The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-09
MIR. ADAMS REPLY.


Nessrs. Wade Hampton, Jos. DdnI Pogg Pc r.
W. McMaster, Jno. p. Thomas and W. B.
| Stanley: 40,
GENTLsMEN: Your letter of September 22d
reached me on the 26th, and found 1t to re-
quire such careful consideration that have
withheld my answer until now. My nrst I'M
pulse was to accept your Invitation ut once,
and hasten to respond to Jour appea! upon the
instant; but ID moments reflection and review
of your letter restrained me. au as anxious
as you can be to see kindly relations and
fraternal feelings replace the sore and an
gry suspicion which prevails upon both
sides OF our land nor would any labor daunt
me in such cause; but l am moro power
| less than you are to promote such result.
| You greatly exaggerate any influence OF mine.
mised doubts ss by the accident OF an his
toric name. represent nothing in Massachu-
sets but comparatively small and very, unpoG-
| pular minority, and am regarded as hardly
less Objectionable, though far more inslgnid-
can't, than yourselves by the majority. Nothing
| that 7 could do or soy, If visited you,
would be likely to receive fair or candid con-
struction. My action would be attributed to
silly or unworthy motives, and yours to the IN
yeterats animosity which is still believed to
animate the South. In spite Of any protests Of
ours it will be insisted that we had some dis
IoyaI' intent in our meeting. 1 do noS urge
these apprehensioas as reasons for an absolute
refusal, for should tly to face my share OF the
obloquy with such fortitude as l could muster,
if saw fair chance OF aiding, be 1t ever 30
little, better understanding between the sec,
tions. But as you seem to anticipate an i'm
portant effect on the North from the reception
which you might offer to me, think it right
to disabuse you Of the error. Nor do think
that I can say those things to your people
which would be delightful to them to hear,
or pleasant for me to speak. Your fate has
been for the present involved by the ipeH- 3!:!
orable logic of events in most bitter pohtl-
cal struggle. The interest, and l doubt not
the convictions, OF the dominant party will
prevent any dispassionate consideration OF
your case until after the election. It is de-
clared, and I fear it is widely believed, that
the spirit OF secession still fires the South
ern heart, and works through the Democratic
party. A mass Of honest men are taught and
believe that the success OF that party means
the political re-establishment of the genius OF
revolt, and the elevation to power of the South
ern leaders in the late war. Now while do
not believe that If the widespread suspicion OF
this intent could be discharged kom the minds
of our people here, there would be great diff
ficulty in obtaining fair hearing, it is too po-
TENT weapon OF party warfare to be rehnquls93..
ed during this contest for the Presidency. LIZ
the Democratic party is defeated in their can
vass it will be because the people fear its sue
cess would jeopardize the substantial results
of the war. Now upon this point the Northern
mind ls absolutely determined, and no party
could maintain itself which should repudiate
the war or surrender its acquisitions. For my
own part think it would bs very difficult to
suits OF the war if We tried to ever 30 hard;
but still our people are very sensitive on
that poiot. I cannot see, for instance, OF
what value your pet dogms. CT the constltu-
tional right to secede would be to you, even if
We granted you a dispensalon to proclaim it
on the house-tops. Constitutional or not, it
will never again be practicable, except in the
tutional right which cannot be tallen away
from any people. Slavery I take to be stone
Lead for the reasons you very clearly and ably
state in your letter to me. It would never
again be Of any value to you if you had it back,
an6 the ghost of it, which is so much dreaded
at the North, the phantom of involuntary SER
vltude for poverty and color, as punishment
for vagrancy, which haunts so many we'll
nearing men among US, would speedily be-
come burden so odious and so lntolerably ex-
pensive that, II for no better reason, you would
be glad to drop it. But at the same time you
must yourselves be well aware that the hasty
and inconsiderate legislation upon this subject
in two er three of your Estates lately in rebel
lion" did more to fasten universal suffrage up
on you than any other one thing. The North
is we'll aware that there is a wide distinction
between civil rights and political privileges,
nor were our wlSest ana more practlcai states-
men of the Republican party at first inclined
to adopt the dangerous experiment Nf OF pac
Ignorant field hands upon a mere otancisul
theory of the natural equality OF man.
Doubtless citizen Of Massachusetts, who is
utterly illiterate may be my superior In all man
ly qualities, but unless he can read the consti-
tuition in the English language he is not my
equal politically. The principle is here admit,
pd hot yro nn6
equality with practical tests of itness for pub
Lie duty. Now this was ignored in your case,
because it was urged and believed that thus
alone could the blacks protect themselves, and
it was said that any admitted qualification
would be abused 10y you to their total exclusion
from the franchise and consequent helpless
slaves and left them still mingled with their
former masters. could not, with decency or
humanity. abandon them naked to the saYage