The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-07
Hon. Isaac r. Holmes.

Ii is from the pen OF the hon. A WALKER, o
Brooklyn, California:
Hon. Isaac e. Holmes.
Editor Bulletin: The death Of this once dstin.
guished South Carolinian, and for many years an
esteemed citizen Of our State, announced in your
paper of last Saturday, ought not to pass without
more full and particular record He lives freshly
in the memory Of many here, his neighbors when
he resided at s:Bushy Glen" in the county Of Ala
media, spot which to him seemed the pre-fgura-
ton of paradise. Well do l remember my first in
PRODUCTION to him by my farme r-neighbor, g. W.
Of the farm, the centre of which WAS that Glen.
s'Mr. Holmes, Of South Carolina" said my friend
Reid. ssWhatI" said I, 'the South Carolinian who
pronounced that most striking eulogy on John
Quincy Adams in the United States House Of Rep
resentatives?" 81 am that same South Caro-
lnian," Mr.. Holmes re7lied; "South Carolina and
Massachusetts have always known how to be ju t
to each other in their friendships as well as in
their enmities."
From that hour Mr.. Holmes and myself we're in
innate friends, though in politics we widely differed.
Ten years ago. and until he left here in 1861, Imet
him almost daily. Frank, genial confding, ever
hopeful on all subjects but one, he was rdfe en-
tertainer and companion That one subject VAS
the perpetuity Of the Union, which he declared
uncongeniality between the sections that could
never be removed--a chemistry by which nearer
contact would turn the attraction to an explosive
force akin to nitro-glycerine." When Lincoln was
elected, he It'd me the last hour had come: The
South would not stand this step-his Inauguration
is impossible. The 4th of March is the end Of this
Union" laughed at his prediction, and remarked
that he not the first prophet OF evil had heard
predict such catastrophe. !" You can laugh" ne
SMILE have loved this Union but you Of the North
wilnot appreciate the South Our institution is ne
cessity to u.s. domestic necessity; which you ought
to let sone to be managed by those who understand
l. IL. Il
an excuse for you but in running us, you are ru
ing the negro also. You undertake an impossbili-
ty when you attempt to place them on an equality
with the whites and to clothe them with political
power" remarked that he mistook the aim of
power we sought for the negro-only social free
dom. ssYou may think so" said Mr.. H., sbut
there is no battle-ground. Agitation will follow
agitation, as wave follows wave, until all barriers
are swept away, and St; DomingS's warning finger
him 80 agitated as when he pronounced those last
words. saw that he was honest and sincere and
could not but respect what seemed to me his er-
ror. It gave me an insight into the feeling Of the
better class Of Southern statesmen, which has
tempered my censures Of them ever since. The
fear was natural and it is 10 be hoped that pres
ont symptoms Of agitation following agitation, as
wave follows wave" will Lot sweep away the re-
naming barriers,
sentative Of the Charleston District in South Caro-
lima. He represented the same District for twelve
continuous years. BE was empathically working
member-seldom indulging In o set speech, but
always watchful of Southern interests. Party
never could bind him. In that long and bitter
contest for the Speakership in the year when the
broad seal Of New Jersey figured 30 prominently,
Mr. Holmes was the leader Of the opposition, by
which John Quincy Adams was appointed Chair
man TO displace the contuMacious Clerk Of the
House, and r. M. T. Hunter was finally elected
Speaker Of the House. % -
The Bulletin is wrong when 1t says that MIR.
Holmes left California to Join the freeaters OF the
South. After Mr.. Cass resigned the Secretary
ship OF State, and when efforts were being made
to compromise differences at Washington, Mr..
Holmes became impressed that there was possi-
bility Of hearty, at least q temporary reconcia-
ton Of the contending factions. he told me that
he was formerly intimate with MIR. Seward, and
regretted that he was not IN Washington to have
once," said he, "but fsar shall be too late to
effect my object. If I wese there to-day, could
do it, c0Wd do IT.; but q month hence will,
fear, be too late. II blood is shed-R the flag is
fired upon-it will be signal for bloody fields Of
fraternal STRIFE"
He went at once, and had several conferences
with Mr. Seward, who received him very cordially
and consulted with him confdentially. He was
entrusted with mission to leading men in South
Carolina; but as he feared 1t was too late-the in
eyitable day had come; blood had been shed, the
flag had been fred upon, and 'saelds Of fraternal
blood" followed.
At the first dawn Of peace, Mr.. Holmes took the
side Of peace and reconciliation. with Gov. Orr
and others. He was one Of the delegates TO visit
Washington to ask tho President to appoint pro-
visional Governor for the State of South Carolina
which resulted in the appointment Of MIR. Perry.
While at Washington he had the first attack of the
disease which finally carried him off. He returned
home, and never afterwards left Charleston.
Thus has passed away another OF the able men
Of South Carolina who were made to fill higher
niche in the temple OF their country's fame than
they can now occupy, for the simple reason that
they
".To party gave up what was meant for mankind;"