The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-05-31
~(~0O~~|ON~NO-~"O
HOW 10 WIN IN 1872
True Course OF the Democracy I'm the
Present Crisis of the Countrywide
Constitution asst ls-sA Letter from
John Quincy Adams.

John Quincy Adams,
The following letter from John Quincy
Adams, late the Democratic candidate
for Governor of Massachusetts,, to a
citizen Of Missouri, has been given to the
world through the columns of the St
Louis Republican:
QUINCY, May 6, 1871.
4. Earen Kelsey, Esq:
DEAR SlR-I have the honor to &C
know ledge the receipt Of comraunica
ton from you enclosing two extracts
from newspapers upon which you request
my criticism; aod l infer from your let
ter that you wish to learn nv opinion
upon the pubic questions discussed in
those articles.
You are quite welcome to know them,
if you aret willing to accept them as
simply the speculation of an individual.
represent nobody, and do not boast a
follower in the world; nor do know
that my notions are shared by any con-
siderable portion of any part.
The people of the United States feel
instinctively that they are going wrong,
but they are told that 1T will be danger
our IN retrace their steps. They know
that the path upon which they have
entered is beset with pitfalls; but even
bad pass is bette. than the precipice.
The sweep OF reaction is stayed by she
dread of revolution. The policy OF
shrewd Democrats, and the duty Of good
citizens, is to dispel this apprehension,
no matter how foolish it may seem to
them. Short Of honor and good faith,
no sacrifice should be deemed severe
which would suffice to lay that haunt
Ing spectre. For that reason | deplore
the hating, hesitatiug step with which
the Democracy is sneakng up to its in.
egitable position. For this cause |
share your regret a: the studious
ambiguity which seems to search for
saliyport through which to dodge its
destiny. And while I Better like the
spirit, l equally condemn the policy of
those who only proclaimed their purpose
cl revolution. Such indications Of
sentiment annoy me, simply because
they prolou5 a situation fraught with
great danger to the dearest interests OF
us all. The dominant party can retain
a power which has grown too great for
the public welfare only by an indefinite
extenstension of the moral conditions
Of Ike civil war. The Republican or
ganizalion can rally to no cry but a
Slogan aid conquer under no standard
but a spear. That party needs strife TO
insure its success but good feeling is
nccc. .ary for good government.
Now. the hostility to the fifteenth
enrolment is tie stock in trade Of the
fo,..,n.crs Of strife; is it worth crafty
ise u tie risk OF perrsaneut subjection!
Tie Son;h is CALLED TO day not BY the
preScuce Of ;ha, cmendment to the cons
iituiion, out by the utter absence OF the
Constitution itself. They feel j Con
ercss which assaults them, but they ind
no constitution TO project them. Is it
no; silly, 10 squab5Ie about an amend
mcnt which would cease to be obnox-
ious if it vas not detached frdm It's con-
text?
1t is qui6b,ing upon a tcchnicali'y of
law and reiinqui>hng the subrtance OF
liberty. Ihe constitution was struck
down by the assault upon Sumter; aad all
cons,itu,iors must necessarily fall be-
fore the lace ofthe supreme arbitrament
Of war. 1t eau nevcr be lifted up while
war is 'fagrant The people will never
resign the attitude Of hostile vigilance,
which is the real significance Of the
present administration, until they know
that no one Of their war trophies Is
longer disputed. Theo they viii gladly
resume the habits which they love and
the good nature which they repress.
What, then, is the meaning Of the gro
tcsoue contortioBs OF those who profess
ioudncss for camels aDd yet strain SO
iantas,ically at this suai'?: for the es-
sencc Of all democracy is equality
nothing but the equality OF all men
before the law-equal and exact justice
to every man, and each to share In the
goverDmcDt Of all. That is the only
genuine Democratic doctrine. But VINO
dares face an intelligent people, with
that testimony upon his lips, an6rde-
nourcc measure which is too Demo
cratic for Democrats, only because the
cntranchised are blacks? Surely, the
Norihera Democracy should not be
forced into sush uupidities by the COO
sc;entious -sssages of their Southern
brethren. Baeseuce is doubtless due
to their constitutional qualps, and yet
some lenny towards revolutionary pro-
yssos of amendment misheae reason
10y expected from supporters Of seees
sion. if we can condoue the fault, is it
too much to ask parolca prisouess Of war
to pardon its
No! You have given our cry "Cni.
versal amnesty and universal suffrage"
! would only add, the constitutional
Urion Of the States. For the old Con-
sritution Is just as good as ever j. was
fer South as we'll as North, in spite OF
the marks Of the mailed hand which
must remain upon it for warning to
those that c1me after US. There is