The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-16
EX-GOVERNOR BULLOCK
DEFENDS OUR ELECTIONS

ILL Iit0S O0tt GGES ttShS
Under the heading "a Southern Repub-
lican Defends the South" former Gov
ernor Rufus b. Bullock contributes the
following article to Leslie's Weekly:
"Your issue of May 26th contains an ar
ticle by the Hon. John S. Wise, What
Should the South Dor This able paper Is
based upon extracts from remarks by the
senior senator from South Carolina in the
senate of the United States. Mr.. Wise
asks. What does the south proposep In
reply let me say that South Carolina, by
its senior senator. does not represent the
SOUTH and that each state in the south
will act separately within constitutional
limits. as determined by the supreme
court of the United States. for what she
deems to be for the best interest of her
people.
LAS a Georgian and national republi-
can, 1 protest against the assumption
that this state has unjust or undue repre-
sentation In congress. All the provisions
of tho fourteenth amendment are COM
piled with In Georgia The small vote
cast In congressional districts here, as
compared with Iowa, Is not evidence OF
either disfranchisement or unfairness.
Under our system the active contest Is In
the primary election which decides who
shall DO the candidate. That issue haV-
ing been determined, the actual voting In
the formal election is without interest. al
though the ballot boxes are open to every
legal voter, and those who nave not par
ticipated In the primary election for NOM
ination are at perfect liberty to vote for
any other candidate than the nominee.
If an opposition candidate of sufficient
character and prominence to command
confidence should offer, there would no
doubt be an active canvass and large
vote polled.
''If a small vote indicates the great out
RACES upon representative government
suggested by Mr.. Wise, why does not
congress investigate and report the facts?
No one will dispute the right of the house
to Judge OF the election of its own MEM
bers It is we'll for your readers to re-
member that the enlarged representation
In congress, based upon black enfran-
chisement, was not of the souths seek
ing 1t is safe to say that this increase
was not by the acceptance OF our white
voters The fourteenth amendment was
adopted by the south because under
tho republican congress reconstruction
scheme the negroes were permitted TO
vote while a large and Influential element
of white people-those who held any OF
flee before the war and aided the confed-
eracy-were prohibited from voting. II
the acceptance or rejection OF this addl-
tional representation, based upon negro
enfranchisement. had been decided by our
white voters II would have been rejected.
'The duties and the dangers of the fran
chise we're thrust upon the negro by the
national republican party. That party
has not had the courage to maintain the
logical consequence of it's own legislation.
1t has thrown upon the south the burden
of fitting our late slaves by education and
training for the high and sacred duties
of the franchise. We have accomplished
I'm this direction within the thirty years
that have elapsed far more than was be-
ueved possible in 1870. Not one dollar OF
the cost of this necessary preparation has
come from the national treasury, by and
from which every cent should have been
paid.
"yyhen the verdict is being made give
the south credit for what she has ac-
complished under adverse conditions.
There is no recorded history of advance
by any people from slavery or serfdom
that will compare wkith the progress
made by the colored people of the south
during their thirty-five years OF freedom
ana citizenship. If the recent franchise
legislation In South Carolina, Mississippi
and Louisiana is repugnant to the four
teenth amendment, let congress wipe II
out under the authority granted to II by
that amendment. But do not hold the
south guilty of unlawful representation
or ask us to Voluntarily abandon what
has been forced upon US.
when any state shall violate the pro-
visions of the United States constitution
do not indulge In faultfnding or threats
against the south. Apply the legal rem
edy. Ex-confederates are lawabiding.
When we gave our paroles at Appomattox
and at Greensboro We agreed among other
things to obey the laws in force where
we resided and we meant it We have