Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-09-14
Letter from Wade Hampton of s. c.
 On Reconstruction,

Un Reconstruction.
 The following is the concluding DOT. ton of Wade Hampton letter to vari. ous citizens of Columbia. South Caro-. lima, who asked his advice with re. gard to their action in the very impor. tant matters soon to be submitted 10 the people of the State:'
 "To return to the consideration of the Reconstruction Acts. What in- ducements do the advocats of thees measures hold out to us to accept them ? Can they promise us peace? Look at Tennessee, and learn what kind ot peace we are to have. Can they promise us an acceptable State constitution, one that will not be interfered with by Congress! Look at Delaware, Mary land and Kentucky, three loyal sov- ereign States. which are to be put on trial before Star Chamber Commit tee on the charge of not having rcpub- lican constitutions. Can they promise a restoration of the Union? The Rad ical rulers expressly declare that their measures are not .fnalities' Can they promise even that doubtful good, rep resentation in the Congress of the Uni ted States? refer you to Kentucky. whose representatives are ignomin- ionsly rejected because rebels voted for them.
 "But suppose that the State accepts the terms proposed by the Military Bills: that she agrees to the permanent and total exclusion from her councils of the intellect, the experience, the wisdom and the patriotism which. in times past, gave her luster that, instead of these noble qualities and virtues, she commits her political destinies to the guidance of ignorance, inexpcriencc. folly and Radicalism; that she adopts a Constitution disfranchisng forever the men who, in obeying her command to defend her. believed that they were serving God: that she
 .Buys- z ,ominious purchase--shori repose. With dying curses and the groans of those That served and loved. and put in her their
 trust "
 Suppose she does all these things. and that the Radicals then graciously permit her to send her representatives to Washington, from what class will she select the men who are to fill the places once honored by Lowndes, Cal houn, McDuffie, Preston. Cheeves. Hayne, Hnger, aud their glorious com peers9 Is representation in Congress so very desirable that we should send men there who can take the oath, rath- CT than that we should remain unrep- resented longer? Can the people of .ha S.a.~ .----- .,------. ia =. ---,- would take it? For the honor of our State, should prefer that she should not be represented in the halls of Con- grcss until her delegates can enter them as free men, representing a sover- eign State, with all her dignity, equal ity and rights unimpaircd. When that day comes there may be a rcstorr- ton of the Union in fact as well as in theory; when North and South. for giving the past, even if thy can not for get it, may meet as equals on some common ground, where the honor, the rights and the feelings of both can be recognized and respected. But until that day does come, in the words of Patrick Henry, Gentlemen may cry Peace, peace, but there is no peace It is scarcely necessary for me to say that, entertaining the views that have expressed, think it far preferable the State should remain in its present con dition. under military rule. than that it should give its sanction to measures which we believe to be illegal, uncon- stitutional and ruinous. It is my honest and firm belief that the voun- tary acceptance of these measures by our people would surely bring, not on- ly to the South, but to the whole coun- try, evil far greater than any we have yet suffered.
 .'The North, flushed with success and drunk with power, may not be able to realize this fact; but as surely as the South falls victim to irresponsible and unlicensed power, so surely will the North lose its liberties. Ruin to the South will react on the North, and if we arc crushed into the dust the Northern people will see but the fore shadowing of their own certain doom. Recognize as an established principle, the right of any political party that may be in the ascendency to fix upon all who differ with them laws unauthorized by the Constitution Of the United States, and we shall begin that downward ca reer which will lead us steadily through confusion, anarchy and blood. to the certain overthrow of republican institutions and free government. Be- lieving this, regard it as the duty of every man, in the exercise of the right accorded to all by these military bills, to oppose their adoption by all lawful means. As the people have the privil- ege. then, of expressing either assent or dissent on this question, 1 advise them earnestly to record the latter as fully and solemnly as possible. Let every man register and cast his vote against the Convention since the ques- ton will be made on that issue.
 "As it is of the last consequence to maintain the same amicab.e relations which have heretofore existed between | the whites and the blacks, can not too 1 sfronuly reitcrate my counsel that all