the revolutionary time
were averse to holding them in bondage.
General Washington emancipated his
slaves. SO did Mr. Jefferson. He said
that he trembled when he thought OF
tie possible future collision of the
races. The Southern statesmen of the
post-revolntionary$ period were promi-
nent and Sactive in f'limiting the period
of the slave inpor.at!onfeo 1908. Two
oireumstances, in our more recent his
tory. combined 70 protraot the term of
the sservitude in the South, and to re-
concile the Southern people to its con-
tinuanoe. First was the fanatical and
political opposition, OF the Abolitionists
to it. heavily leayened as it-was with alb
surd diotation and impudent denuncia.
tions. This naturally produced opposi-
tion. The mild character which it de-
veloped as it advanced. and the growth
OF the culture OF cotton, and the ma
tional Importance OF this crop in the
regulation Of foreign exchange. lulled
the'old feoiing inreference to slavery as
an Institution. It was found. also, to
be firmly entrenched in the compro-
misses of the Constitution. It was thus
strongly sustained even after it COM
tlenced to wsne in tho public opinion
OF the South. It could only be extir-
pated by the destruction of the instru-
-snent itself which protected it. That
instrument was characterized as cove
nant with hell. because it guaranteed
the peaceful and undisputed possession
of slave property. The contest which
Mr.. Jefferson dreaded as a 6re-bell at
midnight at length came, and the CO.
lored people still remaining as slaves
were declared free, as war measure.
The old evil. as it was considered. was
oblitetated, and the slave became free.
More than that, the raos was adopted as
the wards OF the nation. Especial privi-
leges we're conferred upon them above
those conceded to foreigners. There
was no apptenticeship required Of them
to learn the duties and responsibilities
Of oitiSenehip. The servants of yester-
day were to-day in the full enjoyment Of
political life as voters and Jurors. and.
where strong enopgh in numbers. as
RaRcerholders, Legislators. judges, SO.
80 Notwithstanding this specious appear
ahoep the negro question is not yet set
tied. Itsnrvives in another form. The
unsatisfactory use tile race has made of
it's new privileges ia bringing upon it
she uniavorable notice Of the American
people. 1T. is regarded as an unfortu-
nate element in our politics. 1t has be.
come an instrument too often of corrupt
md unprincipled men. It shows itself
weak and incapable of resisting tomptn-
ton. And, worse Than oil, it is rapidly
developing aninorbssing and unappeas-
able hostility. to the white. people. This,
OF course. applies more particularly to
the leading class amongst them. The
: rank and file are innocent enough. ex-
cspt that they accept opinions and poll
ciesready made, and become the help
less dupes of more crafty men, both Of
their own and of the white race. It is
interesting. in making o study of the
probable fate of the negro race in Anne
rican politics, to recur to the opinions
of statesmen who we're eminently aud
professedly their friends. Mr.. Jeffer-
sol. looking down the vista of coming
years with prescient eye, said:
Nothing is more certainly written ia
the book Of fate than that these people
aro to be free; nor is it less certain that
the two races. equally free, cannot live
under the same government.
Mature. habit, opinion, have drawn
indellible lines Of distinction between
them. It is still in our power 10 direct
the process Of emancipation peaoeably,
and In such slow degree as that the evil
willswear off insensibly, and their places
ha =.