The Pulaski Citizen

What Shall the People of the South
Do?-The National Intelligencer thus answers this question:
"Whatever force there may have been in
the argument that the South could take
no action under the Sherman-Shellabarger
bill without voluntary participation in
its own degradation, is now destroyed by
the bill which passed the House of Representatives. That takes the question of
holding a convention out of the realm of
popular consent; and confers it upon the
military commander. He is enjoined to
make a registration and order an election;
whatever may be done, therefore, is done
under military duress, and it is the part of
wise men to accommodate themselves to
circumstances. The registration will be
made. The election will be held. The
negroes will vote. Shall the whites abstain? If inaction accomplished aught,
we might understand why men should advise it; but when the practical effect of inaction will be to secure the adoption of
State Constitutions by those who do act,
and an application for admission into the
Union from men who have voted, while
this inaction will put arguments into the
mouths of those opposed to our restoration, we cannot exactly see the wisdom of
hesitation. Those who now abstain from
choice will abstain hereafter from necessity."