The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-21
Political Notes.

ness OF the late Southern policy oil the he,
publican party was belief that the good OF
the country required the, elevation of the col
ored voter TO the control Of thu reconstructed
States. Disguised perhaps under cover of a
demand for race equality, for free elections,
for the protection of the wards of the nation,
and the ratification of the war. there was a
sincere conviction in the mind Of the average
Northern Republican that It was essential to
the prosperity Of his party and the peace OF
the South to make the freedman uppermost
in politics rebels could not be trusted the
negro would be remanded To slavery, unless
he controlled the Legislatures, the courts aud
the Executive Offices. SO for eight years the
carpet,bag Governors and the administration
party in Congress tried to make the pyramid
stand on its apex.
The resul; is before the world. In one way
or another, by fair means or by foul, the con.
troll Of several Of the States has been secured
to the colorel race. They have occupied the
bench and the jury box, made the laws, col
lected the revenue, voted the appropria-
tons, handled the money-done everything
except pay the taxes. They have had am
Pile opportunity to develop their own latent
capacities, To get an education, TO make
fortunes, to acquire land, 20 rise in society.
Our correspondent in Charleston drew pic,
ture OF the condition OF the col ored people OF
South Carolina, and Il is about the same in
every State where the negro has held sway.
As u race they are idle, ign oraut and vicious.
They neither learn nor save. They we're fond
of their books in the first novelty Of freedom,
but they care for them no longer. They were
eager TO get their little FARMS but they have
let them l,hl to ruin. Why should man 20
to school, asks the usual type of South Caro-.
lima freedmen, when il is SO much nicer to go
TO the Legislature or get elected Justice Of the
Peace? Why should n man work when he
can make living by stealing chickens, and
sit on the fence for amusement? lie, US face
the truth. Our Southern policy has not only
been n curse 10 the whites, but ii has been a
curse to the freed people for whose benefit it
was adopted. IL has not made them good
citizens. II has not taught them how to use
the ballot. II has introduced among them n
decentralization more dangerous to the country
than the violence of the white league, FOR no
Republican government can stand which is
not founded upon the suilages Of the vrtuous
and intelligent.
Everybody knows that the negro, left to
hlmself would not get the mastery until he
had acquired some of the qualifications for il.
Even where he had a numerical majority of
the population and was perfectly free to vote
as he pleased, he would naturally take sub
ordinate position so long as he had neither
money, nor education, nor habits of thrift and
foresight, nor comprehension of the art of
government. And 1t is proper that he should.
Universal suffrage would bean ahsurdity, eX.
cept upon the theory that it generally results
in the advancement of the intelligent and re.
spectacle. 4 majority Of the voters, whether
ylrtuous or not, are supposed to understand
that selt.lnterest requires them to entrust the
government only to those who are able To
control IT, But the Grant policy was based
upon different principle. 1t assumed that
the great secret Of reconstruction was 10 take
the negro out Of the cotton field and put him
in the State house, send him u company of
soldiers to hold him fast in his seat, aud trust
to luck for the rest. The natural results have
followed. The negro has learned nothing
good in his elevation, and is no better able 10
carry on State government to-day than he
was six years ago. The only way to reform
Southern society is to stand aside aud leave
the voters free and unembarrassed Then,
If these communities are not utterly cor.
rupt, all things will soon find their natural
level, and the rule of the majority will act as
1t acts elsewhere.
ADAMS TO TlLpES oS Hays. The follow.
ing letter was written on the day of the inau
guration Of Mr. Hayes:
BosToN, March 5, 1877.
Hon. s. J, Tildea, Nee Hork-My dear
sir;-On this day, when you ought to have
been President of the United States, | seize
the opportunity to bear my testimony to the
calm and dignided manner in which you have
passed through the great trial. II is many
years since ceased TO be party man, hence
have endcayored to Judge Of public affairs
and men rather by their merits than by the
name they take. 1t is source of gratihca.
ton to me to think that | made the right
choice in the late election. | would never
have been reconc,led to the elevation, By the
smallest aid Of mine, Of person, however
respectable in private life who must forever
carry upon his brow the stamp OF fraud first
triumphant in American history. No subse.
quent action, however meritoriOus, can wash
away the letters that record. Very respect.
fully yours, CHAs. Francis ADAMS.
Governor Hampton has addressed a note to
the Chamberlain officials in South Carolina,
requesting them to turn over their offices TO
Their successors, subject to the decision Of the
Supreme Court, when 1t shall be filled by the
election ofa Chief Justice, after the meeting
OF the Legislature ON the 24th inst. It is IN.
derstood that the officials addressed will de.
cline to yield their offices, ON the grounds
that they hold them by declaration of the
state Canvassers; that they were commits
stoned by Governor Chamberlain while his
title was undisputed; that Governor HAMPTON
has no right To anticipate the judgment OF
the Supreme Court, and that his action is
violation OF his pledges to leave disputed
questions to legal settlement It's of no con.
sequence that Chambcrlain'S officers refuse TO
capltulate until the Supreme Court orders
Their eJectment. The Hampton government
viii 90 ON just the same, and when the time
comes Chamberlain's men will go out.
PREPARiSG TO 0ProsE THE PRESIDENT
is intimated that call will be issued in New
York in n few days for u mass meeting of all
who are sin favor of maintaining the interri.
y and indivisibility Of the Republican party.n
The friends Of Wendell Philips and Senator
Blaine are understood to be leading in the
movement, and the object of the meeting Is
open warfare upon the Presidents Southern
policy.
Copies OF letter written by ex-senator
Wade, of Ohio, strongly denouneing the Pres.
idents Southern policy, have been privately
exhibited in Washington. Wade saws in con
elading his letter that some persons excuse
the President on the ground Of good inten.
tons, "but hell is paved with them
The President seems to be informed of the
efforts being made by some Republican lead
ers to organize an opposition to his Southern
policy before that policy has been fully deyel.
oped. He expresses regret that these gentle.
men should feel il a duty TO differ with him
but says he had no fault to find with them.
and believes they will be among the first TO
commend hispolicy should it prove successful,
II respect the convictions of those who hon.
esiiy dliier with me, said the President, "but
am indifferent to those who pronose a ma.
lignant opposition because cannot soc that
public duty leads me in the path they would
mark for official footsteps"
Wade Hampton visited Charleston Wednes.
day for the first time since November last.
and was received by general turn out of The
citizens, irrespective Of party. lie rode at
The head Of the procession through streets
decorated with bunting and thronged with
people. During reception which followed,
he was presented by officers of the colored
militia regiment with a memorial asking him
TO leave their organization intact, and com
mission field officers of their own selection.
Inc Governor. in reply, assured them that