The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-13

is impossible for any tolerable government
to continue long, for it will degene-
rate into o mere squabble of con-
tending factions for o chance to oppress
for time their less active or less numerous
opponents. Now; you can see clearly enough
to-day where your interest lies, If you invoke
the constitution. 1t is not hard to find the
reason. You need most terriblyjust that pro-
tecting medium interposed between you and
the governing majority. A constitution is
meant for Just that-to mitigate and distribute
the blows of majorities. Some day, have no
doubt, we shall see in Massachusetts the merit
of its operation as clearly as you do now, but
fear that it will not be until we are in mnorl-
ty, and look in vain for the shield W, throw
away to ward some threatening oiow.
But to you, my friends, this necessity ls
pressing, is overbearng. Something you must
have, YOU think, or perish. Now, without
going 80 far as that, believe that the very
best thing for you to try to get back is the
Constitution of the United States. Now you
are substantially prisoners of war, held by
military force, and liable at any time to farther
orders from the majority. l do not intend to
speak disrespectfuIly Of your Slate govern
mcnt and l would especially urge the utmost
obedience to your de fdcio rulers; but take 1t
that it would not be long insisted upon here II 1t
was understood that the North took no manner
of interest in it. You want the original prlncl-
ples of union restore l. the right of the States to
manage their own domestic affairs, without the
interference of the general government; anu
the manifold checks and balances and distrlDu-
ton of powers, which our ancestors devised
and adjusted; and agree with you that it is
your only practicable escape from your jail,
which Radicalism, North and South, has made
of your good old State, so far as you are con-
cerned. And this brings us to the key OF our
discussion. How can this be done? Why hov
did it happen to need to be done? 1 mean the
last and proximate cause of your present unpro-
tected position. 1t was, Us l think, mainly
because the extreme, impatient and fanatical
portion of the governing party were enabled
partly in consequence OF Mr.. Lincolns DEATH
and partly by the indscretion Of the South, to
oyerpower the calmer and more moderate me n
in the party. aud WELD it's whole force against
you.' Now, I know that it is likely that man y
of YOU may feel a general and indiscriminate
detestation of the Republican party, involy ing
the whole array in the denuaciatons VIII len
YOU would like to launch at their ac-
credited leaders. Now, gentlemen, this fee l.
ing is not unnatural; and it is one OF tho
worst results OF the bad government Jou suffer,
that it makes men feel 30. 1t fosters blind,
indiscrlmlnating enmity to its rulers among It's
subjects; but in your case it is very unwise to
indulge it, and it is very unjust to large Sec
ton of that party. There are hosts of wise,
calm, kind and moderate men in that party.
There are multitudes who feel no more un-
kindness to you than I do. There are many
thousands who deplore and deprecate the
course which has beer taken in dealing with
you. A majority of that party, as 1 hope and
pray, love the constitution as well as do, and
regret its infraction as dee Fly as do; yet they
can see no alternative but to go with it to-day.
The fact is that distrust, suspicion and fear
has more to do with your sorry plight Than
anger or malice have not always thought so,
but have thought so of late. There was Ger
tainly feeling Of soreness rising OF The
gorge, at the thought of the rcappoarauce OF
your old leaders in conspicuous places; but the
strongest cords which the Radical leaders held
wore disbelief in your views OF allegiance,
want of confidence in your professions respect
ing slavery, fear for the future OF the freedmen,
and deep distrust Of Your patience AMI goo d
conduct in such matters as free discussion,
forbearance with difference Of opinion, and the
right of unmolested travel or sentiment among
you. Perhaps you are aware how gravely such
doubts and tears have compromised your case;
but it may be wholesome, if distastciul. to re-
view these widespread suspcions and opin-
ions little in detail. OF course nothing could
tend more strongly to justify the severe mea-
sures of the Republican party towards you, or
secure for them more surely an indefinite ex-
tension of political power, than to be able to
persuade the North, which in the early days Of
peace was inclined to place generous conf
dence in Your professions OF q sincere and abb
solute acquiescence in the eveats of the
War and your purpose to abide in good
faith by the decision, that you were mere dis =.
sembers and dishonorabie perjurers: that your
purpose was to redeem by hard swearing what
you lost by hard fighting; and you yourselves,
in many cases, furnished the material for MAX
ing evidence against yourselves. Part Of it
was legitimate and part was very unfair; but
it all was eagerly caught up and unspalingly
used. If you had been dangerous foreign
foe whose utter destruction was necessary to
our safety, greater pains could hardly have
been taken to infame the people against
you and to close their hearts to your
appeal. I doubt il Cato took more
trouble to show the Roman people that Car
thage must be destroyed. And Punic faith
must have been very bad indeed if it was re-
presented to be worse than your own. Every
hasty word, every natural regret, every express
sion of pride in the memories of the old cam
paign joys, every ebulltlon of heat, were care
fully remembered and spread before the North.
II an irresponsible newspaper editor or report
er published a foolish and infammaJory article,
it was instantly pouuced upon and scattered all
over the North, to show that the mass Of
Southern feeling was as rebelious as ever. If
you made any attempt to take part in politics,
you were s'bent on revolution" III you refrain
ed, you we're 'sullenly plotting q new
insurrcction." The peaceful presence of dele
gates at the convention in New York was q
plot" and the resolutions were "dictated" by