The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-06-14

| "a lNfoANlIlC lCllCI Ill TIC SlnCln
natl Commercial says:
The question was asked of Mr.
johnson what he thought of the Val
landigham departure.
81 havh't read the entire PLATFORM
replied he, "but from what hear OF
it, there are some sensible points il,
it. But We must not depart too much
So to speak, there is as much dan.
ger in getting too far away as stay.
ing too near. There arc middle.
grounds which it is the best policy to
occupy. The trouble is that some of
our party want to accept too much
and others dont want to accept any.
Thing. 1t should not be the policy of the
Democracy TO threaten to use force
against the reconstruction acts, or
against the recent amendments. =
There is lawful and constitutions
remcdy for every i'll. Our party is Il
party Of peace, of law, of order. We
want no violent measures. In my
opinion the letter Of Frank Blair to
Btoahhcad at the eve of the last PIE
s'deutiai campaign did great deal
OF harm. Why Because 1t was so
written as 80 be construed into a
threat that in case the Democracy
came to power they would use force
against the reconstruction acts. Now,
we should not threaten force, nor any.
thing like it. Thore is peacebIe
remedy, aud that remedy is in con.
vincing the people that the last two
amendments to the Constitution and
the reconsti uction ac;r are wrong 1t
is within the province of the people
to alter these things if they will Z.
The true policy is to accept all these
things as accomplished facts, but at
the same time leave ourselves free to
hereafter urge their abrogation at the
bar of reason and justice. L have
always had great faith in the good
sense and intelligence Of the Ameri-
can people. We must appeal to them
to remedy these evils, but to do it in
lawful and constitutional way.
Another amendment can be adopted
that will do away with the evils
of the last two. have no faith
in a remedy through the courts
|! must he done at the bar Of the
people. Therefore look for remedy
in the future, and | am not going to
say, and no other Democrat should
say, that he accepts the rccoustruc-
ton measures and amend ments. as
iinalties, and that no attempt will be
made in the future to get rid Of them
in lawful and peaceful manner.
We should not commit ourselves to
any such absurd doctrine. We
should boldly proclaim that we ac-
cept these amendments and acts as
the law of the land now, but that VIC
will hereafter use every honorabl
means to C, nv n the PC pie that they
should he abrngatcd aud repealed.
If the people will not do it, then of
cou.sc it cannot be done. Bnt for us
to say that we will forever close our
lips against these iniquitics is ID
nonsense"
| asked Mr.. Johnston what he
thought OF Gen. Sherman as IL Demo
cratic nominee for the Presidency.
"Sbermap," said he, "is smart
man and shrcwd man. There is no
doubt but what he is looking forward
to the Presidency, and if he cAut get
it from one party he intends 20 from
another. Hc is not very particular
about parties. Ia course of time lie
expects to be Presid 'ut, but he is in
no particular hurry about it. His
chicfaim now is not to lose his popu-
lurity aud to be ready when the gold
en- moment comes. lie is a military
man, and don't care much about par
ties. He is as good as Grant was after
the close of the war. That little fcl-
low had quite a notion Of going with
the Democracy for Il while"
"He was formerly Democrat, was
he not 2''
"No, he wasn't anything. lie
didn't have sense enough. He has
got no head of his own. Sherman il
as much smarter man than he as you
can imagine. Frequently they have
botr come to see me on business.
Grant always stood back and let Sher.
man do the talking. The little fellow
felt his inferiority, took back seat,
and let Shcrm'n transact the busi.
ness. Sherman is lnaD, while Grant
is n thing. Yes, sir, he is just moth.
ing"
'But the Republicans will be ant
to renominatc him, don't you think =
"Appcaran ;os indicate that thoy
will"
"Thcy have got him ard seem in
clincd to hold to him.'
"No,' replied Mr.. Johnston che
has got them. They can't get lid Of
him. He is in, and Intends to re.
main in. lie has got tho patronage
and that infamous kuklux bill to aid
him. That kuklux law is damnable
infamy. Twenty years ago it would
have shocked the American people
like electricity"