The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-01-07
Good Advice TO the South By Il
SOutherncr.
Letter from Hon. I'm, W. Boyce,
late Of South CrOlina.

NTIulll NHIlcAtOI news.
WAsmNoroN, Dec. 0, 1868
Colonel j. p. Thomas,
DEAR SIR-In pursuance of my
promise to you, | propose briefly
to giveyo my impression as TO the
political situation.
did not sooner comply with
your request because thought
tho time was not propilious. The
passions cngendcred by the Prcsi.
dental election did not permit
calm consideration OF events. The
election OF General Grant settles
much of the past, and opens a new
future TO us. General Grants
election is the ratification by the
people Of universal suffrage, sub.
ject to the fourteenth constitutional
amendment, and establishes the To-
gali,y of the existing State organi.
cations South, which have grown up
undcr'the reconstruction acts OF Con.
grcss. Such being the case, think
our people ought to accept these
results as accomplished facts. The
election of General Grant means
yet more. Tho conviction exists
North, with the majority of tho
people, that opinion is not free
South, and that the political action
oil both whites and blacks is sub.
jcct to duress, proceeding to the ex
treme, in some instances, of actual
violence and even political assas-
sinations.
The election Of General Grant is
the protest of the North against
this alleged condition of affairs,
and means that all the power Of
the Federal Government will be
exertcd to put it down. 1t is the
danger arising out of this matter
which strikes me as the most
alarming circumstance OF our po.
litlcal future. Unless this condi-
tiOn of things is suppressed by the
voluntary action OF the Southern
States, the most decided measures
will, ] think, be rosorted to by the
Federal Government TO cure the
alleged evil; and General Grant as
President, will, have no doubt,
enforce these measures Of rcpros.
sion, energetically with military
force. This would naturally pro
duco more revolution South, and
its results might be series of the
most dcpIorablo consequences.
/ think it is u matter OF the
greatest Importance that the South.
ern States should make the utm ost
exertions to romovo all alleged
causes of complaiuto on this subject
and thus anticipate and render un-
necessary tho action OF the FEEDER
al Government.
AS additional induccment to
this line of action on your part, |
would remark that what you want,
above all things at the South, is
internal harmony. If you had
this, you would receive large in
hux of white population and capi'
tai. This would bo Of incalculablc
benefit to you, both in its inau-
o &C on your material interests,
and as relieving yoa from the ap,,
prcEensions arising from universal
suffrage.
Tho obstacle 10 your receiving
this population and capital now is
the apprehension which exists as
10 tho anarchical condition Of your
society. II is a striking TACT that
both tho great political parties OF
tho country have thought IT 70 be
their interest to represent South
ern society as in condition OF
chronic insecurity and violence
the Democrats in order TO show
the evils Of universal suffrage, and
the Republicans to illustrate the
disloyal sentiment of tho people,
and their consequent unhtness
for any part in tho control of the
Federal Government. Between
these two sets Of representations
the movement Of population and
capital to tho South is almost en-
tirely checked. 1t is your policy
10 have it believed that order
reigus supreme South. Henee