The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-12-05
The Hon. Reverdy johnson on the Con-
r dition Of the Country.

The Hon. Reverdy Johnson has put
forth another excellent psmphle. on ',hs
dangerous condition of the conatry," BE
discusses that clause Of the Constitution
Of the United States (which guarantee,
republican form Of government 10 the
States, by the United States-,he right
Of sutfrsge-the impeachment power in
the eopstitu.ion-aud closes the pamphlet
with the following tribute to the address
Of the convention to the people Of this
State lately put forth by the Columbia
Conventions: ... .,. ..-. PAM
That the condition of the country is a
distressing one all must adult. Who
has road recent address Of convention
of the white citizens OF South Carolina
without sympathy and paint The sad
state Of their section they describe with a
touching eloquence, power, and truth
which must excite admiration and awaken
solicitude. They have made their appeal,
not 10 pusilanimous, but in a manly
and patriotic spirit fhsy invoke the
justice and humanity Of their race ex
press no hostility to The righ,ful authority
Of the United States ; admit that the doc
trne OF secession can no longer be main
tanned, and that the institution Of slavery
is terminated forever. In their own words,
slavery is at su end" and they discaim
any purpose or wish TO reinstale it,
What they ask is to be permitted to par
,icipate, equally with the Northern men
OF their race, in the privileges and securi
ties OF common government. They,
bove all. implore such brethren not to
subject them to the dominion of an igno
rant African race, just emerged from sla
very, uneducated, devoid Of all knowledge
Of the principles upon which rest our free
Institutions, and who can only become the
instruments of bad and designing men.
What they want, is peace, 5enign peace
which carries with it security Ind baopi
ness,-not the peace which reigns 10 .he
Homestead whose inpates have been
hdtchefed by a yNage Toe, not the peace
Of the Desert-but peace guarded and
protected by civil laws, such as freemen
have right to demand. Disclaanipg
any "fac,iousppppsi,ioTtotM tM {ecossttdc
ton acts of Casgress,' tbsytell us for
what they desife peace; that it is to ens
BILE them to build up waste places, "our
temples Of worship, our sacked and ruined
cities now lying in ashes, our dismantled
dwellings and our PROSTATE credit, for its
holy Christian influence, and for the civi
lizatou aud refinement which spring up
in it's path" Shall this appeal be ip
vain I Forbid it, jus,icel Forbid it hu
manity Forbid it, our common origin,
our past and equal reuown as defenders
Of the rights aud honor Of our nation up,
on the ocean and the land, and as equal
contributors, iu the public councils, to the
safety, prosperity and happiness of the
whole country! But, the writer has no
fear that the appeal will be in vain. For
il is, now, the demonstrated determination
OF the white men Of the North, the East,
the West. and the far Pacific, to have the
constitution respected. and to continue
the governments, State and rnational, ex'
clusively in the hands Of men OF their
own race When this is done, the South
will soon DO restored to former prosperity
will be once more q storehouss largely
contributing to the wealth aud happiness
Of the na,ion-and be, as in the past, the
abode ~ the intelligent and refined, dis
peusins AN elegant hospitality, which has
ever been proverbisl. And then, better
than alI, her reopls and those OF the 9th.
er States will be bound together by ties
far stronger than any that constitutions
can create-the ties OF matual interest
and affection. sI.H l 'us .'....rra