The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-10-14

party. A mass Of honest men aro taught
and believe that tho success of that party
means tho political rc-establishment Of
the genius of revolt, and the elevation to
power of the Southern leaders in tho late
war. Now while | do not believe that if
the widespread suspicion of this intont
could be discharged from the minds Of our
people here, there would be great diff
Guilty in obtaining fair hearing, it is too
potent q weapon of party warfare to be
relinquished during this contest for the
Presidency. If the Democratic party is
defeated in their rcanvass it will be because
the people fear its success would leopard
izo the substantial results Of the war.
Now upon this point the Northern mind
is absolutely determined, and no party
could maintain itself which should repu-
diate the war or surrender its acquisitions
For my own part think it would be very
difficult to get rid of any of the logical
and legitimate results of the war if we
tried to ever SO hard but still our people
are very sensitive on that point. cannot
see, for instance, Of what valuo your pet
dogma of tho constitutional right to So
code would be to you, oven if wo granted
you dispensation to proclaim it on the
houso-tops. Constitutional or not, it will
never again bo practicable, except in the
form of revolution, aud that is an extra
constitutional ight which cannot be taken
away from any people. Slavery take
to be stone dead for the reasons you worry
clearly and ably State in your letter to
NO.. 1t would never be of any valuo to
you if you had it back, and tho ghost Of
it, which is 30 much dreaded at the North,
the phantom of involuntary servtude for
poverty and color, as u punishment for
vagrancy, which haun;s SO many we'll
meaning men among US, would speedily
becomes Is burden so odious and 80 intol-
erably expensive that, if forno bottcrrea-
son, you would DO glad TO drop it. But
at the same timo You must yourselves be
we'll aware that the hastyand inconsidcr
ate legislation upon this subject in two or
three of your States lately in rebellion"
did more to fasten universal suffrage upon
you than any othor one thing. The North
is we'll aware that there is wido distinc-
tion between civil rights aud political
privileges, nor were our wisest and more
practical statesmen of the Republican
party at first inclined to adopt The dam
gerous experiment of placing political
power in tho hands of your poor, ignorant
field hands upon mere lanciful theory of
tho natural equality of man. Doubtless
u citizen of Massachusetts who is utterly
illiLerate may DO my superior in all man
ly qualities, but unless lie can read the
constitution in the English language ho
is not my equal politically. The principle
is hero admitted that NC may and must
temper theoretical equality with practical
tests of fitnoss for pnblic duty. Now this
was ignored in your case, bocauso it was
urged and believed that thus alone could
the blacks protect themselves. and it was
said thatany admitted qualification would
bo abused by you TO their total exclusion
from tile franchise and consequent help
ness.
Tho Northern people, having freed the
slaves and left them still mingled with
their former masters, could not, with tlc-
cency or humanity, abandon them naked
to the savage enn,ity which they were
taught TO believe you felt for them, nor
could they calmly look OIL to sec those op-
pressed Of whose comfort and happiness
they had become the guardians. The
Northern States pardoned tho palpable
usurpation of a power never granted TO
Congress upon tile plea of necessity. Uni
! ycrsa1. suffrage was no necessary corollary
Of. the war; it was cxtorted by distrust, Off
spring Of the long slavery agitation. That
gave enormous power to the class of poll
licians who preach the perfect and COM
pcte wickedncss of the Southern white.
These same men urge, and they persuade
many, that you still cherish devotion TO
the iLost Cause" which does not content
itself with the hopeless tenderness which
we feel for the dcad, but is ready to take
arms again at the least encouragement
These fears mingle largely in the canvass,
and will exert strong influence in the re-
suit. think that distrust and fear have
dictated your terms moro than malice or
revenge 1t was not cheerfnlly that the
North sacrificed the constitution for which
it fought SO long. For my own part, |
have never fcltany apprehension of losing
any of the proper results of the war. l
have always believed that you must, from
necessity, yield them as frankly as we
claimed them. have never doubted that
it was possible TO treat you alter your sur
reuderin such u way rs to enlist your aid
and engage your sympathics in constitu-
tionalrcstoration ofthe Union, and yet Sc
cure freedom and fairness to the blacks, and
tranquility and happiness to the whites
Az you very forcibly say, theruis no policy
possible for you but peaea. War now
would DO your utter destruction. The
Union is of more valuo to yoll than to lis,
and to the constitution alone can you fly
for protection. Ageneral and cordial con-
fidencc i'll your attitude, feelings and pro-
testsis essential to your peace and prosrcri-
ty. We must renew the old spirit within