The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-08
2 General preston,s LettsSril;.i Sil; :

- General Preston,ss Letteri.T e = -
The following eloquent and advis-
ory letter from Gen. John s. Pres
ton, was read before the Democratic
Club, on Monday night:
ssl COLUMBIA. April 6. 1883.
Col. j. p. Thomas, acting Chairman
Of Me State Democratic Ececutiue
Committee.
DEAR SIR: Circumstances entirely
personal to myself, but of absolute
and imperative control, will prevent
me from attending the meetings of
the Democratic Club, or other pub
lio meetings, at present The same
circumstances will deter me from
making public addresses in any form.
I, therefore, ask you for other du-
ties, and to whatever other you may
assign me, I need not assure you
that I will do my best for the pur-
poses of the Democratic party, which
purposes are to make one more effort
to regain our lost iberty-this time
by peaceful action. My heart and
soul are as ardently in this effort, as
they were in the glorious one which
God, inscrutably, allowed to fail.
Our role now is caution, discretion
and the severest deliberation. keenly
analyzing and calmly calculating
the chances aud conditions. Our
only weapons are our wits and judg-
ment; we must keep in mind that we
are still under the rage of the storm;
prostrate on the earth-our ears still
deafened by its roar-our eyes still
blinded by its pelting drifts and
threatening flashes; and that before
we can rise, we must, on bended
knees, look up to God; and then
peer cautiously around in search of
the way which will lead us to shelter,
or enable us to breast its further
fury. Nor must we forget that with
right, truth, valor and devotion, and
great strength, after five years of
bloody struggle, we failed to keep our
liberties. 1t is more difficult to re-
gain than to preserve liberty; more
difficult to regenerate than to create.
have abiding faith in the intep
tions and disposition of the Ma
tional Democratic party toward us.
They will certainly help us, if we
try to help them and ourselves; aid
If they are successful, our woes will
be greatly mitigated. IT is our last
hope; and it is, therefore, our boun-
den duty to strive manfully under
the banner of the Democratic party,
and to be very careful that we add
nothing to its difficulties, by making
hasty and unwise declarations, based
solely on our sacred traditions.
believe our present action is wise
ly conceived; and even if it fails, it
will exhibit our loyalty to the princi-
pies of the National Democratic par
ty, and indicate the Democratic pro-
liabilities in South Carolina in the
Presidential election, on which the
policy of the party may be based.
AS to this Infamous Constitution,
which is thrust upon us at the point
Of the sword; if we fail to defeat it,
we may rest assured that it will fall
to pieces by tho weight of its own
corruption and folly, before the end
of the first Legislature. 1 hope every
decent man in the State, white and
colored, who is allowed by the bayo-
net to vote, will go forward and
record his solemn protest against the
vile thing.
AS to the colored people, let us
treat them, and treat with them in
the most generous and sympathetic
spirit. They are not yet altogether
corrupted under the domination of
false-hearted renegades and radical
emissaries, and it is no fault of theirs
that we and they are plunged into a
common ruin. That internal sin
rests on other souls.
Yours faithfully, &C.,
JOHN S. PRESTON.