The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-16
HH.lT WE NEED And SHOULD DO.
The Probable Relations of General
Grant and the South--an Important
Letter.

The following letter at this time will be read
with peculiar interest. Now, as heretofore, we
uphold the necessity OF friendly relations with
the freedmen, OF absolute freedom OF political
opinion, of greeting cordially all honest men
who come down to us from the North, and OF
doing all that VIC properly may to win the con-
Gdence of the government We hope that the
views and remarks of Mr.. BOyce, who is in a
position to know Of what he speaks, will rc-
ccive calm and careful consideration:
WASHINGTON, December Q.
Colonel J. p. Thom1S-DEAR SIR In pur-
suance of my promise to you, propose briefly
to give you my Impressions as to the political
situation.
l did not sooner comply with your request,
because thought tho time was not propltiUus:
The PASSIONS engendercd by the Presidential
election did not permit a calm consideration OF
events. The election Of General Grant settles
much of the past, and opens q new future to us.
General Grants election is the ratihcation by
the people of universal suffrage. subject TO the
Fourteenth constitutional amendment. and es-
tnbllshes the legality of the existing State Or
ganizations South, which have grown under
the Reconstruction acts of Congress. Such be-
ing the case, l think our people ought to accept
these results as accomplished facts. The elcc-
ton of General Grant means yet more. The
conviction exists North, with the majority OF
The people, that opinion IS not tree South, and
that the political action OF both whites and
blacks is subject to duress, proceeding to the
extreme, in some INSTANCES, OF actual violence
and even political assasslnatlons.
The election OF General Grant is the protest
of the North against this alleged condition Of
affairs, and means that all the power OF the
Federal Government Yill be exerted to put 1t
down. It is tho danger arising out OF this
matter, which strikes me as the most alarm
ing circumstances OF our political iutufe. UA-
less this condition Of things ls suppressed by
the voluntary action of the Southern states,
the most decided measures will, think, be re-
sorted to by the Federal Government to cure
tho alleged evil and General Grant, as Presl-
dent will, have no doubt, enforce these moa-
sures ofrcpresslon energetically, with military
force. This would naturally produce more
revolution South, and It's results might be 4
series of the most deplorabe consequences.
In view OF this state OF things, 1 think it is
matter OF the greatest importance that the
Southern States should make the utmost cxel-
tiops TO remove all alleged causes OF complaint
on this subject, and thus anticipate and render
unnecessary the action of the Federal Govern
ment
AS additional inducemcnt to this line If ac-
tion on your part, would remark thf.t wnat
tornal harmony. If you had this you would
receive large iAflu1 OF white population and
captsl. This would be of incalculabe benefit
ta Won, leth in its influence on your material
interests and as relieving you from the appre-
heasions arising from universal suffrage.
The obstacle to yoar receiving this popua-
ton and capital now, is the apprehension
which exists as to the anarchical coalition or
your society. 1t is striking fact that both
the great political parties OF the country have
thounht i; to he their interest to represent
Southern society as in Z condition OF Chronic
insecurity aud violence; the Democrats, Ill or
der 10 SHOW the evils OF universal suffrage; and
the Republicans, to illustrate the disloyal SEN
timent OF the people, and their consequent tln-
atnoss for any part in the control OF the rcdcr
raj Government. Between these two sets OF
representations, the movement OF population
and capital to The South is almost entirely
checked. 1t is your policy to have it believed
that order reignS supreme South. Honcc YOU
ought to do everything III your power 10 mako
order the TACT, and to prOmulsatc it. You
should, think, keep several ideas prominently
in view as your policy:
|. You ought to Regulate the relations be-
tween the whites and the blacks, so as 10 have
as much harmony and good feeling as possible
between them. 10 this end, nothing is 80
cf.icacious as kindness to the blacks.
q. You ought to have perfect tolerance OF
political opinion. Let e7cry ono, white and
D ark vutc as he pleasca, and trust to your
taos and natural influence for just share OF
polticai power. :,
3. You ought to extend a cordial and kind
wccu:i: 70 the Northern people to settle
umo gyyu, without regard to their political
o, in1l.s. Once you did this, the troubles of
;lc future would he largely overcome, and
yolf an orial progress would be wonderful.
See What immigration is doing for the North
west, m spite Of its austere climate. Think
what immigration would do for Tie genial
South.
4. You ought to seek to conciliate the Fede-
raj Government. Remember the Scripture i'll