The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-09

/ enn,ity which they we're taught to believe you
falt for them, nor could they calmly look OF
to see those oppressed OF whose comfort and
happiness they had become the guar
dians. The Northern States pardoned the 9
palpable usurpation of power never granted
| to Congress upon the plea of necessity, Uni
yersal suffrage was no necessary corollary ol
the war; it was eXtorted By distrust, offspring
of the long slavery agitation. That gave
enormous power to the class OF politicians who
preach the perfect aud complete wlckednesf
of the Southern white. These same men urge
and they persuade many, that you still cherish
devotion to the "Lost Cause" which does
not content itself with the hopeless tenderness
which we feel for the dead, but is ready to take
arms again at the least encouragement. Iheee
fears mingle largely in the canvass, and will
exert strong influence in the result. think
that distrust and fear have dictated your terms
more than malice or revenge. IL was no'
cheerfully that the North sacrificed the con-
stitutlon for which it fought 30 long. For my
own part, I have never felt any apprehension
of losing any of the proper results OF the war.
I have always believed that you must, rom
necessity, yield them as frankly as we claimed
them. I have never doubted that 1t was pos
sible to treat you after your surrender IN such
way as to enlist your aid and engage your
sympathies in constitutional restoration o;
the Union, and vet secure freedom and fGIr-
ness to the blacks, and tranquility and hap
piness to the whites. AS you very forclbIy soy,
there is no policy possible for you but peace.
War now would be your utter destruction.
The Union is Of more value to you than to
us, and to the constitution alone can you
fiv for protection. A general and cordial
confidence in your attitude, feelings and pro-
tests is essential to your peace and prosperity.
We must renew the old spirit within us, or the
new Union will be an empty form. Even If by
party success in very close vote at tue
North, aided by your own efforts at the South,
you obtain O temporary relief from your aD]ect
state oday, your condition will still be preca-
rious, your path full of snares, and true Union
North is persuaded that you have the will and
the power to jockey them out of what cost
them 80 dear, we attempt to rebuild our Union
on the san Is. Time alone, and o patient and
enduring persistence on your part IN weu-dolng,
in the face Of all encouragement, can eftectu-
ally remove the cause OF your ills; palliative
will but induce O reaction again. Acheertul
concurrence in the essential principlesof DEM
ocratlc and constitutional government regard
as requisites for your peaceful progress IN the
future. Incllning to these opinions. l should
have excused myself from accepting your kind
invitation had you not expressly disclaimed any
political intent. I do not wish to make any po-
ltical speeches to your people IN the interest or
any party, nor add new bitterness to your already
dangerous position. But as have felt the evil
very much of late tlat of our own knowledge we
were 30 little informed of the real needs and
wishes and purposes Of each other; as carl-
not feel sure that T may not be of some use,
and as deplore with all my heart the distract
ed and discovered condition OF our once united
people, will meet you as you request as fel-
low-citizens should meet, in times OF difficulty,
to consult with you upon our duty at this time.
I shall try to speak frankly rather than agree
ably, and shall hope for equal sincerity IN
return. need not assure you that what l
have written has been dictated by the kindest
feeling. l am not insensible to your trials and
sufferings; the loss Of friends, prosperity and
power, and exclusion from oil part or lot in
voting away your last pittance, is bitter indeed.
But hollow as the ordinary platitules sound In
the sufferers car, may it not be in the good pro-
vidence of God to prove to the uttermost the
quality of your people, and lead them through
these dark ways to higher and nobler career
beyond.
/ at least am determined to hope 50, and I
doubt not may live to see the day when we
shall all be once more happy and united peo-
pie, dwelling in peace under the protection OF
the Constitution aud within the gentle clasp OF
our old Union. Then, indeed, South Carolina
and Massachusetts, Iuay cordially cmbt race, and
the fortunate spokesman Of my State, that day,
will represent the whole instead of q fraction
of her people.
I shall leave home on Monday next and pro-
ceed without delay to Colum oia
am, gentlemen,
Your friend and servant,
JOHN O. ADAMS.