The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-08-30
From the n. Y. independently
The South on Trial in Georgia.

When we Of the Union cause. both
/ North and South trusted the seeding
| states enough TO allow them to resums
their functions as States, to rule them
selves as equal with those States which
had remained true to the nation. W.
knew that we we're doing hazardous
thing. We knew that we had achieved
the extinction Of slavery. and that IL
could not be restored to existence; but
that was all we had certainly achieved.
and we trusted that, with the fountain
and origin Of all evils stopped up. both
earth and air would become sweet in
time. We are a very patient and hope
iul people, and we have not yet given up
our trust but the present temper Of the
South. and especially the action Of the
Georgia Constitutional Convention, are
enough to give us reasons to fear that we
may have to wait longer than we hoped
before seeing the Southern States from
he heart loyal to Liberty and Union.
Georgia is State which has not felt
the effects Of Federal interference" IL
early relieved itself by violence and mur.
| der of Negro rule" IL extineuished
the Republican party. and half it, citi
zens were forcibly denied their rights o.
voting as they pleased. The white peo
/ pie, the intelligence the property" oi
Georgia has ruled the State and is res
| ponsible for the character OF its govern
ment How far that government u hon.
est or loyal the Constitutional Conven
iion Of Georgia, now in session. will indi
cate-a convention which contains not
one single Negro Republican.
In the first place. the Convention has
embodied n provision in the new consti
tuition that large portion Of the honest
debt Of the State. contracted to build it,
railroads and develop its industries, shall
not be paid There is shame unspeaka
ble branded on the very forehead Of the
State. What honesty. what decency can
be expected after such bar put upon
the people and its legi illatures, forbid
ding them ever TO attempt to pay the
money which they had borrowed7
Next we have a provision intended evi-
IDENTIFY to be used against the Negro vo
ters. The section on the elective fran.
chise does not forbid Negroes to vote
the Constitution Of the United States il
in the way; but il provides that no man
shall vote upless he has paid in full all
taxes that may have been levied upon
him. That is intended to be used not
against rich people. but against poor peo
Pile; and we are not judging the politi
clans Of Georgia too harshly when We say
that this section will be used and was
meant to be used to prevent Negroes
from voting who may have been com
PEELED TO delay paying taxes. and that IL
will not be used to prevent poor whites
from voting The city OF Chicago covers
seveDty-fve pages OF one OF it, largest
newspapers with advertisements Of un
paid taxes; but the delinquents are not
a 4. 4
gia understand this provision we'll
enough, as it has been made law undri
the old Constitution ever since the D.m
ocrats overthrow the Bullock govern
m-nt They have found u useful in -
curing their eighty thousand majority \
and We may be sure that it will b~ used
vigorously against Negroes. and sgainst
them alone.
We might refer at length to the al.
most unanimous action of the Conven.
tion in voting down the proposition to
retain the language OF the old constitu |
ton which makes il treason TO levy war
against the United States. and limits |
treason to levying war against the State /
OF Georgia; but we pass that by although /
II savors so much OF the secession doc /
trine OF State Independence. because IL /
may be plausibly argued that treason |
against the State is all that a State con /
stitution can properly consider We 1
wish TO call attention To one point in the /
Bill Of Rights Dir. Feath, rstone offered 4
the following substitute for one OF the
The people OF this State have the in
herent, sole, and exclusive right OF regu-
lating their internal government, and
the police thereof, whenever IL may be
necessary to their safety and happiness;
but every such right should be exercised
in pursuance OF law aud consistently with
the Constitution of the United States
This was rejected by a vote Of 1876 to
4S, and was a test vote OF the feelings Of
the Convention toward the Constitution
OF the United States. Scarcely one
fourth Of the members Of that Convrn.
tion have a cordial feeling toward the
United States Constitution and Govern
ment. or are willing to give the Negro
equal privileges with themselves in form
ing its constitution and laws Not one
representative OF the race that forms
about one-half OF the voters and popula.
tion was allowed to give his voice IN the
The prospect in the South
is not yet bright for equal rights, and
there is a long struggle yet to be fought
by those who believe that God has made
Of one blood all nations and races, and
that the fruits Of our struggle for liberty
and union must not be lost.