Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-09-07
Thursday, September 7, 1865.
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.


from the Hon. e. Starnes upon certain Of
the absorbing questions Of the day
Whilst regarding the policy of the United
States Government on the slavery question
as injurious to the interests of the whole
country-to tho conqueror as we'll as to
the conquered the writer freely admits
that the laws of nations would have sane
toned on the part Of that government n
much more radical change in our political
organization than seems be contemplated.
We might have been placed in tho condi-
ton OF dependent territories, and other
wise visited with inconvenicnt and lunous
Acknowledgement. This has not been done,
but only so much of our Constitution and
laws is changed as contravenes the policy
o. the conqueror. To that policy it is our
duty as well as interest to yield a ready
acquicscence or leave the country. The
tone of The letter is hopeful, and in spite Of
.;.:l he discour, ging views OF the despond-
lug, the writer thinks that we will yet find
the wa, to wealth and prosperity in tho
resources of Southern soil and tho cultiva.
,ion Of Southern staples. If voluntary
negro Labor will not meet the demand,
some sort OF labor will tc employed to
produce the nceicd supply. We extract
the following paragraphs of the Letter:
Tie course pursued by the Government,
and the declarations of its officers, have
.sown and are showing, that it is not pro-
.t,n=yi, 20 interfere with such Of our laws as
io not c"ntravcnc the policy Of the con.
lueror, nor wi our purely municipal or
ganiz ,ions. But tia! new political or.
gan;z .t;on is required, and such alterations
IN our constitute on and laws as will, accord
ingt> the Attorney General Of the United
States, bring the Slate into perfect accord
with the wise and thoroughly tried princi.
rles Of our Government"
The obvious meaning of all this is plain.
ly az follows: /. We must submit to the
abolition Of slavery, thoroughly and in
good fai'h. Q. We must repeal all our
laws which have refenQce to the system
Of slavery, and regulate the relations Of the
slaves, which have been freed, to our 80
cieiy; not by giving them equality Of cili
zensh,p. bat by securing to them fixed,
recognized, just, and. equitable rights as
members OF the body polite. 8. We
must give up all claim to such State sover-
eighty as asserts the right of separate State
action or secession. 4. That none but
such persons as do not foil within the class
es excepted by the Presidents proclama
ton Of May 2eth, and have taken the oath
Of amnesty prescribed by the proclamation,
or falling within these exceptions have ~
ceived special pardon, shall be allowed for
the present to take part in the new State
Government. This is what is necessary to
he done, according to the policy Of the
.conqueror, in order that we may be rcstor
ed TO ''accord," as the Government holds,
with its principles. .
1t would.be useless, nay, worse than use
less, to quarrel with these terms. They are
the result Of our unsuccessful war, AS |
have shown. and we must in good faith ac-
cept them, or seek another country. The
Government plainly believes them to be
generous and magnanimous. And if we
could or would view the matter for nc
ment from the stand point Of our late al =
versaries, We might realize how strongly
and earnestly this conviction is entertained
by them. When, after overthrowng us
in what they hold to have been an uriusti-
fable and gigantic rebellion, they allow us
to come back into the relations Of political
brotherhood with them, occupying the
same platform Of social and political rights,
and accepting and living under the same
interpretations nf the constitution, having
lett us the inestimable privilege OF tie
common law, SO dear to ADglo>Saxon
hearts, and SO much Of our own legislation
as does not contravene the Fundamental
policy which has been indicated, as we'll as
the exercise Of our suffrage according to our
ancient law; when they permit US, 80 soon
as constitution can be adopted in accord.
.ance with the policy specified, freely to
regulate for ourselves our social relations
and interests, and to be represented in the
councils of the Federal Government. it is
not surprising that they should feel this to
be great stretch of generosity and mag.
nanimity. Seeing how much verse the
matter might have been made for US, how
much worEe, my dear sir, it may yet be
made for US, by the radical majority which
which controls both houses of Congress.
unless we have the sagacity to appreciate
tie present policy Of the President, and
promptly to accept aud secure its terms by
instant and energetic action, let US admit
!ne iorce Of these views as they plainly
impress themselves upon the minds of that
mighty people who have subdued u.s.
but whether we admit this or mol, there
IS no escape from the policy indicated, save
expatr'ation. To that policy we must con.
foFm, il we would once more make and a5.
minister our own laws, regulate our sociul
relations, and create for ourselves safeguards
for our life and property.
, what Fstes impose. that man nust need,
y 'es boots not TO resist both wind and tide"