The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-06-08
,Dolitiral
LETTER HROm ID. ODRLL DUNCAN,
UNITED srATRs CONSUL AT ma.
PLIES. .a<
II. v,sws on ras e..Ar a.yo.x MOVEMENT. j.,

Iesu0'" s"o Ao"V"iu& ioSter IRON d
ODELL DUNCAN, United States Cousu
at Naples. addressed to prominent Re
publican of this city. When we say we
take pleasure il laying the letter before
our readers, We are aotuated by the fac,
that it is from South Caroliuian, W
personal character is above reproach
and who. although..a stauuoh Republican
and separated from us by thousands Of
miles, has the wisdom to perceive, aud
the oaudor to acknowledge the fact
that corruption and dishonesty have
prevailed to au alarming extent in the
conduct Of our State affairs, during the
past two years. Mr.. DUNCAN, it will
be perceived, is alarmed at the pres
ent condition of affairs, aud most heart>
lily endorses any movement made in
good faith, that will ensure a change.
Without further comment, we commend
the letter to the attentive perusal of all
classes:
@>A<AGoS APii 20, low.
My Dear Sir 1t was certainly not
my intention to have delayed writing
to you 80 long. Blu. have been kept so
exceedingly busy during the winter as
to be compelled to neglect many friends
and much writing that intended to
have done bef're now. The position
hold has not been sinecure thus far.
but, on the contrary, much labor aud
poor pay.
l see, however, that the political con.
test is beginning to grow warm in South
Carolina, aud u. good Carolinian feel
most deeply interested in the result
A desire to exchange ideas with those
ofmy political, az we'll as personal friends
10 whom have confidence, prevents me
from longer silence with you. I have
followed with great in crest, und as caro-
fully as possible at this great distance,
the course Of events in our State. The
result has generally been disappointment t
aud grief. Now aud then l could see
ray Of hope, when an upright and able
Judge was put on the bench, or when
those swiudliug rail road schemes we're
defeated. But the general character of
our Legislature and of the legislation in
Columbia during the winter has certain
ly not been such as to inspire me with
confidence in the wisdom, patriotism or
even ordinary honesty Of those at pres.
ent controlling the State Government
and the "Radica" party in South Car
olina. Their action has been such that
do not see what reason any class oil
our people can have for sustaining them
Every property owner, Of course, has
mos: just reason for complaint of the
heavy expenditures, aud consequently
high taxes, unless he be in some way
connected with the Government so as to
regain, corruptIy, more than he has to
pay. Our good Governor. for instance
aud some ofthc other State officials, will
not complain of their taxes while they
have such control Of the Legislature
as to be able to make or unmake the
market for State or rail road bonds a,
pleasure, aud thus gain many times over
the amount Of their taxes. at time
when it should have been the prime
object of any partv to reduce the cx-
penses Of the Government to the very
lowest figures possible, our "Radical''
friends have made them far above what
they were at any former period when
the State was in prosperous condition
and our Legislators most uureasouably
lavish. Nor do see that anything has
been done 10 alleviate the condition of
our laboring classes. Our legislators
seem to have been too ignorant to know
that when the industry and prosperity
Of country is disturbed, it is always
the poorer classes who suffer most
Their action has generally been such
as to prevent return to state Of
peace and quiet. and to fomeot the bit.
ter feelings hitherto existing. This
course may prove beneficial to certain cor
rupt dcmagogue politicians who can hope
foreman above the surface only in times
Of excitement, but it will certainly
prove most oalamitous to our poorer
classes, whom they pretend specially to
represent.
When some Of us united with the
newly formed Republican party in South
carolina it was because we were COD
Vinced that both justice and good policy
required the civil and political equality
Of all classes. Justice required it to
enable the colored people to defend
their rights at the ballot box. Good
required It to put an end to the conflict
with the National government. This idea
OF civil and political equality was and is
still the fundamental principle Of the
Republican party, and is as fully endorsed
oy me to-day as when I first united
with the party 10 South Carolina. But
"h'le have seen no reason to change
my views on this fundamental principle,
admit that have at least been more
G.dly impressed at the facility with
NJ corrupt, ignorant, self. seeking
~ can control mass of
oters unaccustomed to politi-
4one can regret more sincerely than
s.o 40 snst the Republican party and the
S Ssate Government have fallen into such
"anos as they have. No one can re
hnc