The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-27
I.ettor from Hon. a. r. 1AsdrIcl,.

Congress. Hon. a. +. Aidricb writes
las follows: az III .lyi q Sef.lsE !
The OAKS, September 10, 1865
MY DEAR SIR: Or my return from
Augusta, to-day, to visit my home, I
found yours of the 18th, Informing
me "that at the Democratic Nominal !.
ing Convention, held in Charleston,
on the 10Th inst, I was unanimously
| chosen as q candidate to represent
this District in the Congress of the
1 United States" When / returned
from the meetings in Spartanburg
land Union, 1.-TWO grand demonstra-
lions, Sunday before the meeting of
your Convention, I received letter
from my relative and friend, Mr..
William Lebby, informing me that
my name had been mentioned in this
connection. I wrote him Immediate
~, giving the reasons why / could
not accept the nomination, and hoped
ne would receive it in time to prevent
my friends from presenting my name
to the Convention. I am sorry he
did not.
If you will remember, in October
last, when I was removed from nv
Office of Judge of the Court of Com
mon Pleas, by the wanton exercise of
despotic military power, I said to the
grand jury, on leaving the bench,
that if God spared my life, L would
yet preside in this court" 1 feel
that the time is ut hand when can
redeem this pledge, and do not think
! am warranted in placing myself in
q position that will force me to vacate
my office, prevent me from keeping
my pledge, and vindicating not only
the dignity of the office, but the cor
rectness of my course. L am still
Judge, General Candy and the as
semblage in Columbia notwithstand-
ing. There are other reasons of a
private nature which would also be
in my way; but these should be
cheerfully sacrificed, if by so doing [
thought could be of service to nv
country.
I hope 1 will be pardoned, if 1 add
word of counsel here to my fellow
citizens. When I see the efforts that
are being made in Georgia and the
upper part of our own State, to secure
the triumph of the Democratic party
in the coming election, and come
home and witness the dependency
and lethargy which seems to prevail
in my own District and the other
Districts of this Congressional Dis
trict, it distresses and mortifiesEme.
No people deserve success who will
not help themselves, and no people
have less excuse for inertion than the
people, of South Carolina. We have
contended against Congressional
usurpation from the inception of the
Government; for this we passed the
ordinance of notification, in 1882,
and the ordinance of secession, in
1860.,3 The contest of arms has gone
against us; we are ruled by semi
military, semi-barbarous Govern
ment, and are well nigh ruined mate
rally. But God has left us hope and
manhood; let us exercise the latter
and realize the former. The great
Democratic party has ranged itself
now, as before the war, under the
banner of the Constitution, and ap-
pointed true and tried men as the
standard-bearers; we were parties to
that selection, and it becomes us, if
we be true to our history, to throw
off everything like dependency, and
go to work earnestly, to insure sue
cess. This can only be done by excit-
ing enthusiasm among the people,
and to do this we must be active,
earnest, untiring. Our public men
must go among the people, speak to
them in public meetings, in their
highway. In other words, we must
all work-work day and night until
the polls be closed. I verify believe
if every man of property and posi-
ton will use his influence in his
Immediate neighborhood, and contri-
butte his support to District and other
public meetings, that not only the
State, but the Second Congressional
District, will be carried for Seymour
and Blair. 1 am certain that Barn
well can, and do not see why Charles
ton may not be, by such majorities ms
to insure the election.
What our people want is faith
faith in the ultimate triumph of
principle-faith in the virtue and
integrity of the people. The prinoi-
pies for which the Democratic party
is now contending, are those great
| Il