The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-08
COLUMBIA. S. c., May 5, 1871.

exist in our State, lnd tQe laWiesS anu uisIlu v
ed condition of society in many counties, fur
nisi. NE the occasion and excuse for address
ins YOU. 1 wish could hope with more conf
dence that my views and suggestions would
tend TO hasten the removal Of present evils
and Law q safe foundation for our future har-
mony and prosperity. But hold that,it Is the
duty of every man, who has thought OF a
plan which seems to promise relief from eS-
istipg difficulties to contribute it to the com
mon fund of information.
address my views to you because l know
that you are devoted, by association, principle
and action, to the true, permanent and high
est interests of our State, and because be-
lieve that, though wholly dissociated from
political life, you are not unmindful OF that
duty which Cicero tells US in his delightful
essay is ';the dearestand foremost duty, TO care
for ones country" remember, too, the geuer-
Gus and eloquent words which you have ut
tered in behalf of hopeful, patient, courage
ous graphing with the duties and problems ol
to-day. rather than the cherishins OF memo
ries, however sacred, or the indulging OF re-
grets, however just.
Iam not, like you, a native OF the State, and
perhaps it was my misfortune to have settled
here at a time when circumstances were MOI
favorable to a cordial reception Of those who
had stood upon the other side OF the Sreal
civil struggle which had torn asunder the tWo
sections of our country. Iprofess, however
to be not behind the foremost in my desire 70
do all that lies in my power to serve and bene
fit the State with which all my interests are
now identified.
1t will be necessary for me at the outside to
give nv view of the nature and causes of the
evils which now aff1ict us. II we mistake The
causes, we shall be certain to mistake the
remedy.
Ipropose to lay aside all partlsanship, and
simply to state facts as conceive them to eX-
ist. Let us look at our State when the recon-
struction acts first took effect in 1868.
A social revolution had been accomplished
an entire reversal the political relations OF
most Of our people had ensued. The class
which formerly held all the political power Of
our State were stripped OF all.
The class which had formerly been less than
citizens, with no political power or social posi-
ton, were made the sole deposltarles OF the
political power of the State. refer now to
practical results, not to theories. The numer-
cal relations Of the two races here was such
that one race under the new laws held abso-
lutte political control of the State.
The attitude and action of beth races under
these new conditions, while not unnatural,
was, as must think, unwise and unfortunate.
One race stood aloof and haughtily refused to
seek the confidence OF the race wnlch was
lust entering on its new powers; while the
other race quickly grasped all the pohtical
power which the new order OF things had
placed within their reach.
From the nature Of the case the one race
were devoid OF political experience, OF all OF
nearly all education, and depended mainly lot
oil these qualities upon those VINO, ior the
most part. CHANGED to have drfted here nom
other States, or who, in very rare Instances,
being former residents of the State, now al
lied themselves with the other race. NO man OF
common prudence, or who was even slightly To-
miliar with the working of social forces, could
have then failed to see that the elements
which went to compose the now dominant
party were not Of the kind which produce
public virtue aad honor, or which coufd long
secuSe even public order aad peace.
1 make all just allowance for. exceptional
cases of individual character, but I say that
the result to be expected from the very nature
of the situation in 1868 was that scramble for
Office would eusue among the members OF the
party in power, which again, from the nature
of the case, must result in filing the off Ices
of the State, local and gene7al, with men OF
no capacity and little honesty or desire to
really serve the public.
The nation had approved the reconstruction
measures not because they seemed to De free
of danger, nor because they were blind to the
very grave possibilities Of future evils, but in
the hope that the one race, wearing its new
laurels and using its new powers with modesty
and tor5earance, would gradually remove the
prejudices and enlist the synpathes and CO.
operation of the other race, until fair degree
of political homogeneity should be reached,
and race lines should cease 10 mark the limits
of political parties.
Three years have passed, and the result is
what? 1ncompetency, dishonesty, corruption
in all its FORMS have advanced their miscre-
ated fronts have put to flight the small rem
nant that opposed them, and now rule The
party which rules the State.
You may Imagine the chagrin with which
make this statement. Truth alone compels it.
nv eyes see it-aI my senses testify to the
startling and sad TACT. can never be indilfer-
ent to anything which touches the fair fame
OF tSst great national party to which all my
deepest convictions attach me, and repel the
libel which the party bearing that name in this
State is daily pouring upon us. am fepuo-
lican by habit, by conviction, by association,
but nv Republicanisih is not, trust, com.
posed solely Of equal parts OF Ignorance anu
rapacity.
Such is the plain statement of the present
condition of the dominant party OF our State:
What is the remedy? That change will
come, and come speedily, let no man doubt.
Corruption breeds its own kind. Ignorance
rnshes 10 its downfall Close behind any po-
lilical party which tUlerates such qualities IN
It's public representatives stalks the headsman.
II the result is merely political disruption, let
us be profoundly thankful. Let us make
haste to prevent it from being social disrllp-
1ion-the sundering OF all the bonds WHICH
make society and government possible.
Several eminent citizens, Us Well rs The
nress of our State. have suggested plans lor
The amelioration Of present evils. Mr.; Mem