The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-01-05

| never Ue dI peaSC, SiuSS w eo
change the past; that the State coule
not prosper so long as the government
was administered by the one race, In ;
spirit of hostility to the other; that the
mad appeals to their passions and re-
sentiments could only lead to violence
and blood, if they yielded to them; that
we had proved our claims to he'protcc'
tion of the laws, by accepting the terms
imposed by our conquerors, and that
they, not we, were rebels who resorted
to arms and violence against us in time
of peace; that neither President nor
Governor could protect or encourage
them in such course, without viola>
ting his constitutional oath; that we had
a right to claim the support OF true
Republicans, because We had ac-
cepted the laws imposed bythem; that
if they brought on war against the
whites, they would be crushed out OF
existence before the white men of Amer
lea, who were nearer to us in blood aud
nature than to them; that the attempt
to tax the whites out of their property
would certainly first ruin the laborers,
who were .subsisting from their means;
that property.holders would never sub
nit to be turned out Of house and home
for the benefit of a few Office holders,
whose duty it is to protect the rights OF
persons and property; that such gov
eminent would be without the protection
of the law, and would perish as it de-
served. In brief, we exposed the mad
ness, the folly and the wickedness of
such incendiary teachings, and exhaust
ed the resources of kindly persuasion,
but they were for the most part only
the more rooted in prejudice, aud the
more violent in its manifestation.
This summary OF the arguments by
which the ,cplored people were led to
.fas:en upon the State, for the next two
years, the game men who nave so nearly
ruined US in the past, demonstrates rhe
existence among them Of fatal hostlll-
ty towards us, which cannot now be
overcome by gentle and kindly over.
lures. 1t is 50 violent in some quarters
Us to threaten the existence Of society.
1t has been fostered and famed, and
kept alive in very large degree, by
those whose duty it is to protect socie-
ty. Magistrates and couservators of the
peace have been foremost and unre-
Lukcd in incendiary utterances and ac-
tious. 1t is not allied only with dema
goguism-that demon, whose province
it is to prostitute the spirit Of liberty
but also with agrariauisn, which strikes,
at The foundations of civilized society.
TO this add ignorance and the 'eader-
ship Of the worst, most uuscrGupulous
aud selfish men, as rule, and sJmc
idea may be iormed OF the dangers of
tho situation.
A dJnger knewn is more than half
avcr,ed. 1t is not our province TO sug-
gest remedies. These will be fo- Your
determination. Yet the utterlnce Of
personal views may be pardoned 10y
your kindness to those fully in syupa-
thy with you, and having commvn ln-
terest in all that concerns your welfare
as peope.
In the first place, let us set at rest for.
ever all doubts about our p sItion upon
the questions of reconstruction, which.
nave been practically settled, and deal
with them as we do with other laws
An accomplished revolution becomes
law. A contrary course isClates US from
all existing political organizations, and
shuts out all hope of peaceful deliver
ancc. Let us retain, in some form,
solid combination for mutual protection
and the preservation OF peace, law and
order, under the lead Of the wisest,
purest and best citizens in every con'-
muuily. Ceaseless vigilance, cau'ion
and self.restraint, combined with adc-
quate and visible preparation Tor defence,
will insure the preservation of peace
There are declarations of virtuuus pur-
poses of late from the Executive oil the
State and some of our legislators. ln
all the good they do let us accord TO
them our hearty support. In some
furm, conservatism will surely triumph
in the next Presidential election. I'm
der whatever name it comes, th. lHadiug
ideas will be the same. Free trade,
quiesence in accomplished facts, equal
rlgnrs to all citizens, the supremacy Of
the General Government, but its limi.
talion within the scope Of its Legitimate
constitutional sphere, and the prcser-
walton of the rights of the States uu-
der the existing constitution.
In view of the probable triumph of
these principles, as evidenced by the
result Of recent elections, we may cal.
cuIa,e that there will arise in South
Carolina, within the next Two years, in
the bosom of the Republican party, a
conservatism in harmony with those
principle. So far as possible to do so,
will, ut participating in it, let us wei
CINE, aid and assist its formation. If
not retarded by indiscreet action on our
mart, it may be made to succeed here
Two years hence. TO be plain, any or
uapization in which we took open p'rl
m.mld concentrate largelY against il tho