The Orangeburg news. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, May 16, 1868, Image 1
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. ^jtagg ^ H E
')'??.'. :. ON DKIIAI,
White People of South
auainst the,.CONSTITUTION..
OV Tt!K
?/.ATA'': 'G(>XV?.VrWA' OF Til A T STA
NOW
"CONGRESS
.;ro?'.';'.. ,>,:<?. i\
TiFiVATlOX.
tlaiivh: of. tm'-'Vu^^ff^^^
nuct Htgucd respectfully sheweth, that a
Constitution fraught with evil to the State, and
to all classes of the people thereof, is about to ho
submitted to your houurablo body for ratification..
Before your .honornbjo body shall sot upon that
instrument the seal, of your approval, nnd tljus
consummate upon u pr? ud aud faithful people
a great and irreparable wrong,. Wo rcspcctfuly
a?k a hearing at your hands, whilst witlra due
sense of our responsibility to Cod and truth,
we submit lor your consideration the grave ob
jections that maybe urged against the pro
posed, fundamental hiw t' r tliis State. And
first,-perin it Us to lay before your ? honorable
body the follo.wia^ aualysis of the said. Consti
tution ' pfetlarcfl Ly the Hon. B. F. Perry, of
this State?a pure man, and an able lawyer,
dud a' life-long, bold and outspoken Unionist.
Ataman who opposed nullification nnd secession
jou will, perhaps, not regard him us one whoso
View? on the. Constitution are apt to be regard
ed'by that disunion spirit, which many mem
bers of your honorable body might seem siiffi
otant to prejudice any paper omunnting from
jjjj^'lfc^p^' Perry thus states the
most promineiit objections to bo urged against
the Constitution of the. Reconstruction Con
vention of this State:
"Article ?Section 10?Of tbo .Decli
rationof Rights, gives Justices of Peace juris
diction of nil offences, less th?n felony, and in
which the punishment docs not ex coed a fine
of 'flOO, or imprisonment for thirty days. This
is a gross invasion of that boast and bulwark
of?Anglo-Saxou liberty, the trial by jury.
Any one may bo arrested and 'tried summa
rily,' before a j ustiee of the Peace, or other
officer, authorized by law, on information under
oath, without' indictment or intervention of a
Grand Jury." Can'anything be mero despotic
or alarming, than tho power of an ignorant,
vicious negro Justice to fine und imprison any
jmd'cVery man in tho State f
."Skc. 24?Kunbles tho Legislature to au
thorize and empower any ono, a police or mili
tary officer, to suspend tho laws of tbe State,
or the execution of the law? ! Tho Constitu
tion of the United Suites limits the ?-uspeusion
of the writ of duibca* corpus by Congress, oven
to caso^pf rebellion or iuvnsioni JJut hofo the
whole laws of the State, in time of penpo, mny
be suspended by ho\\\o worthless minion, nu
thorized by tho Legislature.
"Sec, 25-?"Authoriws theOoDoral Assembly
to Hubjoet nny ono to martini law, or to the
pains nnd penalties of martial law, wh*never
they tli ink proper. This in famous power Is
given,the Legislature uuder tho guise, too, of
protecting personal rights. It seems to have
been suggested by tho minority of tho Su
preme Court's dissenting opinion iu Millignn's
oasp, They held thnt Congress could'uuthori/.o
tfjQ Jriul'of tt.citiKO? by a njilitttry court. The
tVaURvrs of this Constitution did not intend* to
Jtaave.tho. legislative .power doubtful in,this par
"Sko. 28?Clearly ulid distinctly cntpowors
and puthori^CJl^h^ up and
.tnaiutain a standiug army iu time of peace!
[ This alarming power is given/ looj mofet ad>oit-i
ly, under the pretence, that anuics'being, dan
gorouB to liberty,.ought.not to b?> maintained
in time.of peaco 'without tho consent of the
General Assoiubly J' . Tho purpose of this sec
tion la ,to enable the .Legislature to keep up a]
regular foreo.of, fivo .or ten thousand negro sol
diers, to suppress aud keep In subjection the
white race, after tho United States ^forces aro'
removed from {j:outh Carolina 1 Tho Constitu
tion of tho United States especially prohibits'
auy State; keeping troops or ships of war in'
time of pcucc. But this Constitution declares
it may be dyne with tho consent of tho Legis
lature !
".8kc. 2.of ArtT. -L?-Provides that the
Judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected
for six years, and , section 13 of the samo ar
ticle ordains that. Circuit Judges shall hold
their office for 'a . term of four years.' This
destroys tho independence of the Judiciary,
aud makes thempolitical partisads, with all tho
temptations und. corruptions of politicians. In
ordcrtosecure their re-election.thoy must become'
subservient to tho Legislature, by whom they
aro to be re-elected. Thoy will not dare to
decide an Act oi tho Legislature unconstitu
tional, nor will thoy venture to opposo their
judicial opinions to any popular current which
iuft? b sweeping over tho State/ Whilst the
Judges of England wcro in commission during
the pleasure of the Crown, they were always a
tyrant's menials. Heretofore tho Judiciary "of
this State, elected for l:fo, h.tyc ahyays been
abovo reproach, and thojr ermine has ncvor
bcen jj?llied with a stain of suspicion. Ilenec
fortb tho Judiciary of South Carolina will be
ind subservient.
W. '22?Gives Justices of the Peace ju
tcfion in cases of bnstardy and all contracts
torts as higK $1U0. This wiii open tiro
od gates of litigation, and keep the pe;>pVe
in constant [escitcmcut ands^umotionv Petti- j
foggors.-will? spri.ru? u?. n.U .^Ver liie Str-i;; to d'w
finismi-yr? l>r?MW?Srfa*?.u.t,-,
Ignorance and pndjidive jV.?J,V^mvong in judg
| tneut on tho rights and liberties of the peo
ple.
"Skc. 20?Denies thu Judges the right <pf
charging juries iu respect to.Gutters of facts !
In most cases tried in our Courts it is absolute
ly ucccssary for the Judge to analyze tho facts
iu order for tho juries to properly understand
them, aud givo a correct vordiot: 'I bis Will be
mofe imperative hereafter, when our former
slaves shojl be sitting on these juries. In n
complicated civil case, before a stupid ignorant
jury, uudor this restriction, the trial by jury
will bo a mockery of justice.
'?Skc. 3??Takes from the Legislature all
discretion as to the adoption of the proposed
amendment of the Eoderal Constitution, dis
franchising, the "pcoplo of South Carolina.
This amendment repudiated by Ohio, Califor
nia, New Jersey and even Massachusetts was
submitted by Congress to tho several Stute
Legislatures for their adoption or rejection, as
io them should see in proper. They were to
judge of its merits and decide for themselves.
Bui this sect ion swears, them before - h an d to
adopt it, whethor wise or unwiso. just or uu
juat I ?*;???
uSec. 24?Declares null and void all cou
tracts for tho purchase of slaves, iu violation of
tho Constitution of tho United States, which
declares that no State shall pass any law im
pairing the obligation of contracts. This see
tion was intended as a fraud and deception, a
bribe to induce the people, owing such debts,
to voto for tho Constitution. It is u nullity,
and will be so declared by tho Federal Court*.
Hut this will bo after the cheat bos had its
efToets and accomplished its purpose
"Sec. 2 of Art. 8?Enfranchises every
male negro ovor tho ago of twonty-oue whether
a convict, folon or pauper, aud disfranchises
overy white man who bad held offico in South
Carolina. Intelligence, virtue and patriotism
aro to givo place, in nil elections, to ignorance,
stupidity and vice. The superior race is to bo
made subservient to the inferior, .taxation
and representation arc no longer to bo united.
They who owu no property are to levy taxes,
and mako nil appropriations. The property
holders have to pay their taxes, without having
any voice in levying them ! Tho consequences
will bo, in effect, confiscation. Tho appropria
tions to support, free schools for tho education
of negro children, for tho support of old ne
groes in tho poor houses, and tho vicious iu
jails and penitentiary, together with a standing
army of negro soldiers, will bo crushiug aud
utterly ruinous to the Stuto. Every man's
property will huvo to bo sold to pay bis taxes.
"Sec. 8?Expressly prohibits tho Legisla
ture passing any law depriving a convict guil
ty of larcony of tho right of suffrage. It was
appro! ended that in a few yoars a largo pro
portion of the negro voters might bo convicted
of larceny, and tho Radien! party thoreby
shorn of their strength iu all elections. But
[ Li it"uv;t.Dioet.eliatiioiiili'that iu-forming a Con
I stiudion, cure, should; ho, takou ; to. prevent
rogues from being disfranchised, whilst tho
sumo caution is exercised to exclude the most;
intelligent, virtuous and patriotic from thej
right oiV suffrage! It? would-seem that tho pur
pose of tho frnra?rs of this. Constitution w?b to
found a community of rogues nftp>*;j)nupors in
South Carolina! And ap astnto-Lave they
been in .carrying out their purposo, that they
provide in section 12, that oil who have nl
roady been convicted of felony Bhall bo allowed
to vote.
"Skc. 2, Aivr. 9?Prohibits tho Legislature
from levying a poll.taxof more than one dollar
on each person, and declares thatthis tax ahull
be applied exclusively to tho public Bchool
fund! And no additional poll tux shall
bo levied by any municipal corporation. In
other words, tho property must pay nil tho
taxes of the Govoriunent, and persons shall pay
nothing for their protection of life and liberty.
The idea is that vagrants aud rogues aro to bo
a sort of : noblesse, exempt from taxation, nB was
the case of tho aristocracy in Franco previous,
to the French'Revolution.' In order to secure
the school fund, section 15 authorizes, tho; Leg
islature to punish those who may embezzle it,
by declaring them.disqualified for holding any
office of honor or emolument, in this State.
But, thtjn truo to their purpose of vesting all'
political power in the hands of such persons,
it provides iu the same section, that the Gene
ral Assembly, 'by a two-thirds veto, mny re
move tho disability upon payment iu full of the
principal and interest of the sum embezzled.* 1
It',a. man has stolen money from the public he
may still hold office under tho-Goveriimeut, if]
he will'give up like a gentleman,' tho lnonoyd
stolen ! j
"Sec. 10?Provides that no debt contracted j
by this Statu in behalf of the ltite rebellion, in !
whole or in part, shall ever bo paid. Why'
should tho' non-projieity holding negroes, Vau
kees mid So.uther'n^ronegudcs in the Conven
tiou" prohibit the property Iwlder fnjm puybtg'i
tlicso . debts, if thu^see pwper ttt dof>y.",ntid-!
; -pr<-^nT'o ?
v.by sholthJ it not'be paid? The property
holders, who assembled in Convention iu 1805,
and who would havo to pay this debt, never
thought of repudiating it.
"SfepC 3 of Art. 10?Estaublishcs uniform
system of free public schools throughout tho
State, und provides for tho division of tho
State into school districts. This will do very
well in New England, whero they have a dense
population, but is wholly unsuitcd to the sparse
population of South Carolina. In many of
the school districts, four miles square, there
will not be u child to be educated. In a ma
jority of tliom 'there will uot be children
enough to make a respectable school. The ex
pense of such a system will be at least $1,000.
000. It contemplates and forces the education
of the whito and black children in the same
school. This, no one, who has any regard for
the morals, manners and futuro respectability
of his children, will tolerate. They who are
able may employ private tutors for their sous
and daughtersbut the poor ohildron will have
no alternative but to go to these schools, or be
uneducated.
"Sko. 4?Makes it compulsory for nil chil
dren between tho ages of.six and sixteen to
attend school for two ycuis. Tbc compulsory
system may suit tho genius of a despotic Gov
ernment like Prussia, but is at war with the
spirit of our free institutions. There are many
parents who tiro not able to sparo the services
of their childrcu at home, and many others
who aro not iu a condition to furnish their
children with suitablo clothes and books for
their attendance at these schools. At least a
parent should bo permitted iu a free Republi
can country, to govern his own household, and
determine for himself what is best for him to
do. In order to support these schools, a poll
tax of ono dollar per head is to bo levied,
which might raiso 9100,000. This would
leave $900,000 to be paid by taxation of pro
perty.
Skc. 8?Provides for tho establishment of
State reform schools for juvenile offenders.
This is a new system lobe introduced iu South
Carolina, and of very doubtful policy. It will
certainly add hundreds of thousands of dollars
to our taxation. All tho public schools, col
leges and universities in tho State are, by sec
tion 10, to bo free and open to all tho children,
without regard to race or color. There seems
to bo a studied desire throughout all tho pro
visions of this most infamous Constitution, to
degrado tho while race aud elovate the black
race,' to force upou us social as well as political
equality, ? ml bring about an amalgamation of
races.
Skc. 5 of Art. 11?forces each County to
provide for the support of the aged, infirm an J
unfortunate. It docs not require children to
support their aged, iufinu or unfortunate pa
rents, nor paroutn to provide lor their ehild
dien : but this heavy mid most enormous bur
1' .-SlAi. yi-d ?:>. > ? '.I..-- it. -
d|TiB to be thrown on the public tnd^rovided
Ifclby taxation.
> Tllcrctoforo South Carolina has pursued a
w$e policy in 1 dfuwing all divorces. The" mar
ge contract is Hot like that of nny other,
ieh^thc parties may ro3oiud at pleasure,
injury to society. There is > a third'
?innocent and helpless children~who
=iy interested in all divorces. More
rl
it tonds to domornliRo every community
o it is allowed or tolerated. But BcCtibo.
JSSa^ the ooufW power to grnnt divorces,
rji-s section Was intended, pothnpa, for the
e.iutMal benefit of the nogrocs. It ought also
U) have legalised polygamy, which has likc
Vtjte great favor with this class of people.
10 settlement of a wifo's property, pro
for in section 8, might have been left to
^ discretion and wisdom-of the Legislature.
Itji'4 an experiment, and if found mischievous
oil unwise, the Legislature ought to have the
pjwer of changiug or nltcring the law. But
tits ordinary act of legislation has been iucor
?^i)'lcd in the Constitution as a f?nd?nIIeuTaT'l
iOt to be repealed.
Lttuched to this Constitution aro several
ojlinauces, and amongst thani one which rc
pjjdiatcs all pledges of faith and credit, on the
of the State, to any corporation or private
,-idual, made since 1 HOD. The honor and
of South Carolina, her good faith and
iffjbt solemn pledges, are thus treated as of no
Cdfsideration whatever. But this ordinance is
ona'par with that dishonor, despotism and un
fcipulous extravagance, which pervade the
Role Constitution, and arc worthy of the in
jmSigus sourer whence the instrument has its
tin.
hTlso ordinance to create a Board of Laud
n?uissionors, authorizes the purchase of
[lw for the purpose of selling them out in
?11 tracts to purchasers on credit. This wild
um ruinous scheme is, likewise, for the nc
gr?cH, and is likely to benefit no one, except
tJ?: land commissioners and their friends.
T)\-y may be sold, but tho purchasers ;> will
' " ?. them, and the loss will ulti
^id any ?no ever
iions-fiMs?
State, and nil the people in it^aro red deed to
bankruptcy and poverty?"
Thus has it been shown, in tho nuuvc analy
sis, ow injuriously this Constitution must
affect the interests of the white man, and how
inconsistent it must, prove with the- peace and
prosperity of tho State. But, in addition to
this, the Committee believe that it can be
shown that the said Constitution is not the less
injurious to the very class?to wit: the black
people?whom it seonicd most especially to
to have been designed to benefit. Ou this
point, the Committee ask leuve to iuvitc atten
tion to tho comments of the lion. A. Burt, our
of the ablest luwycis of tho State, and a man
of the highest character, and of well known
political conservatism. Tho following is his
language on the subject of the provisions of
the new Constitution, which confer the power
of taxation :
! "An analysis of the provisions of the now
Constitution, which confer tho power of taxa
tion, I hare not a doubt, will assure any candid
mind that no people on this continent can en
dure tho burdens which it imposes. The prin
ciple which pervades tbut entire instrument is
that all taxation, except for a single purpose,
shall bo imposed upon real estate and upou tho
income from the sale of merchandize. In es
timating tho inequality of taxation, we cannot
omit tho fact of the great divestty botwecn tho
two races which inhabit the State. At this
moment tho taxable property is held by ono
race, und under that Constitution the political
power is vosted exclusively in the other. Not
only arc the ordinary appropriations for the
civil service of tho State imposed upon the
property held by the smaller number, but the
other race, as a race, is nt the present moment
entirely exempt for the support of public
schools. A very largo number of the race
which own the taxable property are disfran
chised?cannot veto, und cannot even
hold tho humblest office created by that
Constitution; while all others without refe
rence to property, to educational qualifica
tion, to past citizenship, or any other qualifica
tion, are allowed to voto. Nocd I say that this
is a condition of things which the world never
before witnessed. Your ancestors proclaimed
a sentiment which has thrilled throughout
every American heart, reached to distant coun
tries, and been incorporated into vheir Consti
tution and laws. It is this, that taxation with
out representation is tyranny; Now, not only
is a largo cluss of property holders in South
Carolina disqualified to vote or hold offieo, but
those who may voto or hold office ore not re
quired to have nny property qualification or to
know a letter of tho alphabet, as many of them
will not kuow. I say that u more arrant and
infamous spoliation of a class was never de
signed by any country on tho face of tho earth.
"Now, what must bo tho consequences?
Property under forms of law, in the guiso of
taxtion, will bo transferred from the hands of
those who now poi<?C/?s it to othert;: ??It'J*
inevitable. The holders of taxable property
iu South Carolina cannot to-day, and will not
hcrcaftcr, be ablo to > pay tho taxes imposed
upon them.
"JManj of yott are nble to form some
reasonable conjee turo as to tho number
of paupers ? who Will assert thuir claims upon
tho obarity and sympathy of the State. You
havo already bad somo oxperlenco with rc
ferfneo 46 ono race, and I am persuaded you
will not have the slightest difficulty in making
you calculations. Not even a negro lather,
son or husband, is required to contribute a
dollar towards the support of the paupers of
his raco." ' " j
He next addresses himself more especially,
to tho colorod man, and remarks:
"If thero be auy colored man who intends;
to be industrious, frugal Und moral?to elevate
himsejf und family?to that man I desire to say
one word; Let him acquire real estate and
learn to read and write, so that he may bo
placed iu^the category of tho?whito man who
owns taxable property, and;if I Am' not totally
mistakcu in the opinion I have derived from'
successful and critical examination of the new,
Constitution, ho will be unable'to retain his
property thrco years. It will bo taken from
him by those of his. owu raco who arc idle,
thriftless, and do not mean to work. Hence
it is that I call upon all respectable colored,
men, who entertain hopes of future prosperity,
to denounce that Constitution and join Iiis
natural, ancient and true friends in opposing
its ratification."
Next, aftor exposing the deceptive features
in the Constitution proposed on the subject of
the homestead claim, and the annulling of all
dobts of which slavery were the consideration,
and after some comments upon the dangerous
organization of the judicial power of the State,
he concludes thuai^ '^MMr
"In my judgment, a Constitution with such
enormities in it will provo fati i to both-raccs,
and more fatal to tho bl!mk<ih;t? to the wlirrte; |
Tho colored mail who? hits' acquired property j
bus really more interest in preventing thai 1
- uottal ?tuti< ai. f^nn. becoming the fundamental 1
who would make him believe that it is hid
interest to oppose the people who have reared
and nurtured him through lifo. So cumbrous
and complicated is the machinery of that
Constitution, consisting, as it docs of tho most
minute details, and SO burdensome will be the
government which it inaugurates, thut you will
be crushed by it. You cannot bear it. As well
might the heavy harness of the mailed warrior
be put upon the limes of an infunt as for these
burdens to bo imposed upon the impoverished
peoplo of South Carolina. None but a people
rich and highly educated can live under that
Constitution. Try it if you will, but I tell
you, gentlemen, that antagonism will be ex
cited between tho two races, and conflict may
be the result. Under it pence and harmony
arc utterly impossible iu South Carolina."
We have thus suggested to your honorable
body some of the prominent objections to your
adoption of this Constitution. We waive all
argument upon the subject of its validity. It
is n Constitution de facto, and that is the
ground upon which wo approach your honora
ble body iu tho spirit of earnest remonstrance.
Thut Constitution was tho work of Northorn
adventurers, Southern reuegrades and ignorant
negroes. Not one per centum, of tho white
population of the 8tat/? approves it, and not
two per centum, of tho nogrocs who voted for
its adoption know any more than u dog, horse
or cat, what bis act of voting implied. That
Constitution enfranchises every malo negro
over the age of twenty-one, and disfranchises
many of the purest and best."white men of tho
State. Tho negroes being in a largo numeri
cal majority, as compared with tho whites, tho
effect is that the new Constitution establishes
in this State negro supremacy, with all its
train of countless evils. A sup?ri?r race?a
portion, Senators and Representatives, of the
same proud race to which it is your pride to
belong?is put under tho rulo of an inferior
race?the abject slaves of yesterday, tho flush
ed frccdiucti of to-day. Aud think you that
there can be any just, lasting reconstruction
mi this basis? The Committee respectfully
reply, iu behalf of their white fellow-citizens,
thut this cannot be. We do not mean to
threaten resistance by arms. Rut the white
people of our State will never quietly submit
to negro rule. We may have to pass undor
the yoke you have authorized, but by moral
agencies, by political organization, by ovory
peaceful means left us, wo will keep up this
contest until wo havo roguiucd the heritage of
political control handed down to us by an
honored ancestry. This is a duty wo owo
to the laud thut is ours, to tho graves
that it contains, and to the race of which
you and wo nro alike members?tho proud
Caucasian race, whose sovereignty on earth
Uod has ordained, and thoy themselves havo
illustrated on the most btilliant pages of tho
' world's history.
* ^orV Senators and i^proscntiitives, doffftho
State of South Caroliua in'crit, WyouiT&S^
tlic political ircatmont that h?s'beon xneted ??t
to nor without stint.
It is true, South Carolinaiook'ttic
promptly, in the late war Ibe^woen" the ,S4ate?l/
'Her people embarked their alVib tfid^truggio,
ijocauae tho sovereignty of the State demand
ed thin of them. But wlion 'tho ' war 'eh^?
and the orbitrnmcnt to Which (hoy rcfiortod
was adverse to their causo, nH ';j?ppjo*jov?r
yielded morn grace fully to the decree
donee. Quietly they laid down their nrnr;',
and, in peace, they bccihio law-abiding, as, in
war, they hud been faithful to their fbgi'-Thjjy
accepted' the legitimate results .of tho war.
They wore ready to'abandon the claim of the
right of their State peaceably to. secede 'from
tho Union, and they assented, in'Convention
assembled, to tho emancipation of their slaves.
And now, were the State adiuittc^'' mt^~tj?b y'
Union, on a just oud reasonable basis! wo^ics
itato not to declare that again would our poo
pfo' greet the starry banner, of the Union, anil
unite with thoir * fclI?w-ciiiK?ns' of tho.'wnolb
_ ? ' . ? i.--'if.-.' iit.1.*'
country in the effort to promote tho.{gIo?y,
wealth and prosperity of our common land. , }
In our relations, as proposed by us, with the
black people of this State, we aro not disposed
to exact anything that just jucu may dony or
Heaven disapprove.
When South Carolina assented to the! Act
of Federal emancipation, wo hold that "the"
freed people' became members of tlie body
politic, and, as such, entitled to all the'civil
rights that are cnjoycd alike by all classes of
'tlie people. They beCamo entitled to ''life
liberty' vinA the pursuit of hap "mess"?to all
that the Bcclaratiou of American Indepen
dence and tlie English 'M<i<jiia (Jlutrtu <d'ilm
for man as his alienable yigU.rf. ' But as
it regards suffrage, we: hold that thus net a
politicnl right uo'r a civil one for man, cither
white or black, but it is a trust, a delicate
trust, to be cuiifered by the State upon tho
people iliercof^neeufding .to' cousiderations of
expediency, and agreeably to the sound polrfci'.
eal doctrine'of the greatest, goo:!. \ otuegreatfig^,
tiine-tcnths of our people arc willing to con
cede it to theui, duly 'qualified. We cannot
admit universal suffrage, because the great
body of the colored people uro utterly unfitted
to exorcise it with intelligence and discretion ;
and because it would inakc .the^ negro dumt
rtunt, and thus bring uf>out a fatal antagonism
betweeu the races. Wo cannot deny it aL
together to the black man, because that would
be neither right nor politic. Hence the policy
of the mean between the two extremes, which
?1 ii >;?%>: ,/t if..-: * >?
has met with general favor in this State., Thq
Conservative party of S'nj^F .Carolina, now
stands and gathers strcj?n, day niter' day,
upon this proposition. ^Thc Convention "of
the party lately passed'tho following result*;
tion :
"RcvJvttl, Thai under" the action of tho
State of So?th Caiolina, Iieretofom taken; wo
recognise the colored population of the State
as an integral clement of the body politic;
and, as stich, in person and property, entitled
to a full and equal protection under the State
Constitution and laws. And that as citiroui
of Smith Carolina, we declare our ?illingnc?,
when wo have tho powor, to'grant them,' ufc
der proper qualification as to property and lt?
itelligonoe, tho right of suffrage."!
In behalf at least of the Democratic party
of South Carolina, which embraces nearly
every1 white inhabitant, and many of the color
ed people, tho Committcb declare that this
policy represents the political sentiment of tho
State.' We offer this in good' faith, ?s tho
basis of a true, a genuine and lasting recon
struction. This, wo earnestly believe, is tho
peaceful solution of the great question of white
man and black man in the South, This solu
tion we offer To the Conservatism of the coun
try, as ono nliko advantageous to , both- races.
Let this ho accepted ; let the vexed question
of tho black mtai bo removed front 'the higlt
court of the land, and let.all of our people
North, South, East and West be permitted
to address themselves to tho great work of
individual improvement and national aggran
dizement?then again may wo expect a return
of the better days of the Bopublio, and a res
toration of tho Uuion in fact as well ns in
namo.
WADE HAMPTON.
jo An f: Thomas,
joseph daniel POPE,
F. W. NdM ASTER,
SAMUEL McCOWAN,
W. M. SHANNON.
State Central Executive Commit!
- lun -~ mmm _.
The North Carolina Conservative papers lay
tho blame of tho defeat of thoir party and tho
ratification of tho constitution upon the
western counties of the State, whore there are
comparatively few negroes. It is most unfor
tunate that thoro should bo such diverse inter
ests and feelings at. ong the people of tho
same State. .