The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1868-12-17
Correspondence Of the Journal.
COLUMBIA, Dec. .16, 1868.

DEAR JOURNAL: As the scenes e.
nacted at the Capital of the State are
necessarily ofintcrest to your readers,
and the vicissitudes Of life bring me
here for the present, I propose to give
you few thoughts as they occur to
my mind in the intervals of business.
The progress of reconstruction is here
visible to the most casual observer. The
races are brought into most intimate
contact, and it is easy to see that
changes in our social structure, vital
and irrevocable, have already been
wrought. The best specimens of the
cultivated man of color are seen in close
and familiar intercourse with officials of
all degrees, and people Of all classes and
pursuits. Yet it is very rarely the case
that this intercourse assumes the aspect
of an easy social character. 1t seems
chiefly to be connected with business,
politics or clec,ioneerpg. This we say
is easily perccptible, but one may almost
a easily see, that the amalsamaiion Of
society is fur from complete, and that a
vast gulf yet remains to be bridged
over before the various elements of di =
organized society can be blended in har.
monious concord. Take an analysis Of
their elements, and We fiLd they consist.
Firstly, in the j1reign element, the
carpet baggcr with the army Of advci.
turers, following in his wake, to whom
he himself is to a large extent sub<cr
Went, consciously or unconsciously.-
The term adyenturer, is used in no re
proachful sense, but rs gcueral term,
indicating that class Of men who have
come among US since the war, to avail
themselves Of the various facilities af-
forded by the disturbed relations Of So
ciety and business. to b.tter their con
dition. When it is said that the carpet
baggcr, (by whom we mean the political
adyenturer) is to large extent, under
the control of the Other class, it is
meant to indicate that the most powerful
ard influential of all the elements here
are to be found in. those financial
knights errant, who by shrcwdness,
tact and money, give direction to pub
lic1neasures, so far as they affc, the
success Of their advanturs and invest
ments. On the other hand, We have
old citizens of the State. dignitaries and
worthless of the past-the hattle.scarred
heroes of the Lost Cause, with their
bright and eager sons, whose hot young
blood and game young spirit, cause the
nerves to tingle and the bright eyes to
blaze with indignation, at every sight
and soundssuggcsting the humiliation
to which their honored 81 es have been
subjected. In short, the old regime.
Behind the first class, STANDS the loyal
league republican that motley horde,
into whose hands the power of the bal
lot has been placed, and upon whom
the whole machinery of State Govern
ment now rests. r
Prosperity and contcntment, if they
ever be restored here, can only come to
US through the establishment of some
community of interest and liberation of
feeling and opinion between the old and
the new regime. At first view, it would
appear to be almost hopeless, to ex-
pect in any degree, to harmonize the
two, even to the most limited extent.
The pride and prestige of the former,
has been so deeply and cruelty trampled
in the dust, and the prejudice and sus-
picion of the latter, so constantly and
wantonly manifested, that he would be
bold prophet who venturcd to predict
that such q consummation could be at
tained by the present generation. 1t
cannot be brought about by persecution
on the one hand, or prescription on the
other. Every bitter speech or act of
violence on the Que side, every wanton
and insulting act of aggravation for
oppression by those in power, will delay
it. 1t cannot be done by defections
from the one class to the other, and
rewarding the social treachery by the
gift of offices, high or low. But it
may be done, and it will be done by the
process of time and the natural progress
ofatIairs. Nay, it is now being done