The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-03-06
HAMPTON on NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
III Cannot BIO Helped and Must be Guided
Alright.


In discussing the question upon which
mo i'll the invitation prevent ANYTHING
more than mere statement OF opinion
Even were this otherwise, my present
condition forbids me to enter into any
extended or elaborate argument. Mine
must be, therefore, simply presentation
in crude form of the views entertain.
and have entertained for some wears
upon the grave questions submitted for
consideration. | shall endcavor to write
III spirit free from Ill partisanship or
scctionaiism, with the sole purpose Of
promoting The cause of truth and tlr
welfare OF tie whole country.
The frat question is. Should the ne
gro be disiranchised ?" There has been
much agitation of this subject recently
chiefly Mt the Nortll-and MANY who
have hitherto been the most earnest ad
vocates OF negro suffrage begin to think
that the bcstowal Of this privilege upon
him has resulted in failure. Those who
thus think suppose that the withdrawal
of the right of suffrage would 1t once
restore the ancient and normal condition
81 things in the country; would re estub-
iisii friendly relations between the races
OF the South and in 80 far as it would
diIninlsh representation would lessen the
influence OF that section in national af-
ialrS. The latter argument, / regret to
see, has had most weight with a largo
class, though it is inconsistent with a
true and catholic patriotism-a patriot
ism which looks to the good Of the whole
republic, n1d not to that of limited
section.
l;nt, whatever may be the motives OF
tN IL L.. Il. 4 p
.hc negro, the accomplishment of such n
the action OF the National and State row
ernments. Great aud startling rs have
been the political mutations Of the last
few years, the disfranchisemcnt of the
negro at this or any subsequent period
would be more surprising than any po-
-lIt'cal event III our past history The
question, therefore, does not belong to
practical politics, and is mere specula-
tive one. Considering it in the latter
aspect, do not hesitate to answer in the
negative. Whatever may have been the
p"iicy ol conferring the right of voting
upon the negro, ignorant and incompe-
tent rs he WAS to comprehend the high
responsibility thrust upon him. and
whatever may have been tho reasons
which dictated this tlangeroms aSpcr;
ment, the deed has been done and il ia
irrevocabe. II is now the part OF true
craftsmanship to give it us FAR as possible
that direction which will be mos, bcncti-
cial or least hurtful to the body polite.
How Is this to be accomplished?
My answer would be, by educating the
negro until he comprehends the duties
and responsibility Of citizenship. Hy
cducation' do not mean the mere
acquisition Of learning, but apply the
Term in lis broadest sense. The posses
SION OF the rudiments Of education-thc
mere mental training that this implies
so far from being always beneficial to its
P"s,cssor is often harmful. Many Of our
i"teiy eniranchiscd citizens make the
ilrat use of their newly acquired ability
I" read and write by committing forgery,
and here at least they have manifested Il
wonderful aptitude by educating them
l mean that their moral nature should
nc cultivated pari passu, with their in
telect. This moral education is Of far
greater Importance than an intellectual
one. A man is not necessarily better
citizen because he can read and write,
nor does the possession of these acquire
ments make him, rs n matter of course,
more competent to understand and dis
charge the duties of citizenship. doubt
whether the citizens of that State which
makes its boast that moIc Of its people
can read and write than in any other
government are equal in art, in culture,
and III statesmanship, to the Athenians
III their palmiest days, who were with
out these accomplishments, the most in
t".ligcnt and critical of political con-
stitucncics.
AS the stability OF our institutions de-
pcnds on the intelligence and virtue of
our citizens, it is the duty OF every pa
triot to promote the cause OF true educa-
lion. Especially is this the case with
regard to that unfortunate people who,
after centuries OF scrvitude, were sud
denly called to exercise the highest du-
ties OF freemen. They came to the dis
charge of these duties utterly ignorant,
with the prcjudiccs ard habits and the
evils incnlcated by life OF slavery
merely children Of II larger growth, aud,
like all children, full oil crcdulity. 1t is
not to be wondered at, then, that they
designing men who flocked to the South
when she was PROSTATE. But, in spite
OF the evil advice they have so constant
~ received, they have on the whole be-
havcd better than any other people simi-
iarly situated would have done, and the
whites of the South have no reason &c
cherish any ill-will toward the blacks
nor do they; and the time is rapidly APP
preaching when the colorcd people will
find their best friends among the thought
full and considcratc whites of the South
Il class by no means small at present,
and which is growing larger and stronger
every hour. But this depression leads
me from the discussion of the question
under consideration and my purpose, az
declared at the outset, was only to state
my opinions, not TO enter into argument
to establish them.
From the remarks alieady made, my
answer to the first question submitted is
easily anticipated: !: would Is almost
impossible to disfranchise the negro, and,
if possible, it wonld not be carried into
effect The South does not desire to see
this done, and without her aid it can
never be accomplished. The negro CON
tributes not only to tho wealth of the
Sonth, hut to her political power, and
che is indisposed to deprive herself of
any of her advantages.
AZ the negro becomes more intelligent,
he naturally allies himself with the mure
conservative OF the whites, for his OBJ
sivation and experience both show him
that his Interests are identified with thnsc
u: the white race here.
This is the inevitable tendency Of
aid no extraneOus pressure can change II
result which is us sure and fixed Us any
other natural law