The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-03-06
HAMPTON ON NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
1t Cannot. be Helped and Must be Guided
- Alright.
Gov. Ramp.en in The Norla american Rsris.O.

Gou. Ramp,cn in The Norls american Reris.0.
In discussing the question upon whicl
my views are asked, the limits prescribed
rae in 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 l entertain
and have entertained for some years
upon the grave questions submitted fol
consideration. / shall endeavor to write
in spirit free from all partisauship OF
sectionalism, with the sole purpose OF
promoting the cause of truth and the
welfare of the whole country.
The first question is, "Should the ne
gro be disfranchised There has been
much agitation of this subject recently
chiefly ut thl, North-and many who
Nhave.hitherto been the most earnest ad-
vocates of negro suffrage begin to think
that the bestowal of this privilege upon
him has. .resulted.in failure. Those who
lthus think, suppose that the withdrawal
of the right of suffrage would at once
restore the ancient and normal condition
of thingssin.the country; would re- estab-
lish friendly relations between the races
Of the South and in- so far as it would
diminish representation would lessen the
influence of that section in national af-
fairs. The latter argument, l regret to
see, has had most weight with a large
class, though it is inconsistent with q
true and catholic patriotism--a patriot
ism which looks to the good of the whole
republic, and not to that Of limited
section.
But, whatever may be the motives of
those who desire the disfranchisement of
thenegro, the accomplishment of such a
result has been rendered impossible by
the action of the National and State gov
ernments. Great aud startling as have
been the political mutations of the last
few years, the disfrancaisement of the
negro at this or any subsequent period
would be more surprising than any po-
slitical event in 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
policy of conferring the right of voting
upon the negro, ignorant and incompe-
tent as he was to comprehend the high
responsibility thrust upon him, and
whatever NAV have been the reasons
which dictated this dangerous expert
ment, the deed has been done and it is
irrevocable. 1t is now the part of true
craftsmanship to give it as far as possible
= that direction which will be most benef-
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. By
education" do not mean the mere
acquisition of learning, but apply the
term in, its broadest sense. The posses
sion. Of the rndiments-o education-the
mere mental training that this implies
so far from being always beneficial to its
possessor is often harmful. Many:of our
lately enfranchised citizens make the
first use of their newly acquired ability
TO read and write by committing forgery,
and here at least they have manifested o
wonderful aptitude. BY educating them
I mean that their moral nature should
be cultivated pari passu, with their in
tellecs. 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, as 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 more of its people
can read and write than in any other
government are equal in art, in culture,
and in craftsmanship, to the Athenians
in their palmiest days, who were with
out these accomplishments, the lnost in
telligens and critical of political con-
stituencies.
As the stability of our institutions de-
pends on the intelligence and virtue of
our citizens, it is the duty of every pa
triot to promote the cause of true educa-
tion. Especially il this the case with
regard to that unfortunate people who,
after centuries of servitude, 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 prejudices and habits and the
evils inculcated by life Of slavery
merely children of a larger growth, and,
like all children, full of credulity. 1t is
not to be wondered at, then, that they
were easily misled by the wicked and
designing men who focked to the South
when she was PROSTATE. But, in spite
of the evil advice they have so constant
ly received, they have on the whole be-
hayed better than any other people simi-
larly situated would have done, and the
whites of the South have no reason to
cherish any ill-will toward the blacks
nor do they and the time is rapidly ap-
preaching when the colored people will
find their best friends among the thought
full and considerate whites of the South
"a 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, as
declared at the outset, was only to state
my opinions, not to enter into argument
to establish them.
From the remarks already made, my
answer to the first question submitted is
easily anticipated: 1t would be almost
impossible to disfranchise the negro, and
if possible, it would not be carried into
effect. The South does not desire to see
this done, and without her sid it car
never be accomplished. The negro con
tributes not only to the wealth of the
South, but to her political power, ano
she is indisposed to deprive herself o.
any of her advantages. =.
As the negro becomes more Intelligent
he naturally allies himself with the more
Conservative of the whites, for his OBJ
slvation and experience both show hin
that his interests are identified with those
o.; the white race here.