Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-06-24

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LETTER FROM EX.GOV. SCOTT.
Lieutenant Governor Gleaves having ad-
dressed letter to Ex-Governor Scott, asking
an expression of opinion by the Ex-Governor
on the future of the colored race, the latter
writes lengthy letter, which was originally
published in the Columbia Phenir. The let
ter has attracted the attention of the State
press, evoking favorable criticism in some
quarters and unfavorable comment in others.
The Charleston Neus and Courier labels it a
bid for the United States Senate, and curtly
dismisses the subject, without so much as pre-
senting the writer's views, while the Phenir
thinks "there is, perhaps, no one amongst US
more truly the friend of the colored man, or
who is better qualified to speak on the subject
of his future than Ex-Governor Scott"
Whatever may be the motive that prompted
the letter, we must admit that it contains
many truths frankly stated, and abounds in
much sound advice to the colored people,
which they would be wise to heed, and which
is also worthy the consideration of the whites.
The captiously.inclned may conclude that
Ex-Governor Scott was slow to learn the
truths to which he gives expression, but they
are none the less important on that account
We subjoin the salient points of the letter.
The writer regrets that he cannot present
picture that will altogether meet the hopes of
the colored people. He fears they have been
too confident in the belief that there is in the
United States party, or considerable class
of white men ready to sustain the colored
people merely because of their previous bond
age He then reviews the history of emanci.
patton, in which he says that only an incon-
siderable number of the old abolitionists ia.
vored an emancipation policy, while others of
that class were willing to consent to perpet-
uation of slavery by consenting to dissolu-
tion of the Union, only demanding that the
North should not be held responsible for its
continued existence. The emancipation proc
lamation, he argues, was issued as military
necessity. The blacks were liberated, not so
much as a favor to their race as for the pur-
pose of crippling the Confedercy. Says the
Ex-Governor:
GAS the war progressed it was found that
the slave property of the South was the
most valuable of any in supplying the Con-
federate army with the necessary means for
carrying on the war; The proclamation of
emancipation, and the consequent encum-
brance of immense numbers Of emancipated
slaves caused their organization intoan armed
force. That is to say, the immense number of
emancipated slaves fleeing into the Union
lines could not we'll be provided for as pri-
vate citizens; and, as it was necessary to fur
nish them with some means of subsistence
they were enrolled as soldiers"
He regards the reconstruction acts as mis-
takes. Had the Government been actuated
with desire to practically benefit the South,
it would have organized provisional govern
ments economically administered, and estab.
lished schools to educate the ignorant-espe-
cially the blacks, until they were better quail
ifed to govern themselves. Instead of doing
this, they laid most onerous tax on cotton
which took from each State vast sums OF
money direct from the agricultural class, to
which the freedmen all belonged. No means
were provided for the education of the freed
men, although the United States Government
by having recognized slavery, was as clearly
responsible for the ignorance of the slaves as
the shareholders themselves.
He claims that the blacks were enfranchised
with citizenship and the right of the ballot
not as matter of justice to the negro or be.
cause he was believed to be able and compe-
tent to organize governments in the seeded
States, but as much, perhaps, for the purpose
of Furnishing the white men who had refused
to accede to the plan proposed, and also to
maintain Republican supremacy in the South.
He says it was then clear to his mind that
the men who owned all the property and pos
sessed the largest intelligence would never
submit to this mode of establishing govern
ments nor could he conceive of any intelli.
gent class of men who would not have given
to such mode of establishing governments
amongst them as violent opposition, perhaps,
as did the white men Of the reconstructed
States.
He argues that Congress acted unjustly to.
ward the Union men of the South, who were
compelled to organize the governments and
accept the responsibility of their acts. Troops
were withdrawn while the whites we're chat
fng under the new order of things, and Con-
gress did not seem to care whether the gov
ernments we're successful or not.
In defense of these governments, he says the
old abolitionists who had striven for emanci-
patton quarter of a century, now turned
their sympathy from she blacks to the whites
and denounced the carpet.bag governments.
He says the acts of the carpet-bag officials
were misrepresented, and as a result, the Re-
publican party, instead of being a success in
the South, has proved failure over the en-
tire country. Another difficulty exists in the
fact that many Republicans are opposed to
colored citizenship, and have refused to make
all men equal before the law. They believe
this is "white mans government" "aud,
says the Ex-Governor. eff this class combines
with other hostile elements you will find a
party in the United States sufficiently strong
to eliminate the colored man entirely from
any part or influence in politics"
He is pleased to see that at last the Demo
Gratis of the South are adopting conciliatory
policy toward the blacks, which policy he be-
lieves will be pursued ; and he says the true
policy of the colored man is to promote fra
ternal relations with all classes Of men.
He then concludes as follows: