The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-26
GEN. HINDMAN'S LETTER,

| GEN. HINDhlAS
We have of late paid considerable attention
to the utterances of the leaders of the South
ern people. We have quoted and animadver-
ted upon their views, because we deem 1t
natural that in this time of doubt and per-
plexity, when the fundamental principles Of
society and government are brought into the
arena of discussion, the people should look
for counsel, guidance and direction to those
who in. days gone by have occupied positions
of honor and of trust among their felow-cti-
zens. Many of our most prominent public
men have spoken; both those who formerly
represented us in the halls of legislation, and
those also those who were wont to lead our
enthusiastic citizen soldiery to battle and to
victory With scarcely single exception,
the ex-Confederate Generals, who have been
heard from advise conciliatory policy. They
accept the situation, and advise all their
friends to do so. Tothe long list of these we
can now add Gen. eHINDMAN, one of our most
distinguished Western chieftains, during the
four years. struggle. He wrote letter on
the 29th of June last to the Editors of the
arkansas State Gazette. In it he says: al be-
leve it to be o most solemn duty of every
friend of the South, who is permitted to do 30,
to register and vote for convention, and for
good and true men as delegates, who will ac-
quiesce in the Military bills of Congress, not
because those bills are constitutional, just, or
wise, but because the power that forces them
on us is greater than we can resist, and utter
and permanent ruin may overwhelm US in
farther contest against it, such reasoning as
this controlled LEE and JOHNSTON, when they
surrendered to GRANT and SHERMAN, and, as
there was no disgrace to them, so there can
be none to US, in succumbing to an invincible
necessity"
General H1NDMAN is anxious to correct the
impression that has been industriousy cir
culated to his disadvantage, that he is radi-
CAL He denies the accusation. but considers
that in giving counsel like that quoted above,
he is giving the best possible proof of his love
for the South, and his interest in, and sympa-
thy with her people. He urgently advises
every man, not disfranchised to secure his
registration certificate without delay, and pre-
serve it as carefully as the brave soldier saves
his last round of ammunition. "Those certif-
Gates are the basis of suffrage now, if not for
years. Holding them, we may refuse to vote
when we like; but if we do not hold them,
we will be powerless to help our best friends,
although our worst enemies may thereby be
elected. Suppose that Governor and Con-
gressmen are to be chosen. On one side
Radical ticket is presented, bowling for con-
fscation and the blood of rebels, and stirring
up the negroes to ferocious war Of races
On the other side the candidates are fair
minded conservative men, abiding the results
of the war in good faith, maintaining the
Union and the laws in oil honesty of heart,
and bent on doing everything that will extin-
guish bitter memories and restore prosperity
to the whole country. The first of these tickets
will destroy us-the last will give equality
before the law. Yet many of us have refused
to register that our friends ore beaten in the
State or District for the lack of few votes,
lost by that neglect of ours. Our ultra
Radical prosecutors are thus elected, and we
make ourselves responsible here for such
outrageous tyranny as that Of FLETCHER in
Missouri, or of BRowNLow in Tennessee How
dare true friend of the South take this bur-
then on his conscience?"
So far, General HINDMAN. This letter
breathes the proper spirit, spirit which
should be infused into all who desire to see the
Southern States saved from further degrade
ton. 1t is far better for all to adopt the con-
ciliatory plan that he invokes (the course which
we have all along counselled), than to arouse
passions that may array race against race
This the letters and speeches of Messrs. PERRY,
HILL, JOHNSON, TooMBs and others of that
party, are more calculated to do even than the
Incorporate harangues of a KELLEY, q BUTLER
or STEVENS. 1t is no time for elimination or
recrimination. We must live on terms of civil
and political equality with the negroes. Why
should we needlessly do that which must result
in their ill-will and distrust, and thus destroy
what is left of our former influence with
them.
The country needs peace and restoration.
The uncertain law of military commander is
not equal to the certain enaotments of undis-
turbed legislation. Nothing will prosper as
long as we are in our present position. The
farms not we'll stocked, and provisions scarce
and costly. Merchants from the highest to the
lowest complain of want of business. Me-
chanics and artisans are not employed because
of want of capital by those who need them
All these classes of industry will remain as
they are or get worse. No State offers finer
inducements to capitalists and emigrants than
South Carolina, and yet they stay away
Money is plenty at the North and in Europe
and yet none can be obtained by farmers of the
South on their lands, no matter how badly they
need it. Remain as we are, and the effort to
regain our lost prosperity will be short, sharp
and decisive against us. We appeal to every
man in the State to take advantage Of the offer
now made; to register and qualify to vote, and
aid in selecting good men to the Convention
that is to be called, so that they can vote upon
the constitution that it will adopt and submit
for approval or rejection.
We know we are open to the charge of repe-
tition, having dweled now on this topic. almost
daily, for some time. But we have no apollo
gies to offer. If we recur to the subject of our
duty again and again, we do so only because
we deem this the subject of pre-emnent i'm
portance at this time to every man, woman and
child in the South and, therefore, the most