The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-23

The synopsis which the telegraph has al
ready given us OF the letter of the Hon. John
Quincy Adams, accepting the Democratic nomi
nation for Governor OF Massachusetts, gives
but an imperfect idea Of the force and signi6-
canoe Of that manly and statesmanlke docu-
ment. After deploring the condition to which
Radical rule has reduced our national finances,
and commending the demand Of the Democ-
racy for O, sound and honest currency, MIR.
Adams proceeds to say:
But even il I differed with you on this sub
ject. and saw any relief IN the party chiefly re,
sponsible Tor our present deplorable financial
condition, l regard the second or vital question
of such moment, that my political action would
be governed by the attitude of the opposing
parties IL reference to that alone. The
issue which, in my mind, dwarfs all others
ia, shall the constitution or shall party man
date be the supreme law Of the land? Fidelity
to the constitution should be the hnal test s,
of political afiIiation to-day. But to act with
the party which has ruled the country with su-
prene dominion for three years past, must
agree with them that the constitution contem-
plated an ulti nate absorption OF the most i'm
portant functions Of the Executive Department
by Congress, that its fair construction will au-
thorlze that body to wrest from the Judiciary
Department jurisdiction IN cases g. where 1T lts
first magnitude may possibly conflict with that
OF majority therein, must stand ready to fix
INV name to o declaration OF political faith
which expressly makes approval OF the i'm
peaobment OF the President a test Of party fel
iowshIp; and, finally, I must be able to say
upon nv conscience that l consider recon
struction," for the sake Of which all this and
much more has been done s WISE h.Ha
thought with Mr.. Seward, that the VIE
est way to treat the wounds left by
the war was to let them heal ''by
first tention." But reconstruction" has
torn them open day by day, until they are
now a mass of well-nigh incurable gan
creme. believe that true statesmanshlp would
have imposed on the Southern leaders the task
of bringing their people back into the Union
by frankly: and confidently offering to them,
the day they laid down their arms, the right
hand OF oblivion Of the past and reconciliation
in the future, which they might reject IL they
wished or dared "Reeonstrpction" has scorn;
their misery and inflicted on them an abase-
ment which they felt to be intolerable in post
inc over them their slaves Of yesterday to &C.
cure their pledge of submission to the consti-
tution. But for this ungenerous and suspi-
cious policy, believe we might now have been
a frulv united people, the Southern white re-
conciied to the inevitable, the negro secure IN
his civil rig hts, and attaining political privileges
as he grew fit to use them wisely, and the North
ennobied by a victory more glorious than any
test of arms-the conquest OF its own passions.
7 will not argue the unconstitutionality Of
i.reconstruction." The almost unanimous dis
;ncination of the Republicans in Congress 10
allow it to undergo the scrutiny OF the Su-
preme Court, would seem to confirm the re-
ported statement of the lamented MIR. Stevens,
ha only two damnea foos IN the party PS-
tional.n Even if they were so, I should still
deem them unwise. The union they impose is
tn INV ewes no more like true union of hearts
and hands than galvanized corpse resembles
a healthy man. All The doings OF men are gov
erned by the laws of nature. The attempt to
subordinate the trained and sbie class OF white
debased and landless freedman, is one of those
fntie struggles to repeal Gods law by statute,
with which history abounds. It must fail,
but il is OF great moment that it should be
STONED at once. Every day it lasts it is
encouraging false hopes In the negro and
rendering resumption of a true rela-
more rlUm pTi dffieut. think that neither the in
stincts nor the destiny OF this people will allow
any nermanent domination to the African race
in anv State of the Union. But the Republican
Marty ia irreyocably pledged to this idea.
They have staked their existence as party on
its triumph. To this idol they have sacrificed
their constitutional obligations in the past,
aud for it they go hsSe ana agd
and a standing army to maintain them in their
false position. They are clamoring for them
now. and the United States must furnish them.
The path upon which Congress has entered
permits no halt, and retreat is ruin. In my
opinion We must start anew taking the consti-
tuition for our guide and natural laws for our a3
limitations. Ii is true that the Democratic
party in success may violate the pledges OF ad-
versity, and again subve,t the organic law. The
teachings and the practice Of Radicalism have
destroyed much of the old reverence for the pre-.
clous legacy Of our ancestors. We may dread
lest they should do this thing, but we do GER
tainly know that the Republican party has al