The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-10-17
Mr.. Adams Before = Charleston Au-
Ltenre.

CHARLESTON, Oct. ia large meeting was
held this evening to hear John Quincy Adams.
Mr.. Adams said he had come here by invita-.
tion, and therefore felt at liberty to give that
most unpleasant OF commodities, good advice.
lie said he had been FREQ soilcr, then a Re.
publican, voted for Lincoln, was a supporter
OF the war, and an enemy OF slavery. This
was his position at the close OF tho war, but
then when the Southern people had laid down
their arms and were ready to come back he
was ready to take them by the hand and re-
ceive them. Many OF the best men In the Re-
publican patty held the same views. Then
came the 18th amendment abolishing slavery,
ratified by all the Southern States; then the
18th amendment containing a clause disfran-
ohising the Southern leaders.
He thought the Southern people right In re.
jeeting 1t. They could do no less. lie then
stated that the people of the North had al.
ways considered that the people of the South
who engaged In the war as rebels, and when
conquered as prisoners OF war, had no right 10
appeal to the Constitutions for 1t 10 not their
Constitution. They fought against II, and tho
reconstruction acts regard the Southern States
as foreign territory. The chief difficulty now
between the Northern and Southern people 10
not a difference OF opinion. They think nearly
alike, but the people of Massachusetts, still
had the traditional idea OF the Southern mans
dirk In one pocket and a pistol In the other; q
cigar in one side OF the mouth and n quid OF
tobacco In the other; indolent and domineer-
Ing and intolcrant Of any difference Of opinion.
Since coming down himself, he finds hat the
newspapers have not told the truth about the
| south. He said that the people Of the South
must not expect much from any political
| party. II Grant Is elected 1t will not be as
| bad for the South as many here appear to
think. That they should remember, however,
above all things, that whether they like 1t or
not they could do nothing. They could not
again go to war. Where would they get mu.
nitions, or even banners. The policy OF the
| South 10 peace. The North desires assurances
that slavery will not be re.establishcd, neither
in its old form or as a punishment for crime.
| lie spoke words of kindness to these negroes,
who were present In large numbers, assuring
them that 1t was to their interest to stand by
their friends whom they had known longest,
and not he carried away by the fair promises
OF carpet-baggers, who only want their votes.
When the present questions are settled, as
| they soon must be, the whites would stand by
whites, and the blacks will go down, unless
the negroes abandon their present course.
| lie said he was opposed to universal suffrage,
but was satisfied that the people OF the South
were ready 10 concede impartial suffrage to
| white and black, as is the case In the Radical
State of Massachusetts.
| with the extinction Of slavery, he said, all
cause for bad feeling between the North and
South had passed away, aud he hoped that
| soon Massachusetts and South Carolina
would again stand side By side, as brothers
and friends, as they had done III the days oil
| the revolution.