The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-04-13

Buren administration. High taxes, the
conseqeut stringeuoy fthe finances, and
Official corruption, is the rock upon
which the Republican party will be
wrecked. From the debris another party
will arise composed of the progressive
men of the country, whose leaders will
be real statesmen and economists, and
under their administration the Union
will advance in true greatness and solid
prosperity. Doubtless the next census
will change basis Of power. More rela'
tive strength will be given to the South
and West, which will result in weaken.
ing the influence of the New England
States, aud transferring the control ol
the country to tho agricultural sec
tions.
Q. Do you think the country would
be better off under q Democratic ad-
ministration than it is at the present
time?
A. I can only answer that question
with qualifications. In my judgment,
to election Of General Grant avoided
violence aud bloodshed throughout the
South. Under the administration of
My. Seymour, efforts would unquestion-
ably have been made to overturn exist-
ing State governments, even before his
inauguration, because the people were
stimulated by the delusive representa-
tiops Of ardent partisans, who believed
he could undo the entire work of recon.
struc,ion. The truth is, however, that
had Mr.. Seymour been elected, he would
have been as impotent as Andrew
johnson in every endeavor to render
assistance to the South. The majority
Of the Senate would have been against
him for at least two years, and he could
not have removed or appointed post~
master. The House was in the same
opposition, and none of the party would
have felt amiahly inclined toward one
that had defeated their candidate.
GRANTS ELECTION A BLESSING.
In this view, therefore, it was bless.
ing to the South that e. mt was elected.
Some of the results to US, politically,
may not be agreeable; some of the Con.
gressional Legislation that has followed
has been based upon a misapprehension
of tho real public sentiment of the
South but the end will prove the wis.,
dom Of the election of General Grant
It must be remembered that the war did
not close with the termination of
hostilities. It required time to make
the people fully realize the fact that
they we're conquered, aud to adapt
themselves to the now situation. The
principles for which they had fought
were, SO to speak, hereditary, aud it
would be marvel in history or in
human nature for them to have even
theoretically submitted to stronger
power at once.
Q. Suppose, on the theory that the
Southern States were never out of the
Union, their representatives had been
admitted to Congress without the re-.
strictions which have been imposed by
the enactments Of that body, what then
would have been the result?
A. In my judgement, one third Of
the States of the Union would have
been hostile to every leading feature of
the policy of the conquering party
They would not have sympathized with
the power by which they had been de.
feated. They would not have given
universal suffrage to the negro; they
would not have permitted the South to
be overrun by irresponsible aud, in
many instances. corrupt men-mere
adventurers, having in view solely their
own elevation. ln fact such was the
temper of the people, that they would
not have recognized the rights of quail
fled suffrage to the colored man at
the time it was proffered. Ofcourse, at
the present time, they would be glad
enough to make such compromise, -
1t is the knowledge Of this fact which
accounts for the persistency of Republi-
canism at the North, and for the adop-
tion of plan of reconstruction which
would remove the fangs of the serpent
by which that section had been stung.
Still, I do not wish to be understood as
endorsing all the peculiar manifesto
tions of that political creed which have
been exhibited in the South, because
Republicanism has gone to extremes
here which would mover be accepted at
the North. A rehction must, necessa-
rily, take place, aod is already in pros
gress.
REPUBLIoANIsM TO PREDOMINANT.
@. But will true Republican.
ism gain accessions to its ranks
from tho native white men of the
South (?
A. Most unquestionably, but it will
be work of time. 1t is every day be.
coming evident to men Of shrewdness
and foresight that there is no organiza.
tion antagonistic to the Republican par
ty which can be successful in South
Carolina for the next ten years, and
the remark is equally applicable to
every Southern State in which there ia
a large oolored majority. The results
Of the last three years have satisfied the
people that all the present evils of which
they complain might have been averted
by showing to the colored v,ters that
they intended to maintain their new
Il