The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1868-12-23
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER %, 1868.
What we Need and Should Do.

What we Need and Should Do.
The Probable Relations Of General
Grant and the South-An Impor-
taat 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 we properly may
to win the confidence of the gov
ernment. We hope that the views
and remarks of Mr.. Boyce, who is
iu a position to know Of what he
speaks, vii receive a calm and
careful consideration:
WASHINGTON, December 9.
Co!0neLJ 7. Ihomas-DEAR SIR
In pursuance OH my promise, briefly
to give you my impressions as to
the political situation.
I did not sooner comply with
your request; because | thought
the time was rot propitious. The
passions engepdered Ivy the Pres
idential election did not permit a
calm consideration ofevents. The
election of General Grant settles
much Of the past, and opens a new
future to US. General Grants
election is the ratification ty the
people Of universal suffrage, sub
ject to the Fourteenth constitu-
tional amendment, and establishes
the legality Of the existing State
organizations South, which have
grown mp under the Reconstruct
tion acts ofCongress. Such being
the case, I think our people ought
to accept these results as accom-
plished facts. The election 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: pro-
ceeding to the extreme, in some
instances, Of actual V. ,lenee and
even political assassinations.
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 will be
exerted to put it down. 1t is the
danger arising out Of this matter,
which strikes me as the most alarm
ing circumstances Of our political
future. Unless this condition OF
things is suppressed by the volun'
tary action ofthc Southern States:
the most decided measures will, |
think, be resorted to by the Fed.
eral Government to cure the al
legged evil and General Grant, as
President, will, | have no doubt.
enforce these measures of repreS'
sion energetically, with military
force. This would naturally pro
duce more revolution South, and
its results might be a series Of the
most deplorabIe consequences.
Tn view Of this state Of things
l think it is q matter Of the great
est Importance that the Southern
States should make the utmost eX
ertions to remove all alleged causes
of complaint on this subject, anc
thus anticipate and render un'
necessary the action ofthe Federal
Government.
As additional inducement to this
line Of action on your part,
would remark that what you want
above all things, at the South, is
internal harmony. If you hac
this you would receive a large in
tiux Interpolation and capital
This would be of incalculable bene
fit to yea, both in its influence on
your material interests and as
relieving you from the appre
tensions arising from universal
suffrage.
The obstacle to your receiving
this population and capital now
is the apprehension which exists
rs to the anarchial condition O