The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-06
The Messenger.
DEMOCRATIC FORESIGHT IN 1898.

piece Oh WOrk In SenQluS IOE oOAuoy .
Messenger the very choice" extracts
from the official records from the con-
s~titutional convention Of 1858, when the
rascals and robbers had 1t all their own
wicked and reckless a People who
did not live through the dark days from
1855 to 1876, do not know, can never
know what a gloomy time it was, and
how filled with rascality and venality
of ~debauchery and crime. We read
the extracts from the disgraceful record
with much interest. We were particu-
Iarly impressed with the wisdom and
penetration, the high patriotism and
forecast shown in the report Of the
democratic minority. We had the
pleasure of knowing well the two gen
tlemen who made the report, Major
John w. Graham and Captain Plato
Durham Durham died early, but he
was a brave, manly, able man. The re-
port is we'll worthy of a special study,
and We advise every reader OF the Mes
senger not to overlook it, but TO read it
a second and a third time. Although
written thirty-two years ago what is
5000 $3.50 5NOA AN'- NAAoN
men of reflection and study understood
then much of h evils M wrongs
lodged in the bestowment of the fran
chise upon Sambo in all of his stupen-
dous ignorance and laundering surren-
der to the bad white fellows who used
him for their own base destructive
ends. We are glad that educated dem
ocrats in 1868, 20 clearly understood the
then situation and so dealt with the
vile Vaccinations of northern republic
cans, aided and abetted by southern
whites who were traitors to their race
and native southland. What can be
truer as to politics and more clearly
stated than this opening of the demo-
cratic report in 1868:
I'VE cannot view without serious
apprehension the admission TO all the
highest rights and privileges of citi-
-zenship of a race consisting almost
entirely of those recently emerge6
from slavery and untitled by previou.
education and habits of thought anC
self-reliance for the intelligent dis
charge of the duties and responsible
ties which would devolve upon them
We do not regard the right to vote a!
inherent, but as conventional merely
to be regulated in such way as viii
best promote the welfare of the whole
community Upon this principle WO
men and minors nave been excluded
Is there any reason why the negr'
should be advanced to a higher posi-
tiOn?"
That was precisely correct in thai
time of transition and corruption, an6
it is eminently true in this critical time
-Lo, = r-Hi+0 naaA &c cnoIyinu
to deal with the still most veXing ne
gro problem and to settle it for all time
to come. Referring to the easy virtue
and plant ways of the negroe:
the committee said that the grea
mass of them are so ignoran
and prejudiced that they easil!
become the dupes of designing aiven
tuners and demagogues and throug,
secret associations merely follow in
structions and reflect the views .
those who control them. w 70
that the blessings we have derive
from our government have been du
to the virtue, intelligence and indie
~pendence of those invested with tn
right of suffrage, and we tremble 70
the safety of republican institution
when it shall be determined to COME
this trust upon those who mentally an
morally are unft to administer lit
confide the power of making laws
those who have no property to pro
tect and TO bestow he right to lev
taxes upon those who have no axe
to pay" If that had been reported 10
the first time in the legislature or lSS'
or at its recent called session it coul
not have more exactly reported RICH
principles or set forth more accuratel
the character of electors, wit
some honorable exceptions, afte
thirty two years of experience an
revelation of events. 1t was then fore
seen what a cruel, vindictlVe NOR
strosity was being forced upon the stat
and the south. Every year has bl
made good all prophecy concerning ne
gro suffrage. 1t has continued so ba
that at last intelligent republicans al
awake to it's absurdity and wrong, an
many southern states have moved an
will move to have themselves relieve
of the incumbus and curse. The con
mittee of 1868 showed both polite;
sagacity and sound political and hi:
toric information. 1t said that it :"
certainly a singular demand TIL
we should extend the franchise
those who are so ineXperienct
and little prepared for the o
binary business life that the go
nme deems it necessary. thous
the Fl eedman's Bureau, to exercise s.
pervision and tutelage owe them.
We deny the power of congress to pr
scribe to North Carolina who shall
shall not vote. This a always be
recognized as one of those great RICH
reserved to the states, and in fact
is their privilege TO prescribe W
shall vote for members of congress-
1t was the opinion of the able m
of that time that the states should re
ulate their own affairs and that tn
only had the power of saying who we