Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-10-22

he should be supported by people who might
be under a mistaken apprehension. Should
his course, as thus indicated, prove unsatls'
factory, he would most cheerfully withdraw
and yield the position to some one more capa-
BILE. A public officer is but the servant OF the
people, to discharge his duties as d conscien-
tious trustee.
Having disposed Of these general PROPOSE
tions, he would next advert to other questions
which, for good or evil, we're Of greater con-
Germ to our people than Federal politics
matters of State and local concern
|. Immediately after the war, two peoples IN
our State (and other Southern States) occu-
ried positions the most trying-more trying
to social virtues and political principles than
any two peoples, perhap ps, in the history of the
world. A social revolution swept over our
State as in a day. In moment, as it were,
the shackle fell from the hands Of the slave.
The former master was placed in such posi-.
ton that he could no longer claim equality
with his former slave The masters stood as
conquered rebels. They so stood as to be re,
garded by the administration at Washington
only on the footing of recalcitrant, rebelious,
treacherous, conquered rebels-objects OF sus'
picion-requiring the strong arm OF military
rule to curb
On the other hand, the blacks were regarded
by the national authorities with commisera-
ton; their previous condition excited kind
ness, and they, of the people Of the conquered
States, were regarded as the true friends OF the
United States government. The whites were
regarded as traitors, not accepting nor intend
ing to accept the inevitable laws of the inev-
liable.
Such being the case, is it to be wondered
that we did not understand, at the time, what
would be the consequences? Should we Won
der that the colored men did not realize their
condition, and that neither race appreciated
their relative positions, and that they could
not properly treat the thousand questions
arising under the changed state Of affairs
To have prevented mistakes would have been
a greater miracle than any in the revealed
word of God. We could not have avoided
mistakes, many of which have been almost
fatal. Both colored and white were tried be-
yond any other people, and we'll for US all was
it that the military arm was stretched over
the State Immediately after the war. Had
this not been done, we would surely have split
on some social rock. We became the most
difficult problem ever submitted to statesmen
for solution-a problem, in fact, which has
never yet been solved.
First, we were under the manipulation of
Andrew johnson, and with what consequent
ces? He left it to the whites to frame laws
for the government of the emancipated color
ed people in South Carolina. He told our
people that in order to have restoration we
must devise code of laws and submit the
same for the approval of Congress. The code
was framed, and much has been said about it.
1t was mainly the work of two of the wisest of
our old iurists, who, no doubt, at that time,
and under all the peculiar circumstances of
the situation, believed the law to be liberal, ,
and essential for the protection of society.
The code was enacted at the dictation Of Mr..
johnson, and was then believed the best that
could have been adopted We are now as
tonished at the great lack Of political wisdom
then evinced by that code. While it was no
doubt honestly meant, it must be admitted
that it was mistaken policy. He adverted to
this code particularly for the purpose of ma
king one point. He had been informed, since
reaching this county, that he had been assai-
ed as member of the State Senate that adop.
ted that code. Our present Chief Justice was
President of the Senate, which enacted the
code, and as such President, to make it valid,
affixed his signature thereto. He had, after
that act, avowed himself Republican, and
Notwithstanding he was President Of the Sen
ate which enacted the law, and had signed
the same, yet no objection had been urged to
his holding the Office of Chief Justice-as a
Republican. Our present member of Con.
gress from this District, was also a member of
the same Legislature, though he says he did
not vote for the code. Before deciding upon
his merit for failing to vote for it, let US first
enquire into his reason-the motives actuating
his failure to vote for it. Now, Doctor Win.
smith, Of Spartanburg, ut present leading
Republican, did not vote for the code, and
has 80 boasted but unfortunately for the
| Doctor, he caused his reasons to be spread
upon the iournal-an unusual act, generally
showing strong convictions on the part of a
member so doing-and among those reasons
is given one that the provisions Of the code
were too favorable to the colored people, and
not favorable enough to the whites This is
Doctor WinsnIith's recorded reason fol voting
against the code. Ofcourse, we cannot tell the
motives that actuated all who did not vote for
it.
In 1866 a motion was made looking to the
repeal of clause in the code forbidding the
sale of certain articles by oolored people with
out the written permission of their employers.
I have been informed that Hon. A. 5. Wal.
lace voted against the repeal of that clause OF
the Code but l do not say that to his dis
credit. Though 1 do say that he has no right
at this time to quarrel about it. If he op-
posed the code, he ought to have given his
reasons for the opposition while it was under
discussion. But this and all similar issues
belong to the past
If You cut off all who took part in the re-
bellion and the succeeding bad legislation un-
der the administration Of Andrew johnson,
you put yourselves and the public Offices either
in the hands of boys or strangers who have
no interest in the welfare of the State. The
South, in those days, was a subject Of politi-
cal contention between President johnson and
Congress 1t was Johnson's policy to convert
the Southern States to Democracy, in order
to ensure his reelection as President; while
Congress opposed his measures in order to
thwart and defeat his ambition. They passed
the reconstruction acts, which put us in the
hands of Republican politicians, where we
have been almost ever since.
Then again, we did not come forward and
ask the confidence of the colored people; we
did not offer to help them work out the va
rious questions presented by the new order Of
things For that we are to blame. But there
is now an improvement, not only here, but in
the current of sentiment in the North. The
speaker had recently received letter from a
nrnninent nnblic man in New York. who