The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-04-01
An ADMIRABLE Document.

Robert Tyler ESQ.,, one OF tue Eultors
of tile Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser, has
recently been on visit to the North, and
ON his return addressed an admirable letter
TO Gen. j. H. Clanton, Chairman of the
Democratic Executive Committee for the
State of Alabama, by whose authority he
was authorized to represent that party IN
the Natl. nal Executive Committee OF the
Democracy at their recent meeting. From
this letter we make Che following extracts,
AZ the results vi close observation by an
Intelligent and discerning gentleman, OF
the State oi public opinion in the North:
Fora considerable period, as you are
aware, a bitter and duncompromlslng struS-
,rIe has been going Oh between the Radi-
cal party, represented by the Congress-
,nd the Democratic or Conservative
masses, represented, TO greater or less
extent. bv the Executive and Judicial de
nar,mcnts Of the Government. Tnc Radl-
cal party is composed OF Il minority OF The
Northern peopl who have formed po-
,itic,I combiualion with the negroes and
their few white allies i'll the South, ana
the Democratic or Conservative party Is
composed OF Il majority OF the voters III
the adherng States, and the nearly con-
ssoiidateG W white. population OF the South
ernl section. The parties to the contest
in truth may be legilimately described as
the Republican party (so,called) on the
one side, and the people OF the United
States On tic other. The paramount
issue between the parties is perfectly well
defined. The people OF the United States
demand the restoration Of the political re-
lations of the States, temporarily inter
,upted by the war, OH correct principles.
They demand the old Conslilutlon-th
old Union-thc old Laws-the old Flag
and they demand State and individual
Liberty as it existed in this country for
tbree-ouarters of century before the late
civil conflict. On the other hand the
Radical party demands fundamental
changes in the organic structure OF the
Goyernment-that many cherished prn-
ciples shall be regarded as having become
obsolete in the progress of the times
that the Legislative department., holding
a two.thrds vote over the Presidents
veto, shall be permitted TO exercise Auto
cratic authority-that State independence
shall be sacrificed to Il powerful and un-
checked centralization-and that the flag
Of the United States shall, in effect, be
substituted by the banners OF a semi mill
tary SYSTEM existing under false and pre-
tended Republican forms.
In the atmosphere of Washington 1t
was .,unarent to me that all questions of
commerce, of industry, of finance, of pub
lie debt, of revenue, OF bonds, of taxation,
of Southern reconstruction, had become
matters of subordinate portance-only
The res oestae it were-the minor facts and
circumstances connected with, and bear
ing on, the main issue, us | have just
stated it. But the very point and immi-
nent peril of, the contest upon this issue,
already grave and dportcntous enough, and
soon most probably to agitatc the country
to it's very centre, is to be found III the
,anomolous fact chat the Radical party
openly. and seriously, claims thc right to
rule the nation on the ground of loyalty"
in themselves, and for the additional rca
son that all who oppose them are either
.:rebels," or the friends Of '.rebelS," al
though their opponents undoubtedly G en-
brace a large majority of the people. The
ominous significance of such prelensloh
is evident. In England, France, Prussia,
or in any other country where the gov
.ernmentrests upon popular sdtfra ,;those
who are responsible for administration
sedulously seek to concilate the senti-
rnents OF the people, and habitually shrink
from assuming the arrogant attitude OF
coerciDg their constituents by claim OF
unreasonable powers, and by insulting
aud unpopular measures. In England.
particularly, no body OF men representing
the government il parliament would dare
venture TO stand ont persistcmtly on Il
line of foreign or domestic policy, much
less on question ot !. change OF institu-
tions against the clearly expressed wishes
of a. large majority OF the people OF the
United States as rebels" oras the friends
of ..rebes" and claiming right to rule on
the assumption of their own LOYALTY"
have apparently determined to prosecute
the contest they have inaugura,e' re-
sardless Of consequences. AMI 'tns t" deiy
Che people ami practically to .snl'verI the
.,ovrrnmcnt They have already taken
fearful steps towards this cad They
have en.leayored as you know, by Their
revolutionary measures, to suppress the
yoiccs of six hundred Thousand wliiie
voters in the Southern States-tiIcy have
stripped the Executive department o: lis
constitutional powcrs-and they have
finally presumed to summon, on The most
frivolous charges, the President OF the
United States to plead at their bar: us !,
political nalcfactor-they have assaulted
the Supreme Court, and plainly intend,
If permitted, to compel that htilrrt" au
rust tribunal to serve as q mere tool OF
their usurped auth"rity-thcy nave en-
acted laws, and then construed these