Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-10-21
John Quincy Adams and Wade
HamnfOn.

We are not much in the habit of publish
ing the correspondeneeof prominent Demo
Gratis, but the following is so suggestive and
conveys so important lesson that we have
made room for it. We commend it to the
attention of our readers, and hope they will
show it To their Democratic friends
Mr. Adams has spoken in several places of
the South, and we believe has done more
good than he intended
OFFICE STATE CENTRAL ExECUTIyE Cow, }
Sept. %. 1865.
To the Hon. John q. adams, Boston, Mass.
DEAR SIR: We have the honor 10 make
an appeal to you in hehalfsof our common
country. We earnestly beg that you will
consent TO visit al Columbia and deliver
an address TO our people. We assure you
that within three days We could have an as
semblagc of 10000 people present to hear
the words of peace addressed by Boston to
Columbia. What stronger reply could there
be 10 the misrepresentation of the Radicals
I than to hear ~ John Quincy Adams = talk
of MON and fraternal relations on the soil
of South Carolina?
Would it not he as if the past was speak
ing to the present? Wouli it not seem as if
the graves had given up their dead and they
were holding counsel of the future?
/ 1t seems to us that your visit here, received
rs it would he by our people. would send
an electric thrill from one end OF the country
to the other We ask no holiday perform
ance for political or party effect. We invite
you 10 consultation on living principles OF
our free institutions with MS it is no longer
a question of party, but question of social
life.
When the South was beaten in the field. it
become her high resolve to restore and
strengthen the Union. Must not every sane
man see that this was her only policy? that
! the UniOn is now of the very last importance
TO the South? More important than TO any
part of the country.
! Must not every sane man also see that in
the very nature Of things slavery is dead for
ever? Has not every Southern State put
her name and seal TO the deed. But beyond
this, did not every southern statesman see that
with the result of the war slavery could not
stand? That it must cease to be a domestic
institution, because it had become an inter
national $50 to speak, cause of war.
Are there ne statesmen left among those
inlpower who can see this? Or do they see
it and are basely nsing the hopes, the peace,
the very life of the country to advance per-
sonal or party interests?
4, Let us hope that God in His wisdom may
I turn the hearts of those who know the right
but pursue the wrong. and strike the scales
from the eyes of others, who are really in
the darkness of ignorance, and therefore
easily dupes of their better informed leaders
Pray answer US Immediately, and appoint
an early day for your visit here. We shall
require but short notice to make the neces
sary arrangements to welcome you in be,
coming manner
The policy of the South is peace-it Ii
her only hope You will see this with
YOUR eyes and hear it with your ears should
YOU accept this invitation. If you would
telegraph to us your acceptance we could be
ready to meet you by the 9Th of October
: Wednesday, the 9TH, would be better day
Very respectfully, your fellow-citizens
Wade Hampton, Jas. Dan1. Pope, +. w
McMaster, John P. Thomas, w. b. Stanley
State Central Executive Committee, Colum-
bia S. c.
Mr. ADAMS REPLY.
QUINCY, Sept. Is.
Messrs. Wade Hampton, jas. Daniel Pop
F. w. McMaster. John P. Thomas. ana
". B. Stanley.
GENTLEMEN: Your letter Of Sept. o.
reached me on the Goth, and I found it te
reouire such careful consideration that have
withheld nv answer until now. My hrs
impulse was to accept your invitation at once
and hasten to respond to your appeal upon
the instant; but q moments reflection and q
review of your letter restrained me. am AZ
anxious as you can be to see kindly relations
aud fraternal feelings replace the sore and
angry SUSPICION which prevails upon bot,