Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-04
Herschel v. johnson en- the Republican
Party.
To the Editor of the HiJ,rna /:

SIR: You have commented in the Tribune
on my recent letter to a COMMITTEE of Allan
ia, Georgia, expressingm my views, IN part, upon
the scheme of reconstruction adopted by Con-
gress and offered to the ten prescribed States
for their acceptance. Your comments are In
tended to be severe they are also unjust to
ME, and to those who may agree with me,
though l am bound to presume, not so inten-
ded by you. I should have felt grateful if
you had published theletter. which, believe,
you have not done: claim no right to lis
publication in the Tribune; for L iuliy lecog-
nize your right topublish OF reject whatsoever
you may deem cxpedient and dproper.'I there.
fore prefer no complaint on that score, though,
from your usual fairness. might have ex-
pccted you to pursue a,'i;fferent course.
The masses at the North-and I am not
sure that the remarks not applicable even 10
yourself and very many Of the editors and
leading men of that scction-are hot informed
of the true condition Of things in Georgia
and the other nine States which arc termed
disloyal. Especially are they not informed
of the real feelings and motives ol those who
are adverse to the Congressional scheme Of
reconstruction. if they were, would f1in
hope that the policy of the dani;.ant power
would be less cxacting and proscnptive, not
to say oppressive. If those who lead public
sentiment in your portion Of tbo Union be
true patriots and statesmen, their real desire
is to promote the welfare of sur whole coun.
try ard perpetuate good governnort, in con-
tradistinction TO mere party ascendaucy. This,
certainly, should be the aim,f ali good men.
I assure you that no other feeling las place
in my breast. / never, in my Whole life,
cherished sentiment or did an act Of inten-
tional hostility 10 the Constitution Of the
United States or to the Union of the States,
based upon it, according to my honest opinion
Of its spirit and meaning. The late war has
wrought great changes in the Southern States,
and has brought before the people of the
Union, for fnal decision, many grave ques-
tious, involving, in my poor judgment, the
character and destiny of Our Gn?crnmcnt.
Indeed, constitutional liberty Itself is in great
peril This is my honest conviction. States
men should survey our surroundings, with
the view of avertirg that peril, rather than
the maintenance Of party ;.sccrdancy. No
man can more araenily desire the restoration
of the Union. upon the principles Of the Con.
stitution, than do. submit to al the legit-
innate results of tho war, and would gladly
adopt any plan Of reconstruction which
would rot seek to impose terms upon US
inconsistent with those results, and calcu-
lated 10 imperil constitutional liberty. You
seem to think ,hat am faciiously opposed TO
the Congressional scheme; tha wish to
prolong and aggrava!e present political dis
turbauce and d=cord that am actuateG by
spirit Of disloyalty that throw the small
mite of my poor influence into the scale of
strife and discomfort. Little do you know,
and less do You appreciate, my earnest l2ng-
ngs f3r peace, harmony, prosperity national
equality and Justice. The scheme of rccon-
struct.on offered to US rroiesses TO extend TO
us The right Of choosing by vote; it calls on
US TO say whether We are Gjr rr against n
convention, such rs that scheme contcmpla.es.
When /, in the exercise Of that yOlition, cx-
press myself as opposed TO it, YOU aud the
other leading r, pubcans OF he North, who
consider my poor opinions worthy to be NO
riced, infer thercirom that | am disloyal, fac
t;ous, and rebel ious. lftho>e who are opposed
to that plan of reconstruction are thus to Dc
branded, why call on Us tc Choose? If we
be free to choos., is it quite consistent, chart
table. and just to Genounce us because we do
not choose as the Republicans desire that We
should ? Aye, more than this: TO threaten
US with perpetual disCranchlscmcrt anu cpn-
fscation if W. ~. 50 oh13;e! Is thai the
way to cstib!ish Stare goyerlin ..ts, do.iv .
ins their just powers from the co.,scnt of the
eoverned?' 1t is true. ala 1!stlInchi>cd -
| am not permitted TO register lniur the Sher
\ D,t RI .nt |
therefore, not at liberty to write IN speak
freely to my fellow w-citzcns, withn':i being de-
nounced as dis!oyal and 'ae;iou.. I profess
to be loyal to the Constitution, d intend to
be loyal to the Union, when j. shall be set
tied that Georgia constitute one If the Siate-
Of the Union. But if loyalty means fidelity
and adhesion to the Republican party, l shall
pevcr belong to it nor be loyal to it, SO long
as it persists in course Of policy which must
end in lhe overthrow Of the Constitution.
hare taken the oath of amnesty, and intend
to keep it, in good faith, in letter and spirit.
1t binds me TO support tire Constitution.
That will do TO the best Of my ability. 1t
binds me to support the emancipation of The
negroes from Slavery. That 1ylntend to dc,
and favor their investment hy law, with every
right that is consistent with their walhre,
the interest of wellorganized society, and the
perpetuation of good government. Mere
than this you would not ask Of me-. We
may differ honestly as to what tights are
compatible with these ends; br' that differ
cnce does not constitute either III US traitors
or dis!oyalists, in any legitimate sense of the
term.
IF you could mng!e personally with them,
doubt not you would be surprised 10 learn
how little of prejudice against the negro, on
account of co or and race, ex;s' IN the minds
of almost the entire mess of the Southern
people. We nrc their friends, aus wish thpm
well, although they are taught e!herwise by
those who have come amorg us for the pur
pose Of using them for political purposes
They appeal to their passions and prejudice,
ard are busiiy engaged in organizing them in
entagonism to the white race. Where or how
this with End vc should be in the ';ark were it
not for the b!ovdy esscna os hi2tqrg. ! con-
fess to gloomy iorebodings for. Tho fntErc.
Heaven grant that may be wrong in my np-
prehensions!
You will ask. "If You are the friends Of
the negro, why do you object to their being
universally cnfranchiscd?" I reply, not
merely because their skin is black, but be-
cause l believe that they are too ignoran. to
use 2:;ch franchiscment rightly and well; that
it will be iatGi to 5dad G2re,nment We have
probably sixty thousand ooorei peosls in
Georgia, who will, hereafter, go to the ballot
box, under the plan of Congressional recon-
struction-a greater number than that of the
white voting population. And so it will be
IN all ths ten prescribed States. The result
must oe that tka ssgeral governments Of these
States must pass into their hands lwho qfp
now being taught by political drill masters
that they have injuries to aycngc against the
| uLitasl with lkn, Tremendous mower of taxa: