The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-10-21
LETTER FROM JUDGE ALDRIcE ON THE Po-
LITICAL SITUATION,

| The Charleston Courier OF last Saturday con-
tains a lengthy epistle fron, the Hon. A. P. Az
DR1oH of Barnwell, on the political situation. 1t
would afford US great pleasure to give the entire
letter place in these columns as the prominent
positions heretofore occupied by the writer entitle
his views TO consideration, but compelled to
insert only couple of paragraphs. These now
ever, contain the pth of his argument and we do
him no injustice in separating them from the main
portion of his letter. Here are the extracts;
have been preaching patience and principle
\ over since the war. great political party, flush
ed with victory and bloated with spoils cannot be
driven from office in q day; one defeat IN such an
effort is not disheartening; II the party OF tne
Constitution makes good hight ana bears its pan
Usr oIort brayely. every day will bring fresh ad
hsrents to,tbe cause of truth, and every blunder
made by the party in power, weakens its hold ON
The nnblic confidence. / believe it is Bulwer who
sauss tbe shortest road to liberty is through at-
tsn,,ated pockets" the great West is learning this
road The partial legislation in favor of the bond
holder and manufacturer-the enormous taxation
under which the energies Of the country are oelng
prostrated, the greatest the world has ever seen'
the wholesale robbery of the peoples money by
corrupt and thieving officials the lrostration of
.rade. the ruin of commerce, the overwhelming
debt-all these are alternating the pockets of the
| neople and turning their Aaze to- the only road
that can lead them. out Of this maze of corruption
and ruin At the risk Of exciting your smile OF
incredulity again. repeat that have faith IN the
virtue and intelligence Of the people: They do
not reason; they feel. Liberty is the birthright
of those who have descended from our revolution,
ary ancestors; it is the hope, the dearest hope OF
the emigrant and his children. The children OF
| the one. and the children of the other, have both
been educated in the idea that this is the land OF
liberty and Constitutional Government, and when
| thew find that liberty has been taken from them,
| thew will have it back, either through the ballot
box or the cartridge box. hope the former.
| fear the latter.
All, me! am weary, sick at heart of this un-
rest We cannot precipitate events. Why not be
patient? The rule under which we live in the
| United States must last until ~. We cannot
help it. We cannot change it. What then En-
DIRE. Work to better our fortunes Work TO
better our political condition. God has given us
o genial cline, generous soil, and ii we exercise
our intelligence to improve these gifts, we will be
in condition to exert" q controlling influence at
the next elections. both State and Federal. These
| carpet baggers and recreant Southerners are fast
running their race. The former came here to
steal the latter have joined with them to share
| their spoilatons. Their dupe, the negro is find
ing out that he has been cheated by both. He is
also discovering that his old master, the landed
proprietor, the gentleman, IS his best friend be-
cause he is honest, just and intelligent The great
mistake these people have made is in supposlng
Ethat the negro did not distinguish between gen.
tleman. and Radical and scallawag They
knew the difference all along but with the cum
ming of the race have used these carpet-baggers
| and scalawaps to secure their privileges, which
thew feared might be in danger. Realizing now
that slavery is dead, that there is no danger from
that, they will naturally come back to the class
they respect, and who will not cheat them. Why !!
Because these men are landed proprietors, and will
give them work and the means of support between
elections. At the next State election II we are
wise and prudent we can control the Legislature
and stop the ruinous taxation now sapping the
life of the State At the next Presidential elec-
tion. if we do not elect the President, we can at
least elect enough Democrats to hinder the
schemes of plunder that impoverish the land.
This is no speculation-thieving, extravaganza,
debt, interest, excessive taxation, will wear out
the patience of any people. Some branch of busi-
ness will collapse, and then comes the end. But do
let us wait And while We wait, plant corn rice,
cotton, sugar, tobacco, and get all the money we
can, to tide us over the reign of financial famine
that will follow. Concilate the negro, our best
laborer and teach him that his best interest is 10
cooperate with the man who owns the land, and
can tend the soil intelligently and prohtaoly.
Much of this advice is sound and sensible, and
does credit to its author. Patience and endu-
rance, coupled with adherence to principle, will
eventually bring order out of chaos, and restore
10 the people of the South their liberties. But in
this State there is practical question constantly
looming up before the eyes of its inhabitants
The dominant party has the confidence of the ne
gro, and that class of population embraces nu-
merical majority of the voters. In order to turn
1.-The tide, and check the ruinous taxation imposed
Eby the existing powers, it is necessary that at
least l5, 600 negro voters should unite with the
white people in overthrowing the Radical party.
Judge ALpR1ou says that sat the next State elec-
,ion, if we are wise and prudent, we can control
the Legislature :" but he does not point out the
wisdom and prudence which is necessary. He
saws further that we must "conciliate the negro,
but the means to- be employed in this work is not
suggested. Unless our public men are prepared
to indicate the course for the Democratic party in
this State to pursue they had better not rush into
print for the masses want no distractions nor
vague declarations. The supreme necessity of the
hour is to devise plans whereby the State will be
wrenched from the grasp of adventurous plum
derers If this can be done without sacrifice OF
principle, there will be no trouble TO marshal the
hosts of Democracy under victorious banner in
the next campaign.
For some time past, the newspapers Of this State
hare been discussing this identical question. We
have taken no part in it, for the simple reason
that its solution did not seem to US practicable at
the present moment. Besides, other issues might
arise in the future and there is ample time to
slider them all. But in regard to the conciliatory
policy proposed by Judge ALDRIcH, We have a
word to say. We do not wish to "concliate the
negro, but rather to teach him by public declara-
tions and private acts that we will do him ample
and e,act Justice recognizing his rights under the