The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-13

basely using the hopes, the peace, the very life OF
the country, to advance personal or party inter-
Let us hope that God in his wisdom may turn
the hearts uf thvse who know the right yet pur'
sue the wrong, and strike the scales from the eyes
of others who are really IN me dsrkness o. ifnS'
rance and therefore easily the dupes OF tnel DOT
Prsv snswer us Immediately, and appoint an
early day for your visit here. We shall require
but short notice 70 make me necessaay n.ssns'
The policy Of the South is pesce-it 10 her only
hope. You will see this with your eyes and hear
il with your ears, should you accept our invita-
ton. II you would telegraph to US your accep.
lance we could be ready TO meet you oy the o.n
of October. Wednesday, the 18th, would probably
be better day. 30 -
Very respectfully, your fellow citizens y
ga .,rt-. ~fErr JAS. DANL Pore, |
f. w. NCMAsrRR,
JNo. r. THOMAS,
w. b. STANLEY, ~ |
ere elat State Central Executive Committee,
rr- aEfe.fo1 aif Columbia, 8. G.
MR.. ADAMS REPLY. i"
Me.srs wsds Hampton. jaime. Daniel Pope, p W. hcMas
ter. John p. Thomas and w. B. stani'y;~ ~
Gentlemen - Your letter Of september ga
reached me on the 18th, and found IL to require
such careful consideration that have Withheld
nv answer until now. Ny first impulse was to
accept your invitation at once and hasten 70 re-
spond TO your appeal upon the instant; put mo-
ment's reflection aud review OF your letter re-
.t,s;red me. I am ss anxious as you can be TO
see kindly relations and fraternal feelings replace
the sore end angry suspicion which grevsas upon
both sides of cur land, nor would any labor
daunt me in such cause but am more power
less than you are to promote such result gu
greatly exae gerste any influence OF mine, misied,
| Doubtless by the accident Of an historic name.
represent nothing in Massachusetts, but com.
| parativey small and very unpopular minority, ana
am regarded as hardly less Objectionable, though
far more insignificant, than yourselves by the ma,
| ioriy Nothing that could do or say, II visited
you, would be likely to receive q fair or candid
construction. My action would be attributed to
silly or unworthy motives, and yours to the inVet-
crate snimosity which is still believed 70 animate
the South. In spite OF any protests of oursit VIII
| be intisted that we had some disloyai" intent
in our meeting. / do not urge these approximations
as reasons for an absolute refusal, for should Try
/ TO face nv share OF the obloquy with snch fort.
tude as could master. IL 1 saw . fair chance of
aiding be it ever 30 little, better understanding
between the two sections. But as you seem 10
| anticipate an important effect on the North from
the reception which you might offer to me. think
il right to disabuse you of the error. Nor DO
think that can say those things to your people
which would be delightful 10 them to hear. OF
pleasant for me to speak Your fate has been Tor
he present involved by the memorable logic OF
events. in q most bitter political struggle. The
interest, and doubt not the convictions, OF the
party will prevent any tSs
tits declared and fear tits widely believed, that
the sprit OF secession stl fires the Southern heart
and works through the Democratic party. A mass
of honest men are taught ana believe mat tne sue
ment of the genins of revolt, and the elevation 10
| power of the Southern leaders In the late war;
Nov while do not believe that II the widespread
suspicion of intent could be discharged from the
minds of our people here, there would be great
difficulty in obtaining fair hearing II is too potent
| A weapon Of party warfare to be relinquished du-
ring this contest for the presidency IL the Demo-
cratic party u defested In this canvass, ~ Whi De
because the people fear its success would leopard
ize the substantal results of the var. Now, upon
this point, the Northern mind is absolutely deter
mined, and NO party could MAINTAIN tsen winch
should repudste the war or surrender its acquisi-
For For NV own part think II would be very diff
cult 10 get rid Of the logical and legitimate results
of the war If We tried ever 90 hard; but stu Our
people are very sentative on that point. cannot
| see. for instance, of what value your pet dogma
of the constitutional right to secsde would De 70
you. even if we granted you dspensatlon 70 pro
claim il on the house tops. Constitutional or not
9 il will never again be practicable, except ID tne
form of revolution, and that is an extra consttu
! ,ional right which cannot be taken away from any
people Slavery ss, 70 . Os sSs state
! | letter to me. 1t would never again De OF any
l vaiue TO YOU II you had il back. and the ghost Of
Q Il. which is 60 much dreaded at the North thu
phantom Of involuntary servitude for poverty ant
/: color. a. punishment for vagrsncy which haunt
90 many wel.meaning men amoug us, W Soi'
{ speedily become burden 90 odieus and intoiera
! bly, expensive that, for no better reason 70.
3 would be glad to drop IL. But at the same TIM
Won must Yourselves be well aware that the hastl
and inceuaiderste legislation upon this subject \
two or three Of your States Lately In reoeihon
b did more to fasten universal suffrage upon yo'
q than any other one thing. slyr5-a
: The North n wen aware that there is wild
. dstipction between civil rights aud poiitica
y privileges nor were wisest and most practics
ststesmen Of the Republican parry ~ nrst ioc.,se
:. to adopt the dangerous experiment OF piacfn
political power m the hands OF your poor. ign.
rant field hands upon q mere fsnciful theory
y the natural equality Of man. Doubtless ci.lze
d INV superior in I'll manly qualities, but unless
a. can read the Constitution In the Eoglsh Language
y he is not my equal politically. The principle
. here admitted that We may and must temper tne'
u public duty. Now, this was ignored in your cas-
y because 1t was urged and believed tnAt mus aiol
q could the blacks protect themselves, and ~ W
n said that any admitted qIahhcanon would >,
abused by you to the total exclusion from u
ne frapchifs and consequent helplessness.
~ The Northern people. having freed the slav
al and left ther, still mingled with their former ma
81 teri could not, with decency or humanity. aoa
nv don them naked to the savage EMMY ny xMc s IN
an could they calmly look on 10 see those oPPrees
ha of whose comfort and happiness they had becor
n. The cuardjsns. The Northern States PARDON
the palpabie usurpauon OF power never grans
ng suffrage was no pecessary coroliary OF the war
ay va extorted by distrust. ofspring OF the 10
ice slavery agitation. That gave enormous power
- the ciaa of politicians who prescn ms PIN ~;
nay These same men urge, and they persuade MAJ
y tbat you stiIl cherish devotion to the !" J
ns cause,n which does not content tsen WIN
o'o hopeless tenderness which We feel ior me o a.
| hnt Il ready TO take arms again at the least
vas coma eeuSoEf.h 5000 Sfs31sttt-At4
use These fears mingle largely in the canvass,
viii exert strong Influence IN the result, y, ~