[The Sequel of Appomattox by Walter Lynwood Fleming]@TWC D-Link book
The Sequel of Appomattox

CHAPTER VI
16/21

The effect of the abstention policy upon the personnel of the conventions was unfortunate.

In every convention there was a radical majority with a conservative and all but negligible minority.

In South Carolina and Louisiana, there were Negro majorities.

In every State except North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, the Negroes and the carpetbaggers together were in the majority over native whites.
The conservative whites were of fair ability; the carpetbaggers and scalawags produced in each convention a few able leaders, but most of them were conscienceless political soldiers of fortune; the Negro members were inexperienced, and most of them were quite ignorant, though a few leaders of ability did appear among them.

In Alabama, for example, only two Negro members could write, though half had been taught to sign their names.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books